Intercare Insurance Solutions

Intercare Insurance Solutions Wins Workplace Excellence Award

Intercare Solutions — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:50:58 +0000

SAN DIEGO, CA, Nov. 11, 2011 – Intercare Insurance Solutions, a fast-growing San Diego-based insurance brokerage and consulting firm specializing in employee benefits and wellness, retirement planning, property and casualty, and executive risk management, has won a Crystal Award for Workplace Excellence from the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

The award recognizes Intercare for implementing a comprehensive cultural transformation program that improved productivity, camaraderie, work/life balance, and employee engagement.

“Since 2006, we have experienced rapid growth in revenue, clients and employees,” said Mike Barone, president and CEO. “Frankly, we were growing so fast it was hard to keep up with employees’ needs, which resulted in teamwork and productivity issues and people feeling over-worked.”

As a result, in July 2010 Intercare worked closely with Dr. Jorge Cherbosque of the Anderson School of Management at University of California, Los Angeles, who trained employees on how to communicate more effectively and be fully engaged in the success of the company. This program resulted in SHRM recognizing Intercare with the Workplace Excellence Crystal Award.

“We’d like to thank SHRM for acknowledging our hard work and success and thank our employees for their dedication to our values and culture,” Barone said. “Without them, we could not have won this prestigious award.”

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About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Intercare provides its clients with the highest return on investment in employee benefits, executive risk management, property and casualty, and retirement plans. The full-service insurance firm was founded in 2002 on the principle that insurance should be managed as an investment, not an expense. The forward-thinking company has become one of the fasting growing brokerage firms in the industry, providing strategic solutions and incomparable client resources that drive accountability, empower stakeholders, and build confidence in C-level executives.

From start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, Intercare serves more than 300 clients in diverse markets including life science, medical device, legal, manufacturing, retail, financial services, retirement communities and hospitality. With presence in San Diego, Orange County and Houston, Intercare is trusted by leading brands that demand its integrated approach to maximize the value of their insurance investment. For more information on Intercare Insurance Solutions, please visit: intercaresolutions.com

Driven by an Increased Demand for its Strategic Solutions, Intercare Insurance Solutions Opens New Irvine Office

Kim Wells — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:35:06 +0000

Intercare Insurance Solutions, a forward-thinking insurance brokerage firm specializing in employee benefits and wellness, property and casualty, executive risk management and retirement, opens a new office today in Irvine with a team of five industry experts.

Intercare’s new Orange County team includes Senior Vice President Paul Leblanc, Senior Vice President Rob Queen, Vice President Steve Kessler, Vice President Adrienne Shaffer, and Account Manager and Communications Consultant Anne Hartman. The local team of five has more than 90 years of combined industry experience.

“We provide a unique set of strategic solutions for clients who demand an integrated approach to insurance planning. We look forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the Orange County market,” said President and CEO Mike Barone.

Keeping in line with its investment philosophy, that insurance planning should be managed as a strategic investment, not an expense; the San Diego-based firm has tasked its Irvine team to grow its client base by promoting Intercare’s forward-thinking philosophy–which ultimately promises higher returns on clients’ insurance investments.

As Intercare currently serves an established Orange County client roster, the company plans to add another 20-plus employee’s to the new Irvine office within the next year to support client and revenue growth.

Intercare’s new office is located at 8105 Irvine Center Drive, Suite 420, Irvine, CA 92618.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Intercare provides clients with the highest return on insurance investment in employee benefits, executive risk management, property and casualty, and retirement plans. The full-service insurance brokerage firm was founded in 2002 on the principle that insurance should be managed as an investment, not an expense. The forward-thinking company has become one of the fasting growing brokerage firms in the industry, providing strategic solutions and incomparable client resources that drive accountability, empower stakeholders, and build confidence in C-level executives.

From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, Intercare serves more than 300 clients in diverse markets including life science, medical device, legal, manufacturing, retail, financial services, retirement communities and hospitality. With presence in San Diego, Orange County and Houston, Intercare is trusted by leading brands that demand its integrated approach to maximize the value of their insurance investment. For more information on Intercare Insurance Solutions, please visit: intercaresolutions.com

Adrienne Shaffer Joins Intercare’s Orange County Leadership Team as Vice President of Client Services

Kim Wells — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:27:15 +0000

Adrienne Shaffer Joins Intercare’s Orange County Leadership Team as Vice President of Client Services

(June 1, 2011), ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.,—Intercare Insurance Solutions, a forward-thinking insurance service provider specializing in employee benefits, property and casualty, executive risk management and retirement, today announces Adrienne Shaffer as vice president, responsible for client services for Intercare’s Orange County clients.

As the former director of client services and senior consultant for Willis, Shaffer brings more than 25 years of experience in employee benefits and account management.

“Adrienne’s depth and breadth of experience in account management combined with an excellent reputation makes her the ideal vice president of client services for our Orange County clients. Her expertise and relationships enhance our ability to deliver strategic solutions to our clients,” said Executive Vice President of Account Management and Client Services Linda Keller.

Over her career, Shaffer has worked on the insurance carrier and benefits consulting side of the business, which provides her with a 360-degree perspective of the industry. Shaffer has a strong technical background in all aspects of client services, including the development of cost-saving strategies, alternative funding, consumer-driven healthcare modeling, contribution modeling, and carrier negotiations.

“I love the energy and enthusiasm at Intercare. I have a passion for serving my clients and working with great people. Meeting expectations are not enough; I strive to exceed them. The team at Intercare shares this same client-centric philosophy,” said Shaffer.

Shaffer is a graduate of University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Linguistics and holds an MBA in Marketing from California State University, Northridge, CA.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Paul Leblanc Joins Intercare’s Growing Leadership Team in Orange County as Senior Vice President

Kim Wells — Sat, 21 May 2011 18:25:27 +0000

Paul Leblanc Joins Intercare’s Growing Leadership Team in Orange County as Senior Vice President

(May 21, 2011), ORANGE COUNTY, Calif,—Intercare Insurance Solutions, an insurance service provider specializing in employee benefits, property and casualty, executive risk management and retirement, today announces Paul Leblanc as senior vice president in Orange County, its latest expansion market.

Having nine years with national health insurance and retirement carriers in both sales and management, and 10 years in brokerage and consulting, Leblanc has a demonstrated track record as a strategic leader and effective benefits consultant.

“Paul’s expertise makes him a valued mentor to his peers and strategic partner for our clients. His unique skillset will enhance Intercare’s ability to deliver our highly differentiated value proposition to large employers within the Orange County market,” said Intercare’s President and CEO Mike Barone.

Leblanc joins Intercare from Willis through its acquisition of HRH in 2007. In his previous role as HRH president of the Orange County and Arizona offices, Leblanc oversaw all operations and consulted with HRH’s largest clients. In addition to his role as regional president, Leblanc sat on HRH’s national employee benefit advisory council and was HRH’s national retirement practice leader.

Leblanc’s areas of expertise include self-funding, consumer-driven healthcare modeling, wellness strategy, contribution analysis and corporate retirement and pension plans. Prior to Willis, Leblanc held regional management positions with MetLife Retirement Services and Great West Life. Paul is a graduate of the University of Denver in 1992 with a BS in Marketing.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Fast-Growing Intercare Insurance Solutions Expands to Orange County and Names Rob Queen Senior Vice President

Kim Wells — Thu, 12 May 2011 18:24:37 +0000

Fast-Growing Intercare Insurance Solutions Expands to Orange County and Names Rob Queen Senior Vice President

(May 12, 2011), ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.,—Intercare Insurance Solutions, an innovative insurance brokerage firm specializing in employee benefits and wellness, property and casualty, executive risk management and retirement; today announces it will be expanding business into the Orange County market with the addition of Rob Queen, a recognized employee benefits and retirement expert.

With multiple employment offers on the table, Queen chose to work with Intercare for many reasons; among them having the opportunity to bring Intercare’s population health improvement initiatives and cost-saving strategies to clients.

“I absolutely believe in Intercare’s unique value proposition and its forward-thinking vision. Intercare has a stellar reputation and provides clients with unique solutions to their complex insurance challenges. Intercare is at the forefront of the industry and I am proud to be a part of the team,” said Queen.

Queen will be supporting Intercare’s strategic growth efforts in Orange County, Intercare’s latest expansion market. Queen is responsible for driving Orange County business development efforts in the employee benefit and retirement sectors, two of Intercare’s four insurance service offerings.

“Bringing Rob on board to help expand our success in Orange County is a great move for Intercare. Rob has a reputation in the industry as an exceptional consultant and relationship builder,” said Intercare CEO and President Mike Barone. “His expertise enhances our ability to understand employers’ unique corporate, financial and human resources challenges. This allows us to apply innovative health and productivity-enhancing solutions to significantly improve our clients’ return on their health care investment,” concludes Barone.

Queen has nearly two decades of experience in human capital risk management, alternative funding, consumer driven healthcare modeling, wellness and retirement plan consulting. He started his career as a benefits consultant at New England Financial in Boston, Massachusetts and was most recently with Willis in Irvine, California, as a consultant practice leader in human capital and employee benefits. Queen is a graduate of Norwich University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Intercare Solutions Senior Vice President Julie Beacock Named to Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Advisory Board of Directors

Intercare Solutions — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:34:50 +0000

San Diego, CA – Intercare Insurance Solutions, an innovator in employee benefits, wellness, retirement and risk management solutions, today announced that Senior Vice President Julie Beacock has been named to the Advisory Board of Directors of Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD).

FHCSD is a private non-profit community clinic organization that is an integral part of San Diego’s healthcare safety net. Since 1970, FHCSD’s mission has been to provide comprehensive, accessible, quality healthcare services to all income levels in the San Diego region, with a special commitment to low income, medically underserved individuals.

The organization operates twenty-nine locations throughout the County of San Diego, including 12 primary care clinics, three dental clinics, an HIV clinic, and three mobile medical units which provide healthcare services at approximately 61 community sites. In 2009, FHCSD cared for more than 134,000 individuals through approximately 562,000 patient encounters.

“The decisions and actions of FHCSD’s Advisory Board of Directors directly impact our organization’s future,” said CEO Fran Butler-Cohen. “Board members give their time, talent, financial support and community resources to advance the mission of FHCSD. We’re fortunate to have Julie join our distinguished Board of local executives.”

Ms. Beacock joined Intercare in 2009, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the insurance broker/consultant profession. She specializes in advising clients with complex employee benefits, and property and casualty insurance needs, both domestic and abroad. This work includes evaluating and developing cost-saving insurance programs that mitigate risk and improve employee health and productivity, using proven and innovative methods.

Ms. Beacock has been active in the San Diego business community for more than 10 years and involved with several non-profit and for-profit organizations, with a primary focus on supporting women, children and the underserved community. This work has included serving on the Boards of AeA (American Electronics Association, now known as Tech America), The University Club, Young Professionals of Santa Barbara, and International 20/30 Organization.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Intercare Insurance Solutions Appoints Bill Litjen Senior VP in Growing Property & Casualty Division

Tanya Clayton — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:50:45 +0000

Brings 30 Years of Expertise Managing Employment-Related Liability Exposures

San Diego, CA – Intercare Insurance Solutions, an innovator in employee benefits, wellness, retirement and risk management solutions, today announced the selection of Bill Litjen as Senior Vice President, supporting the firm’s expansion in property and casualty services.

Mr. Litjen joins Intercare with three decades of demonstrated success helping companies protect financial and human assets in alignment with their strategic goals. By creating focused employment liability protection programs, he has enabled clients to gain a stronger competitive advantage through systematic reduction in workers’ compensation, employee benefit and employment practices costs.

“Two key advantages that our firm offers clients across all service lines are capacity and specialized expertise, which translates to exceptional strategic insight and personalized service,” said Intercare Chief Executive Officer Mike Barone. “Bill further bolsters our Property & Casualty Division in both those areas. He brings to an already deep bench of subject matter experts extensive experience managing complex employment-related liability exposures for some of the most prominent businesses throughout California, with particular focus in the area of workers’ compensation.”

In his role, Mr. Litjen will be responsible for helping provide the firm’s property and casualty clients with strategic business insight and risk assessment, relationship management, and advocacy with insurance carriers.

Before joining Intercare, Mr. Litjen spent more than 13 years at G.S. Levine Insurance Services, where most recently he created and was President of its Risk Management Division. Previously, he served as the firm’s President and Chief Operating Officer for seven years.

A graduate of San Diego State University, Mr. Litjen serves as a Trustee on the San Diego Sports Commission. He is a past member of the Coalition for Workers’ Compensation Reform and served on the Board of Directors for the Western Region of the Insurance Agents and Brokers Association. He has earned designations as an Associate in Risk Management, Certified Insurance Counselor and is a Certified Work Comp Advisor.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

Intercare Insurance Solutions Continues Expansion, Names Shannon Taylor, Executive VP of Sales

Tanya Clayton — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:59:44 +0000

San Diego, CA – Intercare Insurance Solutions, an innovator in employee benefits, wellness, retirement and risk management solutions, announced today that Shannon Taylor has joined the company’s senior leadership team. In the role of Executive Vice President, Sales, he will help lead the company’s continued growth in the San Diego market and expansion into the broader Southern California region.

With more than 25 years of experience in employee benefits, Mr. Taylor brings a strong technical background in health care strategy, provider networks, underwriting and alternative funding mechanisms, and an exceptional track record of delivering results for mid- and large-size clients.

“Shannon has a reputation in the industry as an exceptional strategist and relationship builder,” said Intercare President Mike Barone. “His expertise enhances our ability to understand employers’ unique corporate, financial and human resources challenges. This, in turn, allows us to apply best-in-class employee benefits products and our innovative health and productivity enhancing services to significantly improve their return on health care investment.”

Mr. Taylor most recently served as Vice President of Sales at UnitedHealthcare, where he led the company’s Southern California sales team. Previously, he held sales and management positions with Cigna and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

Mr. Taylor earned an MBA degree, with dual concentrations in Strategy & Organization and Leadership from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He also holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Marketing from the University of Illinois.

About Intercare Insurance Solutions

San Diego Benefit Survey Now Open!

Tanya Clayton — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 18:39:11 +0000

Medicare Sets the Lead in Covering Lifestyle Treatment Programs

Janice Stanger — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:05:17 +0000

Heart disease is the most expensive condition in the U.S. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, treating heart conditions cost $78 billion in 2006. Medicare paid close to half this total, while private payers (including employers and individuals) covered another 40%. These are only direct treatment dollars, and don’t include such costs as disability payments and lost productivity.

To effectively treat heart disease patients while controlling costs, Medicare has launched coverage for two innovative lifestyle programs. Both have impressive results in improving cardiac conditions. These two programs, the Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease and the Pritikin Program, are now approved treatment providers under Medicare’s new Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Program benefit. The implementation date of this groundbreaking change was October 25, 2010.

Medicare researchers rigorously analyzed studies in peer-reviewed journals before deciding to cover these two programs. Anecdotal evidence and unpublished data could not even be considered. Under Medicare regulations, the two programs were required to demonstrate the ability to:

Positively affect the progression of coronary artery disease
Reduce the need for coronary bypass surgery, and
Reduce the need for stents and angioplasty

But even more evidence was needed. The two programs also were required to demonstrate, through published studies, significant reductions in 5 or more risk factors related to heart disease:

Low density lipoprotein (also called “bad cholesterol”)
Triglycerides
Body mass index (this is a measure of weight)
Systolic blood pressure
Diastolic blood pressure
The need for cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes medications

Many of the studies Medicare cites as evidence to cover Ornish and Pritikin are multi-year trials that show long-term benefits. Often, patients graduating from these programs continue to improve over time, with less plaque clogging their arteries, shrinking waistlines, and other positive measures.

Dietary changes are fundamental to the Ornish and Pritikin Programs. Both use an eating plan based on whole plant foods: vegetables, fruits, beans, potatoes, whole grains, herbs, and spices. Patients are encouraged to eat all they want of these healthy foods, with no portion control. Nuts and other high-fat plant foods are limited in quantity, while low-fat animal foods, such as nonfat milk and egg whites, may be allowed on a very restricted basis.

Leaving out the animal foods altogether is allowed under the Ornish Program and encouraged by the Pritikin Program. Highly processed foods, especially oils, are excluded from both eating plans.

Exercise is a vital part of both approved programs. Patients learn the exercises tailored to their physical condition at the beginning of treatment. In addition, these programs train patients on effective stress reduction techniques and offer social support for lifestyle change.

Medicare covers only patients with established illness for Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation. Beneficiaries must have experienced one or more of the following:

Heart attack within the prior 12 months
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Current stable angina pectoris
Heart valve repair or replacement
Angioplasty or stenting
A heart or heart-lung transplant

Medicare’s new coverage has important implications for group medical plans. Employers experience heart attacks, transplants, and bypass surgeries as large claims that do not occur with great frequency in an active population. However, related chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes make up a high proportion of medical spend for most groups.

Rigorous studies show that significant lifestyle changes can prevent as well as reverse these kinds of chronic conditions. So insurers and self-funded employers can start taking advantage of effective lifestyle change programs to put a huge dent in their costs. While Ornish and Pritikin have limited geographic availability at this time, other programs that teach the diet and exercise essentials are available. Some can even be brought to the worksite. Plus Pritikin, at least, may expand to other locations.

In the 1980s, Medicare pioneered the use of Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) to reimburse hospitals. Instead of reimbursing whatever services hospitals wanted to charge for, DRGs allowed Medicare to pay a fixed, predetermined amount based on a patient’s diagnosis. This was an incentive for the hospital to be efficient and render only necessary care.

DRGs blazed a trail for insurers interested in prospective payment systems. In this case, Medicare innovation opened new pathways for private insurance to effectively rein in hospital costs.

Intensive cardiac rehabilitation could well be a similar precedent – a Medicare innovation that will allow employers to save significant dollars on treating expensive chronic illness. While the process is just getting started, this is a development that employers may want to start exploring now. Significant employee lifestyle changes, especially dietary choices, can eliminate the roots of conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. Employers will benefit from both lower medical costs and a more productive workforce.