Ilume

After decades of skyrocketing insurance premiums and protracted litigation over injured worker benefits, construction trade unions and their employers persuaded Minnesota's legislature to pass legislation in 1995 allowing for an alternative workers compensation system.  The goals of the program were simple: focus attention on a safe and immediate return to light-duty work, ensure the best medical treatment protocols are followed, and achieve a return to pre-injury wages and benefits as soon as possible.  The results or 24 years have exceeded expectations.  This month we had a chance to visit with two experts from the Union Construction Workers' Compensation Program - Kevin Gregerson and Sandy Stoddard.  Kevin and Sandy shared their perspectives on the history, benefits, achievements, and future of the ADR program in Minnesota.  

Virtual healthcare has significantly evolved over the past several years, and has emerged from the pandemic as a core component of our healthcare system.  Employers can capitalize on these changes to improve the health of their employees and improve the efficiency and cost of delivering healthcare.  These opportunities exist as part of employee benefit programs, wellness programs, and workers compensation programs.  In addition, virtual healthcare is playing a big role in addressing the challenges of healthcare equity.  On ilume this month, we caught up with Mike King and Corey Cushing from Teledoc, a leading provider of virtual solutions to share the most current advances and emerging opportunities.  

Vaccines are the single best tool that we have to bring this pandemic to a close.  Complex equity issues remain around vaccine distribution, and employers can play an important role in addressing these issues by focusing on the health and wellness of employees; which will help to return the business to a more normal environment.  Learn more about the most current vaccine information and the role of the employer, in this engaging discussion with Dr. Kevin Ronneberg, Vice President and Associate Medical Director of Health Initiatives at HeathPartners, and Daniel Rehrauer, Senior Manager, Medication Therapy Management Program and Quality at HealthPartners.   Emma Willcox also shares her KA story and thoughts on telemedicine.  

The first auto insurance policy in the US was purchased less than 125 years ago.  The pace of change is accelerating.  Learn about the short term changes including data driven underwriting, as well as longer term changes resulting from driverless vehicles, that are expected to impact fleet owners in the coming years.  Jay Williams from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research and Matt Akin from Kraus-Anderson share their perspectives on the past, present, and future.  

Your company's brand is a hugely important asset and can be impacted in a second, by any given decision or action.  Claims with high frequency don't tend to rise to the level of brand impact, however less frequent, but more severe claims often can have a lasting impact on both the health of the business and the impacted employee.  Examples are multiplying in the areas of employment practices, directors and officers liability, and cyber security.  Jeanine Loomis, SVP of RT Specialty, LLC joins us this month for a discussion of trends in these areas and practical risk management techniques.

Jonathan Halloran has followed a fascinating journey from underwriter to founder and CEO of American Homebuilders of West Africa.  He brings a unique perspective for business leaders related to embedding culture and risk in daily decision making.  Jonathan shares his insights that can help any business harness the opportunity of risk.  In our employee profile, Jenny Pine, shares her perspectives as a former business owner and current employee benefits advisor.  Follow us on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon Music!

American Homebuilders of West Africa

The only thing we know for sure about the pending new normal is that it will be different from the old normal.  Business transformation and innovation have never been more important factors in the long term success of a business.  In some ways this brings new risks to the strategy, however, expecting to remain the same brings even greater risks.  In this episode, Justin Gress from AXA XL joins us to discuss strategies for transformation and innovation.  Listen and learn from his experience in identifying opportunities, managing the risks and implementing change.

Insurance is a service that touches every other industry.   Change in insurance fundamentals impacts every business.  Join us for an enlightening discussion with Stu Henderson, CEO of Western National Insurance to learn more about the industry and impact on your business.  

In this inaugural episode, we focus on the single largest risk to any business - people.  Our guest, Sara Warnke of Kendell Doors and Hardware shares her strategies for embracing this risk and ensuring engaged and motivated employees.  Justin Voerster also joins us to share some insights about his role at Kraus-Anderson Insurance and how he focuses on mentoring and personal customer engagement.