"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

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

(00:40:08) 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

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

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

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

“If you're going to be the fiduciary, you have to protect the members, you have to protect the plan, and you need to defend that allowable to make sure that you're covering all of your bases." - Amy Pellegrin

We made it to episode 150! A huge thank you to every guest we’ve had on the show so far, and obviously to you, the listeners, for making the show what it is today.

For this special episode, we traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to meet with ClaimDOC, one of our sponsors, in early March and I hosted a panel podcast with Bruce Hansen, Amy Pellegrin, and Brad Hansen.

We talked about how each of them made their way to ClaimDOC, why it’s so important that ClaimDOC is a co-fiduciary with it’s clients, and why human customer support is especially welcome in the healthcare space. We also talked about the reference based pricing world at large and what ClaimDOC does to help its clients deal with balanced bills. 

Join us for the 150th time this week on Self-Funded with Spencer as we talk all things RBP! 

Chapters:

00:00:00 Welcome to Episode 150!

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: 

#ReferenceBasedPricing #HealthcareBilling #FiduciaryResponsibilities #MemberAdvocacy #VendorRelationships #NetworkFreeOptions #BalancedBilling #ProviderRelationships #MemberAdvocates #HealthcareTools #HealthcareInnovation #selffunded #podcast

Reference Based Pricing, Healthcare Billing, Fiduciary Responsibilities, Member Advocacy, Vendor Relationships, Network Free Options, Balanced Billing, Provider Relationships, Member Advocates, Healthcare Tools, Healthcare Innovation, self funded, podcast

"You're talking about the number one creator of wealth and security for people and one of their most important purchases. And like, how is this not in the employee benefits arena?" - Tommy Shumway

For the first time ever, a father and son joined the podcast together. Dave and Tommy Shumway, from CityWorth, joined the show to discuss an innovative, yet somewhat obvious, benefit that they’ve rolled out for employers to offer their employees: down payment assistance. 

We spend a lot of time on the show covering new point solutions that employers can use to offer better benefits to their employees, but the idea of helping employee’s purchase real estate has yet to come up on the show. Dave and Tommy are able to offer this benefit thanks to their ability to operate in several states and their experience with doing these kinds of transactions many times. 

The approach for employers is simple: offer employers help with their downpayment only after they’ve worked a set number of years at the company. The benefit is hugely beneficial with encouraging employee loyalty, and as Dave and Tommy shared, homeowners live much more stable lives and are much more productive than renters. 

Join us this week on Self-Funded with Spencer for a discussion on home ownership as an employee benefit. 

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introducing The Shumways

00:45:00 The Future Of Real Estate

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: 

#StartupChallenges #CityworthBusinessModel #RealEstateIndustry #MortgageEmployeeBenefits #HomeBuyingAssistance #EmployeeRetention #PrivatePortals #HomeownershipBenefits #RealEstateInnovation #RealEstateStrategies #RealEstateServices #EmployeeBenefits #selffunded #podcast

Startup Challenges, Cityworth Business Model, Real Estate Industry, Mortgage Employee Benefits, Home Buying Assistance, Employee Retention, Private Portals, Homeownership Benefits, Real Estate Innovation, Real Estate Strategies, Real Estate Services, Employee Benefits, self funded, podcast

“We need to solve for all of that, so that it's more rewarding, more enjoyable, because that's where the cost savings will come in. That's where the innovation will come." - Ben Callaghan

Ben Callaghan, Chief Experience Officer at Empara, joined me this week to discuss how design can actually play a huge role in fixing many of the problems in our industry. 

Before working at Empara, Ben actually attempted to launch a ski design company, and we discussed how that experience designing physical products still informs his design philosophy. 

Ben focuses on the experiences that patients have utilizing healthcare, which is famously frustrating and complicated. Even if you have the best point solution in the world, it’s not going to be effective if nobody uses it, so it’s pivotal that the way that employees use healthcare is designed thoughtfully. 

Even if you don’t know anything about design, I’d encourage you to check out this episode to learn how design impacts literally everything we do in modern America. 

Chapters:

00:00:00 Meet Ben Callaghan

00:04:26 From Design Entrepreneur to Healthcare Innovator

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: 

#HealthcareTransformation #TechnologyInHealthcare #InnovativeHealthcare #PatientExperience #DigitalHealthSolutions #HospitalAssistance #MemberEngagement #CustomizedHealthcare #FutureOfHealthTech #UserExperienceDesign #HealthcareIndustryInsights #ConsumerDrivenHealthcare #selffunded #podcast

Healthcare Transformation, Technology In Healthcare, Innovative Healthcare, Patient Experience, Digital Health Solutions, Hospital Assistance, Member Engagement, Customized Healthcare, Future Of Health Tech, User Experience Design, Healthcare Industry Insights, Consumer Driven Healthcare, self funded, podcast