2006 System Review

Security Health Plan: An advocate for healthy living

Tom Pankratz, 64, of Marshfield, has faced numerous health concerns through the years, including knee replacement surgery, a ruptured hernia and a heart attack.

While his health issues have meant serious lifestyle changes both for him and his wife, Janet, one constant over time has been their health care coverage. The Pankratzes were among the first to enroll in the Greater Marshfield Community Health Plan when it was started in 1971. Security Health Plan, the current health maintenance organization owned and operated by Marshfield Clinic, began in 1986 as an outgrowth of the Greater Marshfield Community Health Plan.

“We’ve been with them from the very beginning and have always been appreciative of the exceptional quality of our health care coverage,” said Tom. He works for the city of Marshfield Street Department, which provides group health care coverage through Security Health Plan.

“It’s not the type of plan that’s going to pull any surprises on you,” he added. “You know exactly what you’re getting with it and you can count on it to deliver.”

In the 20 years since it began, Security Health Plan’s primary goal has been to provide members with excellent health care coverage from doctors they know and trust. Because physicians direct the HMO, members can feel confident that coverage decisions are made by medical professionals who care about doing what is best for their members' health.

“People in this part of the state know Marshfield Clinic is going to do right by them,” said Tom. “The fact that Security Health Plan is owned by the Clinic gives you that extra feeling of trust.”

“We always say how fortunate we are to live right here in Marshfield getting the same level of health care we’d find in bigger cities,” added Janet.

Another part of Security Health Plan’s mission involves providing preventive health services that assist members in staying healthy and help keep health insurance costs in check.

“We provide coverage for many routine preventive health services and have disease management programs to help members learn about and control such chronic conditions as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and depression,” said Steven Youso, chief administrative officer for Security Health Plan. “These programs help keep people healthier longer and end up saving everyone money in the long run.”

Tom Pankratz credits Security Health Plan with helping him quit smoking and start getting more regular cardiovascular exercise after his 1998 heart attack.

“I thought I got enough exercise working outside and doing other outdoor activities like hunting,” he said. “After my heart attack, I had to make some tough lifestyle changes, and they really helped me. I quit smoking and learned about how important cardiovascular exercise is. Part of my rehab was a regular exercise program where a therapist monitored my heart rate, and we learned about living a more heart-healthy lifestyle.” Today the Pankratzes regularly use a treadmill and stationery bike to work out in their basement gym.

“These programs exist to help empower our members,” said Jane Wolf, director of health services for Security Health Plan. “The more knowledge people have available to them about their conditions, the better their health-related choices and decisions will be. We can be advocates in helping them lead healthier lives.”

Security Health Plan members have access to a broad choice of providers. They have free health information and advice at their fingertips day or night through the plan’s Nurse Line. The Health Plan also promotes members’ health and well being through community health fairs and other events, such as promoting bicycle safety by providing helmets through its annual Bike Rodeos for children.

Security Health Plan is consistently ranked high in surveys of customer satisfaction and retention. “Our members say they would recommend the Health Plan to their family and friends,” said Youso.

In 2005, for the fourth consecutive year, Security Health Plan received an “Excellent” accreditation, the highest rating available from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)®, an independent national watchdog.

U.S. News and World Report, in partnership with the NCQA, named Security Health Plan the 13th best commercial health plan in the nation out of more than 500 plans rated in its Best Health Plans 2005 guide. Security Health Plan also received recognition for having the seventh best Medicare plan in the nation.

These accolades don’t surprise the Pankratzes. “Security Health Plan has always been a winning program for those of us living in or near this community – I believe all of my neighbors and friends would say the same,” Tom said. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s just no sense in having any other coverage.”