NASRO Massachusetts Membership Leaps Ahead in First Quarter, 2003

Our recent work centers on the development of a state of the art communications system, through our web sites, for the dissemination of health care benefits information. Beginning this January when our redesigned sites www.nasro-co-op.com and www.global-equality.org became operational, thousands of self-employed people and small businesses in Massachusetts became aware for the first time of the major benefits of our partnership with the Neighborhood Health Plan. During the first quarter of 2003 our Massachusetts membership doubled. If you have not yet heard of us we think you will benefit from knowing more about us.

NASRO is a non-profit business association that both administers health benefits and advocates for universal health care. Our office has been overwhelmed recently with hundreds of weekly calls and emails from Massachusetts employers and self-employed people suffering 50% rate increases from Aetna and Cigna, the elimination of two person coverage as part of a three tier rate structure by Harvard Pilgrim, the surprising discovery that NASE and the Mega Life & Health Insurance company plans actually cover very little and the ending of benefits for some under Mass Health. We have discovered that our plan rates are now far below most health plans and our benefits are almost always better. We have even found that people are willing to change primary care physicians in order to take advantage of the savings they realize by participating in our plans.

Our new members who find out about NASRO over the Internet or through their local business association are finding that there is now an affordable alternative to the major health plans without a sacrifice of quality or service. NASRO is able to respond to all member inquiries within 24 hours on any billing and enrollment question and any problems members have with Neighborhood Health Plan. The good news is that we rarely receive any complaints about Neighborhood Health Plan. Members find that the system of obtaining referrals to specialists is flexible and the needs of the patients are given primary consideration.

NASRO’s health benefit program has also started to be noticed by the media. In February Michael Waldholtz, the health care reporter for the Wall Street Journal included NASRO in a story about national organizations providing health insurance over the Internet. In April NASRO health benefits for the self-employed was featured on the local Cable show “Its Your Health Care”, produced by Ellen Kagan. The show began being broadcast this month and will continue to run on local Massachusetts town cable access Channels throughout the summer. We will be working to continue to expand our media coverage.

The NASRO office located on Moody Street in South Waltham is both a demonstration of our commitment to the working people who live in the neighborhood and a centrally located place for members and potential members to drop by for face to face meetings, to pick up information and to make payments. As we expand we plan to open similar offices in local communities to be close to our members.

We have been learning through listening to people’s stories the difficulty that many people have with the current health insurance system and the economy in general. The combined health care cost increases and the state health care benefit cut backs have resulted in people losing their jobs and their health insurance coverage, having to pay a much larger share of the cost of the premium or seeing their benefits cut back. A leaner system is needed and we think the type of program put together by the Neighborhood Health Plan is part of the answer. For example, we have discovered that domestic partner coverage for all people is a benefit denied to self-employed people and most small businesses. Under our benefit program it is a covered benefit for all.

For those employer groups of six or more NASRO has also added Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, Blue Cross, and United Health Care as additional options from which to choose from.

If you would like to learn more about NASRO Health Benefits and NASRO the organization please contact us and we will be happy to respond.

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