Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Saint Mary’s Team Up To Offer Affordable Health Plans To Members

Henderson-area small businesses struggling to stay afloat in Nevada’s ongoing recession can look to their neighborhood chamber of commerce for assistance in these tough economic times.
Saint Mary’s Health Plans, in cooperation with the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, is offering two health plans exclusively for chamber members.
The partnership provides a money-saving opportunity for chamber members who are trying to retain their quality employees with benefits and a healthy work environment.
Kirk Clausen, chairman of the board of the chamber, said offering health plan options for small businesses is one way the organization can provide tangible benefits to its members. The chamber, with just over 1,200 members, is also suffering in the economic slowdown as some member businesses are forced to close, he said.
“A hugely important benefit in the way of retaining employees for small business is to be able to offer a benefits package, and so we went after what we felt was one of the very best programs out there,� he said.
A preferred provider organization (PPO) plan has been offered by the chamber for some time. The new offering as of June 1 is a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. The group plans have very favorable terms saving individual businesses from having to negotiate plans and rates on their own, he said.
Clausen said the offerings have been well received by chamber members.
“So the chamber isn’t much different than businesses out there,� he said. “We have to have a value proposition, we have to have something we are offering our members to grow and keep our membership and I think this is a critically important (benefit).�
Saint Mary’s Health Plans, owned by Catholic Healthcare West, owner of three local St. Rose hospitals, came to the Las Vegas Valley more than two years ago after experiencing nearly 20 years of success in Northern Nevada. Its main focus is to provide small group health insurance, and although there are 25 plans available, the company offers two plans exclusively for members of the Henderson Chamber, which also utilizes Saint Mary’s for its insurance coverage.
Small groups are defined as having between two and 50 employees.
“More than 90 percent of employer groups in Nevada have fewer than 20 employees,� said Dan Evans, market director for Saint Mary’s Health Plans. “The economy has been a real disaster, especially in Las Vegas. One of the things a few business owners had to let go was their health insurance coverage. Our partnership with the chamber gives them the opportunity to have it back.�
Saint Mary’s Health Plans has been expanding its provider network in Southern Nevada and has more than 1,800-plus local physicians and ancillary providers in its network in Clark County. Thirteen local hospitals are also in their network. Saint Mary’s Health Plan members have access to 34 hospitals and over 3,500-plus providers in Nevada, as well as access to other provider networks when outside of the state.
Saint Mary’s Health Plans provide members with access to all St. Rose hospitals – important for the chamber’s Henderson-based membership.
Other chambers offer health plan options to members as well, including the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Reno-Sparks chamber.
The Henderson Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit voluntary organization committed to promoting and supporting member businesses.
Audio clips:
Henderson Chamber Board President Kirk Clausen says a benefits package is important for a small business to retain employees:
083010Clausen1 :12 plans out there.”
Clausen says chamber has to offer tangible benefits to members:
083010Clausen2 :11 critically important bene.”

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