Freelancers Insurance Company Selects ClearHealth Strategies

NAPERVILLE, Ill., March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ClearHealth Strategies (CHS), one of the nation's most innovative cost containment firms announced today that Freelancers Insurance Company (FIC) has selected them to provide a Medicare-based repricing program for out-of-network claim management.  The service, which has been in place since January 1st, is being utilized to obtain savings on all eligible out-of-network claims.

FIC is an innovative, social-purpose insurance company that is wholly owned by the nonprofit Freelancers Union, and aims to provide affordable, quality, and portable group-rate health insurance to Freelancers Union members and their families.  FIC was searching for an outsourced Medicare based repricing program to help them manage their out-of-network claim volume.  FIC was interested in adopting a Medicare program and a new out-of-network program that offers improved consistency and clarity.   

"We conducted an extensive review of vendors in the market and found the ClearHealth program to be the one that best suited our members' unique needs.  We were looking for a company that provided more than just Medicare pricing - we needed a partner that could work flexibly with us on program design and non-standard issues.  ClearHealth has proven to be a great decision," said Sara Horowitz, CEO of FIC.

ClearHealth Strategies offers a complete Medicare-based out-of-network program.  The program includes the necessary levels of configuration and customization based on group, geography, and claims types, as well as the management necessary to comply with any applicable state and federal legislative requirements and restrictions. Complementary services include member advocacy to assist with balance billing issues, appeal/grievance management, and traditional fee negotiation services, where warranted.

"There is a clear trend away from traditional OON solutions, as many payers, including some of the industry's largest, are beginning to include the use of Medicare reimbursement rates in their OON programs.  Many small and mid-sized payers and Third Party Administrators lack the Medicare reimbursement and/or general OON management expertise to create an in-sourced solution, and this is where our program fits.  We are pleased that we were immediately able to deliver value to FIC through the program and also of the working relationship that has been developed which greatly enhances the opportunities for success," said John Thompson, Vice President of Marketing at CHS.

About Freelancers Union

Freelancers Union is a 171,000-member national nonprofit organization that promotes the interests of independent workers through advocacy, education, and services. The new union brings independent workers together so they can build meaningful, connected, and independent lives. Freelancers Union wholly owns Freelancers Insurance Company (FIC), which aims to provide affordable, quality, and portable coverage to New York freelancers. Founded in 2008, FIC currently covers more than 23,000 Freelancers Union members and their families. www.FreelancersInsuranceCo.com

About ClearHealth Strategies, LLC

ClearHealth Strategies (CHS) is the only cost containment vendor with a focus on providing out-of-network cost containment programs with Medicare rates as the core component.   Based in Naperville, IL CHS is focused on providing these programs to the small and mid-sized payer and Third Party Administrator market to enable them to remain competitive with larger organizations.  www.clearhealthstrategies.com  

SOURCE ClearHealth Strategies