Case study: Firm supports employees with cutting-edge health plan design
ISG takes a different approach to architecture and engineering — and their health benefits.
Building healthier workplaces together
Innovation is the foundation on which I&S Group (ISG), an architecture and engineering firm, is built. As an employee-owned company, ISG is driven to turn big ideas into reality for the clients it serves by using forward-thinking methodologies and technology.
“At ISG, we exist to make a difference. We want to make a difference in the lives of our employee owners, the communities in which we serve, as well as our clients,” says Alec Pfeffer, chief financial officer for ISG.
Understanding that delivering on this mission requires employees to be the healthiest and most productive versions of themselves, ISG aims to think differently about the health benefits it offers to ensure they are meeting the needs of its 500+ employees. And that’s what led them to add a new copay-only health plan option.
“As we continued to build our relationship with UnitedHealthcare, they came forward with the new option for us,” says Pfeffer. “It was called Surest®. And it was something innovative that really gave us a new option.”
Offering a new plan built for cost clarity and a simpler digital experience
After years of offering a high deductible health plan, ISG was looking to add a health plan option that would give employees a new way to access health care.
“Surest is a great fit for us,” says Aubrey Lantz, employee experience manager for ISG. “We are a younger demographic. I think we’re very open to having some change and using an app … knowing your costs upfront is just what our employees were looking for.”
Offering no coinsurance or deductibles and a mobile app that allows employees to search for and compare care options, ISG felt confident that this health plan would appeal to its younger workforce.
“Here at ISG, we are 100% employee-owned,” explains Pfeffer. “Everyone feels the weight of that ownership and understands we have a duty to look out for one another, which includes providing the best health benefits package we can.”
Engineering a communication plan to drive enrollment
It’s one thing to offer employees a new and different type of health plan — it’s another to get them to understand, enroll and engage with it, especially as people are naturally averse to change.
84%
of UnitedHealthcare member interactions occurred digitally1
“We tried to be really forward-thinking when introducing this new health plan design,” Pfeffer says. “We wanted to build momentum into the communications plan and make sure that people were excited about it.”
Leveraging materials and support provided by its UnitedHealthcare team, ISG was able to successfully educate its employees about this new plan option, answer questions and help make the transition as seamless as possible for those who decided to make the switch, resulting in a 30% enrollment rate within its first year of offering Surest.2
“Our rollout campaign included 3 separate email blasts ahead of open enrollment, using a demo to break down the plan and how it works,” explains Lantz. “We also created a podcast-style virtual event, which included a Q&A. Through it all, UnitedHealthcare was right there with us.”
Working to make it easier for employees to access care
Ryan Welke, senior project manager at ISG, was among the first to enroll in Surest. As a type 1 diabetic, Welke understands how much his health benefits matter to effectively manage his condition.
“The health benefits that my employer provides are really important as a type 1 diabetic. So, when looking at specific employers and their benefits, sometimes my wages took a back seat,” explains Welke.
With Surest, Welke hasn’t had to make that trade-off. When ISG introduced Surest, Welke’s initial reaction was that “it seemed too good to be true.” He goes on to explain, “the Surest plan really helped me identify a provider that specializes in type 1 diabetes and is available to answer questions, to really dial in on the program that I need to be on.”
“I’m really thankful for ISG in being able to think differently about health care,” says Welke. “ISG investing in our team and trying new things so we can always be the best version of ourselves is how we can help better serve our clients and truly exist to make a difference.”
