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1
CARE OR CURE LOSS PREVENTION
IN HEALTH INSURANCE+
A PRESENTATION BY
GEORGE E. THOMAS(TARIFF ADVISORY COMMITTEE, INDIA)
AT THE INTERNATIONAL ACTUARIAL ASSOCIATION – HEALTH SECTION
COLLOQUIUM 2004DRESDEN, GERMANY
28 - April - 2004
2
CARE OR CURE THEMES FOR DISCUSSION
1. LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION & HEALTH INSURERS
2. LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?3. LOSS MINIMISATION – HOW ?4. EXPLORING HEALTHCARE OPTIONS &
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
3
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
“…risk management may be defined as the minimisation of the adverse effects of risk at minimum cost through its identification, measurement, and control.”
(‘Risk Management and Insurance’ by C. Arthur Williams & Richard M. Heins)
Loss prevention/ loss minimisation measures of risk management - have improved non-life risks and yielded long term financial gains for insurers in many fields of non-life insurance.
4
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION
& HEALTH INSURERSØ Practised for various reasons in non-life insurance:Ø as risk management policy by industrial housesØ to earn a financial incentive from the insurerØ by insurer’s compulsion - policy conditions.
Ø Practised for any reason, loss prevention improves the quality of a risk and reduces an insurer’s financial burden.
Ø For this reason, historically, non-life insurers have taken the lead in promoting concepts of risk management - loss prevention/ loss minimisation.
5
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION
& HEALTH INSURERS
Ø Advantages – over a period of time, risk managers and insurers have made the world safer. Ø fire safety systems in factories and warehouses,
legislations on workers’ safetyØ safety standards for handling and storage of
hazardous materialØ safer handling of cargo at ports, improved road
safety standardsØ created an awareness that insured should take
due care whether the risk is insured or otherwise.
6
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
Ø In health insurance, concepts of loss prevention and risk management have not gained significant groundØ health policyholders as well as Ø insurers have been turning a blind eye on prevention
of losses.
Ø Underwriters have conventionally been dealing with illnesses as inevitable natural happenings based on a comfortable and very logical belief that Ø all health policyholders take care of their healthØ and the health of their near and dear ones.
Ø Is this belief really justified ?
7
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
Ø Though ironical, human beings are not always as logical, rational or methodical as they should be when it comes to managing their own health and the health of those under their care.
Ø One often hears excuses for not taking care of one’s health;Ø excuses like not having the time, Ø being busy with day to day work, Ø hoping that things would never happen to them, Ø believing that whether careful or not whatever has
to happen would happen, Ø being bad at one’s own matters and so on.
8
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
Ø From a risk management point of view, this sort of irrational behavior of human beingsØ makes them bad risks - easily susceptible to loss
making conditions Ø mostly, not prepared for managing the situation
andØ with no contingency planning whatsoever (only
when illness strikes, most insured realize that they are unprepared).
Ø Thus, when an insured peril is in operation, many ‘health policyholders’ turn out to be Ø badly managed and poorly maintained risksØ having no worthwhile loss minimisation strategies
in place
9
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
Ø This state of affairs is tragic for the insured and turns out as bad business for insurers.
Ø Any success in managing this situation would be Ø a boon to the insured,Ø a bonus for the insurer and indirectly, Ø a blessing for humanity at large.
To get a more focused view of the situation, let us have a close look at the similarities between an industrial fire, an injury, a communicable disease and a non-communicable disease. (The examples cited are merely illustrative)
10
LOSS MAKING SITUATIONS - SOME SIMILARITIES
LOSS MAKING CONDITION
HOST / RISK
AGENT/ FLAW IN THE SYSTEM
VEHICLE OF INTERACTION
INTERACTION/OPERATION OF HAZARD
SCOPE OF LOSS PREVENTION/ CONTROL ACTIVITY
FIRE Textile Factory
Carelessness of worker
Lighted Cigarette end thrown in the wrong place
Fire from the cigarette spreads to cotton fluff
Worker training,Installation of Smoke detectors, Automatic sprinklers, Fire alarm, CO2flooding systems.
SKULL FRACTURE Human
Managing mechanical energy
Over speeding & skidding of Motor Cycle
Crash
Increasing awareness of traffic rules, Enforcing road discipline, use of Helmet.
MALARIA Human
Vulnerable to infection by Plasmodium sp.
Mosquito Bite
Creating awareness on breeding places of mosquitoes – clearing cesspools of stagnant water, Fumigation & other repellents, Protective skin creams. Vaccination.
CIRRHOSISOF LIVER
Human
Body can not tolerate high alcohol exposure
Habitual & excessive use of alcohol
Wrong life style and weak liver and of the patient
Creating awareness about effect of excessive use of alcohol, periodic health check-ups, Forming mutual help groups like ‘alcoholics anonymous’. Promoting a better life style
CARE OR CURE
11
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
Ø Here, losses were caused by the operation of certain perils - the insured is affected and the financial burden is passed on to the insurer.
Ø In the textile factory case, the insured’s risk managers will have their risk management and loss minimisation strategies.
Ø In the three other cases, the insured does not have a proper strategy in place.
Ø IT IS ONLY REASONABLE THAT THE HEALTH INSURER, WHO ULTIMATELY HAS TO BEAR THE COST, PLANS STRATEGIES FOR THE INSURED.
Ø Moreover, the insurer being in a better position by way of knowledge, technology, professional expertise, infrastructure and financial strength can tackle the situation better.
12
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION SO FAR:
Fact No: 1 - If properly maintained, human beings remain healthier and less prone to diseases for a longer time.
Fact No: 2 - Loss prevention/ loss minimisation measures have improved risks and yielded long-term gains for insurers in many fields of non-life insurance.
Fact No: 3 - Health policyholders subjected to loss prevention/ loss minimisation measures, become better risks & bring good returns for insurers in the long run.
Fact No: 4 - It would be preferable for health insurers to take the initiative and get loss prevention / loss minimisation strategies in place for insured.
13
CARE OR CURETHEME –1: LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION &
HEALTH INSURERS
AS INSURERS, LET US ACCEPT THIS POSITION,
FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF THE SMALL FRATERNITY OF POLICYHOLDERS PLACED IN OUR HANDS
AND ENDORSE OUR COMMITMENT TO DO OUR BEST IN PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH
FOR HUMANITY.
NOW, HOW DO WE TRANSLATE OUR COMMITMENT INTO ACTION ?
HAZARD OPERABILITY MODEL
MITIGATION IMPROBABLE
UNLIKELY
POSSIBLE
LIKELY
PROBABLE
LIKELIHOOD 1 2 3 4 5
LIGHT
SEVERITY
-1 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5
SERIOUS -2 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10
MAJOR -3 -3 -6 -9 -12 -15
CATASTROPHIC -4 -4 -8 -12 -16 -20
MULTI-CATASTROPHIC
-5 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25
PREVENTION
CARE OR CURE
LEGEND: HAZARD OPERABILITY MODEL
-25 to -20 RedNON-OPERABLE
Evacuate area / zone / country
-16 to -10 Pink INTOLERABLE Do not take this risk
- 9 to - 5 Orange UNDESIRABLE Evaluate risk thoroughly before insuring
- 4 to - 2 Blue ACCEPTABLE Proceed carefully - plan risk improvement
-1 Green NEGLIGIBLE Safe to proceed
CARE OR CURE
16
CARE OR CUREFURTHER THEMES FOR DISCUSSION
Ø How can these ideas be translated into action?
Ø How can health policyholders be helped in managing their health better?
Ø A three-pronged approach on the following themes would be required for this purpose, may be at a global level :
(i) [ THEME – 2] Loss Prevention – How ?(ii) [ THEME – 3] Loss Minimisation – How ?(iii) [ THEME – 4] Exploring Healthcare Options and
Knowledge Sharing
17
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
“Prevention is better than cure”. What can health insurers do to prevent or reduce occurences of diseases ?
Education: The individual’s perception of health improves with education.
ü Standards of personal hygiene/ literacy levels are not uniform all over the world.
ü Doctors practising in rural areas report the benefits ofü simple practices like washing one’s hands before eating &ü washing vegetables before cooking.
ü Awareness of the ill effects of pollution.ü Organized effort in prevention – should start with
education. ü Insurers can start from schools, families, villages,
places of worship or work places. ü Services of teachers, doctors, social workers can be used. ü Insurers can organize task forces for this purpose.
18
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
Ø Lifestyle Management: Prevention is possible by improving the policyholders’ lifestyle.
ü Stress has ill effects on the heart, the nervous system and the digestive system
ü Mere awareness and recognition of stress symptoms can ring an alarm bell before a burn out.
ü Relaxation techniques, a positive and cheerful attitude towards life can prevent many illnesses. ü Personalized counseling sessions, ü Inducing good habits like walking or exercising regularly
ü Sustaining good habits through conducive conditionsü Example: forming walking clubs, fitness centers.
ü Employing facilitators like local volunteers, school kids insured who need exercise on medical advice or local fitness centers for setting up such groups.
19
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
Ø Alternate Lifestyle Systems: Preventive measures can include regular practice of ancient or modern lifestyle systems like Ø ‘Yoga’, ‘Reiki’, ‘Vipassana’, ‘Brahmavidya’,
meditation, mind management methods, breathing exercises and positive thinking.
Ø Distribution of inspirational books, cassettes, compact disks etc. can easily be done.
Ø Talks and classes by resource persons can be organized for the purpose.
Ø Formation of local prayer groups, chanting groups, laughing clubs etc. can also promote continuance of alternate lifestyles.
20
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
Ø Preventive Diagnostics: Preventive diagnostics - like preventive maintenance of machinesØ policy conditions can stipulate regular health checkupsØ schedules for medical tests, investigations Ø compulsory submission of reports to the insurer and Ø financial incentives for compliance.
Ø Vaccinations: Many parts of the world are affected by diseases like malaria, yellow fever, small pox, typhoid, and certain strains of hepatitis, tuberculosis and polio. Ø vaccinations can be arranged free of cost or at
subsidized rates for health policyholders.
Ø Do’s & Don’ts: When a family member is quarantined, or in times of epidemics, check-lists of do’s and don’ts can be given to insured. Ø Such interaction can bring about definite results.Ø Physicians, nurses, health/ social workers can help.
21
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
Ø Benefits of modern scientific advancements can be used to forecast illnesses: Examples - Metabolic Disorders Research, checking Homocysteine levels
Ø Wellness Centers: There are mental blocks among some people about hospitals.ØMemories of pain/ distress & deceased relatives. ØMany feel that all hospitals are making “business
with disease”. Ø Unscrupulous medical practitioners convert
insured patients into business opportunities. Ø Some people say that the last thing they ever want
to do is going to a hospital, i.e. till they are carried in. Once admitted, many lose their desire to live, delaying the healing process and prolonging the treatment process.
22
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
Ø Confidence in Hospitals: The patient’s faith/ trust/ confidence in the hospital & its systems improves the chances of recovery. Ø Insurers can interact with hospitals; assess their
professional standards, efficacy of their systems and business ethics.
Ø Insurers can employ third party administrators (TPAs) to streamline dealings between insured and hospitals.
Ø Hospitals should be projected as wellness centres; or even induced to open separate wings for preventive diagnostics and insured care.
23
CARE OR CURETHEME - 2 : LOSS PREVENTION – HOW ?
Ø Patient-friendly Image of Hospitals: This image has to be carefully built up by insurers and hospitals together so that patients willingly approach a hospital when the first alarm bell of the body rings.
Ø Loyalty rewards: To ensure long term yield for their endeavours, insurers should plan strategies for keeping insured with them for longer periods of time. Ø Devising long-term health insurance policies or Ø Loyalty rewards for continuous insurance could
be options.
24
CARE OR CURETHEME - 3 : LOSS MINIMISATION – HOW ?
“A stitch in time saves nine”
Ø Loss minimisation includes
Ø early recognition of an illness,
Ø preventing a condition from worsening,
Ø ensuring speedy and effective medical attention,
Ø accurate diagnosis,
Ø efficient treatment at reasonable costs,
Ø professional and cost effective follow up etc.
Ø AN ILLNESS ‘PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM’ CAN MAKE THE SITUATION CLEAR . . . .
25
HOSPITAL TREATMENT
ØADMISSIONØCRITICAL / INTENSIVE CARE
üDiagnosisüMedical HistoryüAllergiesüInvestigationsüCourse of treatment
ØINTERNAL PAYMENTSØEXTERNAL PAYMENTS
ØPOST HOSPITALISATION PLAN
PROCESS FLOW
DIAGRAM
EXTERNAL AGENCY FOR SPECIALISED OPINION
TRANSIT FROM SPOT OF OCCURANCE TO HOSPITAL
ØSHIFTING TO AMBULANCEØTRAINED PERSONNEL
ØLIFT / STAIRCASEüFirst Aid / Personal DetailsüPreliminary investigationüCommunication to hospital
ØDISTANCEØROAD CONDITIONS
ØPEAK HOUR TRAFFICØRAILWAYLINE/ CHECKPOST
ØPARKING
DECISION
ØSerious or not ?ØHospitalize?ØWhere ?ØMoney ?ØTransport ?ØAccompany ?ØDocuments ? ØWhat to carry ?
SOS TO HOSPITAL
SOS FOR AMBULANCE
SOS TO RELATIVE
ADMISSION PROCESS
EXTERNAL AGENCY FOR SPECIALISED TREATMENT
EXTERNAL AGENCY FOR INVESTIGATION
RETURN HOME
DIRECTLY TO HOSPITAL
SUDDEN ILLNESS
BACK HOME SAFE
2510
Diagnosis while waiting. First Aid. Less
tension. Streamline procedures. Tie-up
with hospitals
55(5-20)
10
Communication /Waiting/ Money/ Preparation
105Predetermined action. Telephonic assistance
30(1 – 20)
10Communication
5010As a cumulative effect, faster diagnosis – and
faster medical attention100
(10–30)15
Diagnosis
4015Diagnosis / First Aid
during transportation. Hospital kept aware.
85(10- 60)
30Transportation
155External online help. Clarity on options.
45(5 – 30)
15Decision
55Early recognition of symptoms and illness
20(5 – 45)
20Recognition
CUMULATIVE TIME TAKEN
(Minutes)
TIME (Minutes)
MINIMISATION ACTION
CUMULATIVE TIME On an
average(Minutes)
NORMAL TIME
(Minutes)PROCESS
TIME FACTOR – GOLDEN HOUR MANAGEMENT
27
CARE OR CURETHEME - 3 : LOSS MINIMISATION – HOW ?
ü Recognizing body conditions is critical:ü Insured should be able to recognize ailments, body’s
warning signalsü They should know the do’s and don’ts in the event of a
health condition and first aid measures to manage health situations better.
ü Right information needed for right action:ü Health policyholders armed with right information are
better prepared. Examples:ü booklets containing addresses and telephone
numbers of doctors, trauma care centers, specialized hospitals
ü information on procedural formalities on admission.
28
CARE OR CURETHEME - 3 : LOSS MINIMISATION – HOW ?
“A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
ü Help-line services for providing on-line assistance:
ü When disaster strikes, an unprepared insured can only wring his hands.
ü Even normally efficient people become panic stricken and find themselves unable to take right decisions.
ü 24 hour telephone help-line services ü giving policyholders step by step guidance,ü locating ambulance services for them, ü directing them to the right medical help, ü alerting hospitals about the patient’s arrival
and the likeü In traumatic situations, a cool headed third party can
plan “the golden hour” effectively. Maybe, trained call centers can assist.
29
CARE OR CURETHEME - 3 : LOSS MINIMISATION – HOW ?
ü Creating Own Infrastructure: Deep pocketed insurers can create infrastructure for support services.
ü A group of insurers can promote organizations to provide loss prevention services, education, trauma-care, free ambulance services, mobile trauma care services on highways and remote places.
ü Sponsoring fitness clinics, counselling centres and employing support staff are other measures.
ü Tie-ups with Hospitals: Insurance companies can tie-up with major hospitals to provide emergency medical care without making any payment.
ü Local tie-ups: Without investing on infrastructure,insurers can have local tie-ups by sharing support infrastructure like ambulance, hospitals and doctors.
30
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS & KNOWLEDGE SHARING
ü Market Options: The insurer, as an entrepreneur has to be constantly aware of the options available to the health policyholders and the costs involved in the insured exercising these options.
ü Laws of demand and supply, formation of cartels etc. push the costs of diagnostics, treatment and health care higher and higher.
ü More and more health care options can break the present demand-supply equation. Research and a free flow of knowledge across the globe will give more options to the insured.
31
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS & KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Ø Options from the ancients: World wide research is needed to rediscover the efficacy of ancient health care solutions.
Ø “Ayurveda” the traditional medicine of ancient India has solutions for many ailments. Even diseases like “cerebral thrombosis” are being cured.
Ø It may sound surprising that herbal powders and oils applied on the head and soothing herbal pastes applied on the soles of the feet can achieve medical wonders
Ø Traditional medicine based on the research and wisdom of the ancients is still an affordable alternative in India for those who have belief in it.
Ø Likewise, other ancient civilizations also have native medical systems that are quite efficient.
32
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE OPTIONS
& KNOWLEDGE SHARINGü Insurers can sponsor research projects to study the
present day relevance and efficacy of ancient systems.
ü This will improve patients’ confidence in these affordable options. Once the benefits of traditional medicine are proven by modern day research, these will become popular.
ü The full potential of Homoeopathy, a holistic form of medicine, has not yet been fully explored as an alternate treatment.
ü Insurers can sponsor research in modern areas of health care.
ü Examples: Efficacy of using medicated / non-medicated heart stents for particular cardiac conditions, oxidation stress, ‘oxygen paradox’, cellular nutrition etc.
ü Cost effective systems of health care administration.
33
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS & KNOWLEDGE SHARING
üCost Concerns: The era of hospitals and medical centres which are run by the government, charitable trusts, missionaries and philanthropic organizations has steadily been giving way for ‘speciality’ and ‘super speciality’ hospitals run by professional managers answerable to the share holders of the hospital.
üIn many Indian hospitals, insured patients generally pay more than uninsured patients for the same disease.
üWe hear the voices of philanthropists from Germany and around the world about “business with disease”. (A debate on commercialization of medical treatment is, however, beyond the scope of this paper.)
üIn their own interest, insurers should be concerned about medical costs and do something to reduce it.
34
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE OPTIONS
& KNOWLEDGE SHARINGResearchers have time and again emphasized the need for
health information systems.“Despite progress in recent years, the lack of standards
remains a major impediment to technical and international collaboration in health and health informatics”. S. H. Mandil (1991)
In “industry generally, the adoption of standards has resulted in an increase in market opportunities and lower costs for equipment and services to users. In health informatics, the widespread adoption of standards is expected to improve the health of the nation’s population at a lower cost by improving the ability of health professional, public and health service administrators to share and make better use of the information gathered”. Paper on ‘Standards in Health Insurance’ by E. J. S. Hovenga.
35
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS & KNOWLEDGE SHARING
ü Sharing of Information: Health informatics needs to be built up and shared all over the world.
ü Insurers need reliable internal data on treatment costs with uniform standardized codes for diseases, treatment and diagnostic processes.
ü This data can be used for in-house analysis of costs and shared as well.
ü Either way, insurers should initiate dialogues for achieving common standards for their database architecture.
Ø A lot of research has been done the world over and today in 2004, there is no dearth of standards in health informatics.
36
CARE OR CURETHEME - 4 : EXPLORING HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS & KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Ø What is needed today is
Ø joint action from insurers all over the world to see that health care data is captured, used and shared by the insurance fraternity Ø for their own business interests, Ø for providing a healthier life to the
insured and Ø for the general well being of mankind.
37
CARE OR CURESUMMING UP OF THEMES COVERED
1. HEALTH INSURERS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN LOSS PREVENTION / MINIMISATION OF HEALTH POLICYHOLDERS
2. HOW TO MAKE LOSS PREVENTION POSSIBLE
3. HOW TO MAKE LOSS MINIMISATION POSSIBLE
4. HOW INSURERS CAN EXPLORE AND FIND OUT MORE HEALTHCARE OPTIONS & SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE