Who Needs Navigators?
Health insurers are bypassing them and opening outlets alongside department stores and other typical mall tenants, reports USA Today:
Shopping center owners may not be courting them as they would Apple or trendy fashion brands, but health insurers are increasingly opening stores alongside far sexier retail tenants…
So, for the first time, insurers are fiercely competing to attract individual consumers and turning to traditional retail marketing techniques to do so, luring them into stores with special events and using splashy advertising. As any retailer knows, they have the greatest chance of converting shoppers to customers once they have them in their retail locations or on their sites.
Interesting point. Not quite sure how I feel about it. Leaning towards it being a good thing- more people will be exposed to their health care options. Thus creating more market competition.
Thoughts?
Businesses reacting to the market is a good thing, I trust that they are making good decisions.
Along with what JD said, the problem could come in because the government has created such perverse incentives that business reactions are counterproductive. There wouldn’t be anything inherently wrong with business or the free market, but instead with government.
Unfortunately that is the kind of thing that the free market gets blamed for.
It won’t be long before an insurance provider is situated in a mall, next to a pharmaceutical kiosk suggesting to customers what prescriptions they should ask their doctors for.
That seems like a good thing to me.
Might as well put a gumball machine with hydrocodone in it then.
“So, for the first time, insurers are fiercely competing to attract individual consumers and turning to traditional retail marketing techniques to do so, luring them into stores with special events and using splashy advertising.”
I for one would love to change my insurance provider while enjoying a delicious Auntie Anne’s pretzel. ‘Merica.
Agreed, when left up to the market, there are far greater advantages. In this case, your pretzel.
Government can offer pretzels, too! And they’d be free! If you’re willing to brave the long lines and poor quality that is…
They should have doctors as well so I can buy 10 pretzels and get a doctors visit free
I’m still waiting for my free cell phone.
and after the 10 pretzels, you’ll certainly need it.
According to the wonderful BMI index I am considered average. All the reassurance I need.
Very interesting development. The knee jerk reaction by the Administration is that consumers must need people to explain this to them. Usually, brokers do this job.
In my area, health insurers have been using direct mail advertising for years. Medicare plans routinely set up in places like Sam’s Club during open season.
Two obsevations —
1. According to this article, the trend predates Obamacare, and the one woman cited was buying Medigap, not individual health insurance.
2. The store she used was next door to a Lord & Taylor — pretty upscale. Here is another way to select the good risks over the bad. I would wager not many such retail outlets will be located next to skid row liquor stores.