Self-Funded With Spencer

“So many times these employers are like, ‘dude, I spend so much money on this, and my employees don't care at all.’ Or what's even worse is they go, ‘our employees love it, we have a great, great plan.’ Did they tell you that?” - Luke Aslesen This is one of my favorite podcasts of the year: Luke Aslesen, Founder of INFRMD, joined me to talk about entrepreneurship, creativity in insurance, comedy, and how to stay authentic.  INFRMD is an insurance education platform, designed to make it as easy as possible for employees to understand and use their benefits. Luke and I discussed the importance of education, why this type of solution is so needed, and how he value it provides to employers.  This podcast is a bit longer than usual, but only because I think this conversation truly justified that. Join me and Luke this week on Self-Funded to learn how to stay creative and authentic in this industry!  Chapters: 00:00:00 Introducing Luke Aslesen 00:00:35 Timing and Persistence in Entrepreneurship 00:07:42 Embracing Imperfection 00:10:56 A Creative Approach to Insurance Education 00:21:29 How Do You Teach People To Navigate Healthcare? 00:32:09 The Importance Of Creativity 00:46:11 Humor In The Insurance Industry 00:49:12 Revolutionizing Insurance Literacy with INFRMD 01:05:06 Empowering Informed Decision-Making 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:  #Entrepreneurship #StartingBeforePerfect #InsuranceEngagement #GenerationalShift #ConsumerEmpowerment #InformingConsumer #CareerCreativity #InsuranceCommunity #HumorInCommunity #HealthcareLiteracy #selffunded #selffunding #podcast Entrepreneurship, Starting Before Perfect, Insurance Engagement, Generational Shift, Consumer Empowerment, Informing Consumer, Career Creativity, Insurance Community, Humor In Community, Healthcare Literacy, self funded, self funding, podcast

“If we're facing a [mental health] crisis and we want radical change, we’ve got to think about radical solutions. If those radical solutions can show objectively with safety and efficacy data, that they're really helping people and really changing lives, then I think we ought to at least explore and get curious about offering those solutions to to people.” - Amil PatelWe have a mental health crisis in America, and we need new solutions to help those who are struggling.Amil Patel, from Meeko Health, joined the show this week to talk about offering ketamine therapies through the employee benefits channel.I would suspect that many of you who listen to the podcast would be immediately skeptical about the effectiveness, safety, and utility of psychedelic therapy; honestly, going into the podcast, I was too.But I would urge you to hear Amil’s testimony, look into the research and studies currently going on, and form your own opinion. And as Amil shares, hear the testimony of the many people who feel like they would still be in a mental health crisis without these therapies. Join us this week on Self-Funded as we discuss why employers should consider offering psychedelic therapy as an employee benefit! Check out their website - https://www.meekohealth.com/Chapters:00:00:00 Introducing Amil Patel00:03:30 Struggling With Parental Judgment00:12:58 The Mental Health Impact of Childhood Experiences00:18:16 Psychedelic Therapy Access Through Meeko 00:33:37 How Can We Prove That Psychedelic Therapy Works?00:43:37 Do Employers Want To Offer Ketamine Therapy To Employees?01:01:08 The Transformational Effect Of Ketamine Therapy01:03:58 Getting To The Root Of Mental Health IssuesKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: #MentalHealth #PsychedelicTherapy #MentalHealthCare #KetamineTherapy #PsychologicalApproach #CulturalImpact #HealingJourney #PersonalGrowth #PsychedelicSupport #MeekoHealth #selffunded #selffunding #podcastMental Health, Psychedelic Therapy, Mental Health Care, Ketamine Therapy, Psychological Approach, Cultural Impact, Healing Journey, Personal Growth, Psychedelic Support, Meeko Health, self funded, self funding, podcast

“Utilization is key for virtual urgent care. Let us be your first line of defense, rather than like, ‘oh, I do have a telemedicine on the back of my insurance card, I’m not sure what it does.’” - Jon O’Toole Especially in the last few years (for obvious reasons), telehealth and virtual care have proved that they’re here to stay. But how do we best determine when a patient should use virtual or in-person care, and how do we actually get them to utilize it?  Jon O’Toole, from Recuro Health, joined me this week to share his take.  The benefits of virtual care are pretty clear: quicker access to appointments for patients at a much lower cost. As Jon shares, it’s extremely important to educate patients on their virtual benefits and to make the experience easy and tailored for them. Jon also speaks about virtual urgent care, which can add a ton of value and help alleviate some of the panic that sets in when a health emergency occurs.  Join us this week for a deep dive into virtual care and its future.  Chapters: 00:00:00 Introducing Jon O’Toole 00:14:37 Customizing Telehealth 00:17:09 Why We Need To Monitor Utilization 00:25:50 What Is “Virtual Urgent Care”? 00:31:00 Virtual Talk Therapy and Psychiatry 00:40:59 Using Data To Improve Benefits 00:42:04 AI-Enhanced Virtual Primary Care 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:  #TelehealthUtilization #ValueCreation #RemoteHealthcareMonitoring #VirtualUrgentCare #BehavioralHealth #UtilizationMonitoring #HealthcareEvolution #VirtualCare #InnovationInHealthcare #AIinHealthcare #Wearables #HealthTech #selffunded #podcast Telehealth Utilization, Value Creation, Remote Healthcare Monitoring, Virtual Urgent Care, Behavioral Health, Utilization Monitoring, Healthcare Evolution, Virtual Care, Innovation In Healthcare, AI in Healthcare, Wearables, Health Tech, self funded, podcast

“Life is short. In the meantime, your health is, at the end of the day, your health is all you have." - Heather Bowers Differentiating yourself through customer service is a tricky thing: it’s talked about so frequently that it can almost feel outdated focusing so much on the customer experience.  But, as my guest Heather Bowers from Lone Star Benefits shared with me this week, it’s still the best way to truly serve your clients in 2024. Heather joined me from literally across the street, and we discussed what it’s like to be a business in Frisco, Texas, a rapidly growing city. Heather and I also discussed what it was like to take over the family business, as Lone Star was actually started by her father.  We also discussed how the industry has changed since she took over the business, dealing with compliance, and what future regulation may mean for healthcare. Chapters: 00:00:00 Introducing Heather Bowers 00:12:09 Preserving The Family Business 00:16:18 Differentiating Through ACTUAL Customer Service 00:29:14 Taking Care Of Your Work, Family, and Personal Health 00:34:48 How Do We Get Members To Care About Health? 00:37:47 $10,000 Wellness Prize 00:40:13 Balancing GLP-1 Drugs with Lifestyle Changes 00:46:19 Navigating Compliance 00:53:39 Balancing Health and Passion in Business 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:  #InsuranceIndustry #ClientRelationships #FriscoTexas #WorkLifeBalance #WellnessPrograms #EmployeeIncentives #WeightLoss #ComplianceRegulations #IndustrySolutions #PassionForWork #LongTermClients #SelfFunded #podcast Insurance Industry, Client Relationships, Frisco Texas, Work Life Balance, Wellness Programs, Employee Incentives, Weight Loss, Compliance Regulations, Industry Solutions. Passion For Work, Long Term Clients, Self Funded, podcast

“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

“I realize there's this massive disconnect in the business model whereby you've got governments and health insurers paying billions and billions of dollars for what might be a not very effective therapy, and then there's all these potential cures, even, and much better treatments out there.” - Savva Kerdemelidis Savva Kerdemelidis and Zan Lowe, of Public Good Pharma, joined me this week to talk about re-aligning the incentive structures for drug development.  In our current system, drugs are often funded based on how much of their formula is patentable, and manufacturers will tweak the formulas in order to get new patents when they’ve run out. So how do we fix the system, for the public good?  Savva’s solution is to “self-fund” pharmaceutical trials, through employers. These trials can be used to determine if lower cost drugs have the same or better effect than more expensive, patented ones (which they often do), and also demonstrate huge cost-savings for employers.  Join us as we take on “Big Pharma” this week on Self-Funded. Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing Public Good Pharma (00:09:29) Our Profit-Driven Pharmaceutical Industry (00:12:16) Drug Development Challenges in Patent System (00:13:19) Patent Monopolies and “Evergreening” Pharmaceuticals (00:17:44) “Interventional Pharmacoeconomics” (00:19:32) Clinical Trials for Affordable Treatments (00:29:18) Employer Involvement in Lower-Cost Drug Trials (00:33:37) Cost-Effective Pharmaceutical Incentive Strategy (00:36:55) Revamping Healthcare Incentives (00:45:28) Affordable Pharmaceutical Alternatives 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:  #PharmaIndustry #DrugPricing #PatentSystem #Evergreening #ValueBasedPricing #InterventionalPharmacoeconomics #FormularyDesign #InnovativeIncentives #FixTheSystem #CostReduction #PersonalizedMedicine #AIinHealthcare #selffunded #podcast Pharma Industry, Drug Pricing, Patent System, Evergreening, Value Based Pricing, Interventional Pharmacoeconomics, Formulary Design, Innovative Incentives, Fix The System, Cost Reduction, Personalized Medicine, AI in Healthcare, self funded, podcast