By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll wind up somewhere else,” says Adam Sterling, director of sales and marketing at Henry Ford Village. Sterling is addressing a crowd full of retirees, many from the auto industry, at a presentation of the community’s own in-house health insurance plan called Erickson Advantage.
The auditorium is packed to full capacity, as a captivated audience listens intently about the Medicare Advantage health plan offered only to Erickson community residents.
Benefits cut certainty for many
Many retirees are still reeling after receiving letters in the mail telling them their health benefits will be drastically reduced in the coming months.
“It’s very overwhelming,” says Jerry Kmieciak, the Erickson Advantage representative who is a licensed insurance agent on staff at Henry Ford Village.
“Health care costs are increasing,” Kmieciak says. “There are needs and wants, and wants cost a little bit more,” he says. “I’m here to help you figure out what your needs are.”
Erickson: prevention is key
Kmieciak points out that the Erickson philosophy and approach to health care is to put the emphasis on preventing health problems from developing, not just treating them after they arise.
“Falls are a concern, for example, because they can cause hip fractures,” says Kmieciak. Erickson’s health insurance plan stresses preventing problems from occurring with fall prevention classes, bone density testing, colorectal screening, mammography, flu shots, diabetes monitoring; the list goes on.
Kmieciak offers fulltime on-site representation and assistance for any community member, whether they are enrolled in Erickson Advantage or not.
Personal attention part of plan
The plan also offers a nurse care coordinator to act as a liaison between members and hospitals, as well as a full-service medical center and a team of doctors and specialists, another hallmark benefit for members.