WELLESLEY, Mass., Jan. 31,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sun Life U.S. is now offering
its healthcare navigation and advisory service to the large
employer group benefits market, broadening employees' access to
care with personal guidance that helps them get the right medical
diagnoses, doctors and treatments for their specific needs and feel
confident in their medical decisions. Health Navigator, powered by
PinnacleCare, which Sun Life first launched as an offering to its
medical stop-loss clients, helps employer-sponsored health plans
and benefits work more efficiently, resulting in better health
outcomes for employees.
"The U.S. healthcare system is complex and its workforce
shortage has made it even more challenging for people to find the
right care at the right time," said David
Healy, president of Group Benefits, Sun Life U.S. "Bringing
Health Navigator to our national clients helps their employees have
better access to the care they need and improves health and
productivity outcomes for employers who do business with Sun Life.
This expansion is the next step forward in bringing care navigation
services to more of our group benefits clients."
Acquired by Sun Life U.S. in 2021, PinnacleCare's health
navigation services result in more effective and efficient care. In
2022, Sun Life's Health Navigator data showed:
- 52% of expert medical opinions identified for members a more
appropriate treatment plan or variation to their original
diagnosis.
- $13,000 in average savings (per
treatment outcome) for employers – outcomes include avoided
treatments, less invasive testing or surgery, or a change in
treatment.
- 54% of appointments for a new or progressing cancer diagnosis
were expedited, getting members the right care, sooner.
Benefits for employees
Health Navigator personal care advisors provide one-on-one
support to the employee, leveraging extensive relationships with
physicians, specialists, and centers of excellence around the
country to help them get the best care for their specific medical
condition or preventive care needs. Behind the scenes, teams of
physicians and other health professionals review medical
information and reports to ensure people are getting the right
care.
"No one should face navigating the healthcare system alone,
especially when dealing with a major health diagnosis," said
Jen Collier, president, Health and
Risk Solutions, Sun Life U.S. "Health Navigator care advisors take
the burden off the employee, whether it's getting them to the right
providers, arranging for second opinions, facilitating and
scheduling appointments, gathering medical records or advocating
with insurers."
Benefits for employers
By helping people access the right providers and care, Health
Navigator has the potential to influence health outcomes, getting
members a diagnosis before a condition gets more serious or helping
to ensure the member gets the most appropriate treatment.
Benefitting an employee's health strengthens their ability to be
present and productive at work, while also helping employers to
manage costs.
Sun Life's national employer clients – those with at least 2,000
employees – include major health systems, educational districts,
municipalities, and manufacturers around the country.
Health Navigator is available to covered employees and their
dependents. Additional options in Health Navigator include Bill
Resolve, which assists employees with understanding and resolving
medical bills, and Extended Care, which offers Health Navigator
services to employees' parents, parents-in-law, and non-dependent
children. Health Navigator will be available for quoting on
February 1.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international
financial services organization providing asset management, wealth,
insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional
Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide,
including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong
Kong, the Philippines,
Japan, Indonesia, India, China,
Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of September 30, 2023, Sun Life had total assets
under management of C$1.34 trillion.
For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New
York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the
ticker symbol SLF.
Sun Life U.S. is one of the largest providers of employee and
government benefits, helping more than 50 million Americans access
the healthcare and coverage they need. Through employers, industry
partners and government programs, Sun Life U.S. offers a portfolio
of benefits and services, including dental, vision, disability,
absence management, life, supplemental health, medical stop-loss
insurance, and healthcare navigation. Sun Life employs nearly 8,300
people in the U.S., including associates in our partner dental
practices and affiliated companies in asset management. Group
insurance policies are issued by Sun Life Assurance Company of
Canada (Wellesley Hills, Mass.), except in
New York, where policies are
issued by Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.)
(Lansing, Mich.). For more
information visit our website and newsroom.
Media contacts
Devon Fernald
Sun Life U.S.
Devon.Portney.Fernald@sunlife.com
781-800-3609
Anjie Coplin
Sun Life U.S.
Anjie.Coplin@sunlife.com
214-549-1553
Connect with Sun Life
U.S.
https://www.facebook.com/SLFUnitedStates/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial/
https://twitter.com/SunLifeUS
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SOURCE Sun Life U.S.