“We're simplifying the complexities of healthcare. We gotta declutter it, we've gotta demystify it, we've gotta make it more transparent and understandable in bite sized ways where members know and understand what's happening for and to them." - Rob Gelb

It sounds like a simple question, but as an industry, we’re still working towards figuring it out: how do we engage members?

Rob Gelb joined me this week to discuss what role Valenz has in solving that seemingly unsolvable equation.

Along the way, Rob and I also discuss his perspective on sales, why “yes, and,” is so important in Valenz’s culture, and where the healthcare industry is moving towards, big picture.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introducing Rob Gelb
00:06:23 Sales Is Just Solving Problems
00:13:07 Creating Cohesive Health Plans
00:22:32 How Do We Engage Members?
00:30:52 'Yes, and'
00:42:00 Valenz’s Role In The Marketplace
01:03:31 The Role Of Private Equity In This Industry

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#SalesSuccess #HealthPlanInnovation #HealthcareLiteracy #BrandPromise #CulturalTransformation #ValenzHealthcare #HealthcareTransparency #ReferenceBasedPricing #PrivateEquityHealthcare #BusinessGrowth #CompetitionInHealthcare #StimulatingThoughts #SelfFunded #podcast

Sales Success, Health Plan Innovation, Healthcare Literacy, Brand Promise, Cultural Transformation, Valenz Healthcare, Healthcare Transparency, Reference Based Pricing, Private Equity Healthcare, Business Growth, Competition In Healthcare, Stimulating Thoughts, Self Funded, podcast

“If you talk to almost anyone in this industry over a beer or something like that, I think they will all agree that we are operating in a pretty antiquated industry that needs some serious modernization, innovation, reimagination." - Brandon Weber

This week’s episode of Self-Funded is coming to you from the (unfinished) San Francisco ParetoHealth office.

Brandon Weber, founder of Nava Benefits, joined the healthcare industry as an outsider: he’s spent most of his career as a tech entrepreneur, and after exiting his previous company, he found himself with a lot of free time and a lot of unfocused energy.

Brandon actually chose healthcare as the next industry he wanted to take on while he was spending a year long sabbatical with his wife, traveling the world, and realized that healthcare was such a huge societal problem that needed to be solved. So, he founded Nava Benefits.

On this week’s episode, we discussed what his unique perspective has led him to believe about the healthcare industry, how healthcare operates throughout the world, the importance of brokers, the necessity of competition in any industry, and why Nava is a great step towards fixing healthcare in this country.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introducing Brandon Weber
00:11:50 Why Brokers Are So Important
00:19:55 Why Are Benefits Plans So Complex?
00:22:42 Rising Costs in Healthcare
00:26:12 Simplifying Healthcare Access
00:40:10 Nava’s Focus On Efficiency
00:53:28 Fixing Healthcare Now

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#BenefitsManagement #HealthcareChallenges #TechnologyInBenefits #CareNavigation #ClientService #OperationalEfficiency #ServiceAutomation #AmericanHealthcare #ModernizingHealthcare #BenefitsConsultants #HealthcareInnovation #EmployeeBenefits #selffunded #podcast

Benefits Management, Healthcare Challenges, Technology In Benefits, Care Navigation, Client Service, Operational Efficiency, Service Automation, American Healthcare, Modernizing Healthcare, Benefits Consultants, Healthcare Innovation, Employee Benefits, self funded, podcast

"I think, not just in terms of the type of AI Verikai does, but AI in healthcare in general, I'm so optimistic about it, just because we are in such early stages of this." - Justen Nestico

Did you know that what type of car you drive determines how healthy you're likely to be?

Justen Nestico, Director of Actuarial Solutions at Verikai, joined me this week to discuss a really important thing when it comes to risk assessment: data.

We talked about how Verikai integrating AI in interpreting, organizing, and learning from data, as well as what that data says about a populace and how to insure them. Justen and I also covered GLP-1s, like Ozempic, and what they potentially mean for reducing health risks related to obesity.

Justen shared with me the five social determinants of health he sees most often, and some of them were pretty surprising, like what type of car you drive.

Join us this week to learn all about AI, risk, and what determines health!

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introducing Justen Nestico
(00:08:08) Risk Assessment In Self-Funding
(00:10:27) Utilizing AI In Risk Assessment
(00:14:47) Consumer Insights from Credit Card Transactions
(00:21:18) GLP-1s
(00:31:17) The Social Determinants Of Health
(00:40:03) Impact of Lifestyle Choices on Health

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#AIHealthcare #RiskAssessment #DataAnalysis #HealthcareInnovation #BehavioralHealth #LifestyleModification #FinancialIncentives #MachineLearning #HealthcareInequalities #FutureHealthcare #RiskScoring #SelfFunding #selffunded #podcast

AI Healthcare, Risk Assessment, Data Analysis, Healthcare Innovation, Behavioral Health, Lifestyle Modification, Financial Incentives, Machine Learning, Healthcare Inequalities, Future Healthcare, Risk Scoring, Self Funding, self funded, podcast

"The best way I can explain it is the concept is like your house is on fire, and now you go get homeowners insurance." - Kevin Chambers

Kevin Chambers (Lucent Health) joined me this week to help me understand just what makes tribal healthcare plans so unique.

As Kevin shares in this episode, many companies are somewhat scared to insure tribes, as they have sovereignty and so any potential lawsuits are tried in tribal court. That doesn’t mean that this niche needs to be neglected, though; tribes actually have some huge opportunities to build really effective healthcare plans.

Kevin and I discussed the federal government’s role in tribal healthcare, and the four main “pillars” he uses to insure tribes; four little-known government sponsored entitlements that subsidize tribal healthcare, including the ability for native people to pay Medicare rates for their healthcare, which Kevin calls “the ultimate Reference-Based Pricing”.

Tune in this week for a look into the world of tribal healthcare!

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introducing Kevin Chambers
(00:01:32) Self-Governed Tribal Healthcare Clinics
(00:16:24) Medicare Savings Program for Tribal Healthcare
(00:23:24) Tribal Healthcare: Self-Governance and Affordable Medicine
(00:27:26) High-Cost Medical Expense Reimbursement Fund
(00:36:20) Crucial Role of TPAs in Tribal Healthcare
(00:39:02) Reducing Fraudulent Charges through Healthcare Billing Transparency

(00:40:08) Exposing Wasteful Healthcare Practices

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#TribalHealthcare #SelfGovernance #EducationalInitiatives #HealthcareSolutions #CatastrophicHealthFund #TPAs #TransparencyInHealthcare #HealthcareEfficiency #TribalSpace #QualityCare #FinancialEfficiency #LegalCompliance #selffunded #podcast

Tribal Healthcare, Self Governance, Educational Initiatives, Healthcare Solutions, Catastrophic Health Fund, TPAs, Transparency In Healthcare, Healthcare Efficiency, Tribal Space, Quality Care, Financial Efficiency, Legal Compliance, self funded, podcast

"I think we need to do a better job of understanding each other and plugging each other in where we can help our clients to solve for issues that may not directly impact us, but make a world of difference for them." - Madison Baker

Madison Baker, from Marsh McLennan, has expanded her business and online presence exponentially over the last year by creating engaging posts and content on LinkedIn. If you’re just starting out in a producer role and you’re not using LinkedIn to build your brand, tune in this week to hear from Madison why it’s been so crucial for her business, and will be for yours.

Whether you’re an up-and-coming broker or consultant, or you’ve been in this industry for decades, there’s one thing that’s become pretty evident: if you aren’t engaging with your peers and clients through social media, you’re missing out on the chance to help so many more clients than you could through traditional methods.

But where do you start? Find out this week on Self-Funded with Spencer.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introducing Madison Baker
(00:00:48) The Importance Of Networking In Insurance
(00:16:37) Communicating About Risk With Clients
(00:21:44) Learning How To Always Bring Value
(00:34:05) Approaching Risk Differently In The Current Market
(00:46:39) Building A LinkedIn Brand From Scratch
(00:48:00) LinkedIn's Impact on Prospecting

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#InsuranceNetworking #CareerProgression #ProducerTraining #BusinessPlan #AddingValue #TalentGap #RiskManagement #LinkedInBranding #BusinessGrowth #SelfInsurance #AIinInsurance #ClientSolutions #selffunded #podcast

Insurance Networking, Career Progression, Producer Training, Business Plan, Adding Value, Talent Gap, Risk Management, LinkedIn Branding, Business Growth, Self Insurance, AI in Insurance, Client Solutions, self funded, podcast

"The US healthcare system is simple, easy to navigate and affordable. Said no one ever." - Guy Benjamin

Guy Benjamin returns to the show a year after his previous episode to share just how much Healthee has expanded in that time (spoilers: it’s 100x).

We talk about how Healthee’s role in the marketplace has shifted, what huge feature is on the horizon for them, and why Guy believes that the Healthee app deserves a spot on the bottom row of apps on your phone, next to your messages/email/Spotify apps.

The future of Healthee is bright, and I’m proud to highlight just how far they’ve come this week on Self-Funded with Spencer.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introducing Guy Benjamin
(00:07:56) Revolutionizing Healthcare With AI
(00:19:16) Using AI To Support Patients And Physicians
(00:27:01) Empowering Self-Service Healthcare
(00:35:26) Healthcare Bill Accuracy Through AI
(00:40:56) AI-driven Solutions for TPAs

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#healthcaretransparency #programminghealth #engagementstrategy #AIinhealthcare #scalability #selfservicesolutions #medicalbillauditing #telehealthcostsavings #TPApartnerships #wearablesinhealthcare #healthtech #consumerempowerment #selffunded #podcast

healthcare transparency, programming health, engagement strategy, AI in healthcare, scalability, self service solutions, medical bill auditing, telehealth cost savings, TPA partnerships, wearables in healthcare, health tech, consumer empowerment, self funded, podcast

"It's not always what you can do that makes you who you are. Sometimes the things that you don't do well create your style." - AG Ford

We have a bit of a different episode in store for you this week: an interview with a local illustrator AG Ford, who’s worked on children’s book series like Construction Site and Magic Tree House.

AG and I discussed just how hard it is to break into the world of illustration, what he learned in art school, and what his current work-life balance looks like.

We also talked about art in general, why being different is better than being better in the artistic world, and why he wouldn’t trade his current lifestyle for any other.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introducing AG Ford
(00:03:48) Embracing Imperfections for Unique Artistic Style
(00:17:23) Redefining Artistic Success Through Personal Journey
(00:21:06) Finding Balance: Artistic Creativity and Financial Stability
(00:25:55) Navigating Artistic Integrity in Commercial Ventures
(00:33:59) Illustration Process Timeline for Picture Books
(00:43:52) Diversifying Your Artistic Skillset
(00:53:17) Creating a Balanced Routine for Work-Life Harmony

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:

#ArtisticStyle #EmbracingFlaws #BusinessArt #ArtisticJourney #CommercialArt #Illustrations #MarketDiversification #SelectiveProjects #WorkLifeBalance #BookPromotion #CreativeBalance #FamilyAndCareer #selffunded #podcast

Artistic Style, Embracing Flaws, Business Art, Artistic Journey, Commercial Art, Illustrations, Market Diversification, Selective Projects, Work Life Balance, Book Promotion, Creative Balance, Family And Career, self funded, podcast