Sun Health Senior Living Bundles With Aetna To Improve Employee Benefits

A newly minted medical plan through Aetna that reduces doctor and prescription copays and holds the line on increased contributions is welcome news for Sun Health Senior Living's 550 employees

Surprise, AZ (PRWEB) - An April Gallup survey found rising health care costs to be the top financial worry of American families.

The 550 employees of Sun Health Senior Living (SHSL) may not share those same worries thanks to a new bundled medical plan through Aetna that reduces their doctor and prescription copays for the year, while holding the line on increasing their contributions, including premiums, deductibles and the portions of medical bills they must pay.

“These new changes have enabled us to provide richer benefits to our employees,” said Tahlya Visintainer, SHSL’s vice president of Human Resources and Organizational Development.

The changes began taking shape in 2012, when leaders from SHSL – comprised of three independent-living Life Care communities in the West Valley – were searching for an employee medical plan that could save them money without sacrificing medical benefits, help recruit and retain employees and increase plan enrollment numbers to better manage risks.

They found the solution by enrolling in an Aetna Whole Health - Banner Health Network plan. In addition to lowering SHSL’s medical premiums, and reducing projected claim costs rates, the plan improved medical benefits for employees, slashed single coverage rates for employees by 50 percent and lowered dependent care coverage across the board.

“With Aetna Whole Health and Banner Health Networks, our employees are paying less out of pocket; and they’re benefiting from a focus on preventative care that’s well coordinated through Banner Health’s large network,” Visintainer said.

This year SHSL leaders decided to bundle all of its true insurance pieces under Aetna, which has led to additional benefits for employees. One example: life insurance plans for employees, regardless of whether they enroll in the medical plan, have been doubled from $15,000 to $30,000.

And, for the first time, SHSL employees are able to enroll online and use online tools to help them choose the best benefits options.

About Sun Health
A long-standing champion of healthy living and superior health care, Sun Health is a community-based nonprofit providing pathways to population health through philanthropy, senior living programs and communities, and community wellness programs and services. Sun Health Senior Living includes three independent-living Life Care communities: Grandview Terrace in Sun City West, La Loma Village in Litchfield Park and The Colonnade in Sun City Grand/Surprise, and Sun Health at Home, the first “continuing care at home” program in the Southwest. Learn more at http://www.sunhealth.org and http://www.sunhealthseniorliving.org.