ABX and employee team up to cut medical costs

ABX and Employee Team Up to Cut Medical Costs

Story by Linda Billetter

Reprinted with permission from Expressions, Vol. 11, No. 4, April 2002

If you identify an overpayment by United Healthcare, which then is refunded as a result of the information you provide, you will receive 10 percent of the savings. When you and the Company work together, it benefits both you and ABX, which is self-insured.

Just ask Lead Structures Technician Ed Strong. Ed, who has worked at ABX for 18 years, makes a habit of keeping track of medical services provided and comparing them to the Explanation of Benefits form from United HealthCare. Already twice this year Ed has found errors in overpayments, and twice he has received a check for 10 percent of the refunds.

In December 1999 Ed’s 12-year-old daughter, Laura George, was seriously injured in an automobile accident. Fortunately, one of the first vehicles to stop was driven by an Emergency Medical Technician who radioed for help. Laura was taken by careflight to the hospital and placed in intensive care. Ed said for 12 weeks she was in a halo; and today she’s doing great, thanks to the medical treatment she received.

Edna Rickard presents a refund check to Ed Strong for an insurance overpayment he found. Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor Bob Schuder (front left), Manager of Compensation & Benefits Steve Sager (front right), and Ed’s co-workers are on hand to congratulate him.

Ed’s diligence is assuring that the medical bills are paid, but paid only once and at the correct rate and that the services billed for actually were received. One of the errors Ed caught was the billing for a test that was never done.

The 10 percent of the refund that employees receive qualifies as income and is, therefore, taxable. This program is available to any benefit-eligible employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Check your insurance statements carefully. It could result in an added bonus for you.

Benefits Coordinator Edna Rickard, who administers the program, said: "Controlling medical cost is something that affects everyone. We encourage employees to audit their medical bills. Only the employee and/or patient truly knows what services have been provided, and this is one way employees can help control costs. By making sure we pay for only the services that were rendered, we can save ourselves and Airborne money."

Revised: October 29, 2012.