Trustmark Introduces Integrated Healthy Foundations Approach to Consumer-Directed Healthcare.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Trustmark Mutual Holding Co. (Trustmark), a national provider of group medical insurance and benefit administration services, has launched Healthy Foundations, an integrated approach to consumer-directed healthcare. Trustmark's Affinity Markets, CoreSource, Group Insurance, Group Select and Starmark divisions will each market customized, divisionally branded products based on the Healthy Foundations platform.

Healthy Foundations incorporates four separate elements to help employers successfully transition their employees to a consumer-directed health plan (CDHP). Those elements include qualified, PPO-based health plans, preferred banking relationships or in-house fund administration, an Internet portal with health information and consumer decision support tools, and communication guidance to educate employees and help them become more informed healthcare consumers.

"The key to success with consumer-directed plans is to engage employees," said Carol Egan, head of Trustmark's Consumer-Centered Health Strategies Team. "That's the value of Trustmark's Healthy Foundations approach. It's not just about the qualified health plan. It's about educating people, giving them more control and supporting them as they take an active role in managing their health."

Healthy Foundations offers a personal, interactive experience for each consumer. "The portal includes a detailed health risk assessment," said Egan. "Each registered visitor can use this and other tools to customize their experience with what's most relevant to them."

The tools include in-depth health content, personalized condition managers, fitness and nutrition guidance, a personal health record and more. Other tools enable consumers to search for lower-cost prescription and over-the-counter alternatives for drugs that treat common chronic conditions, as well as find in- and out-of-network cost estimates for specific health conditions and related treatments. "For example," said Egan, "someone with diabetes or high blood pressure can research his or her condition, work with an online health coach to set up a monitoring program, check prices of alternative drugs and estimate the cost of services. All this puts that person more in control."

As part of Healthy Foundations, Trustmark has also developed preferred relationships with banking partners to simplify health savings account setup and management for employers and employees alike. "This makes things easier for consumers," said Egan. "We've made real-time medical claim information available for years. Now, through the Healthy Foundations portal, consumers will have single sign-on access to claims data, HSA or HRA balances and more detailed fund or account information through links to Trustmark's preferred banking institutions."

Trustmark's CoreSource division will administer consumer-directed plans. In-house administration means consumers will often be able to pay for qualified products or services directly from their HRA or FSA rather than pay out of pocket and file reimbursement forms. "We also have plans to help consumers coordinate spending from multiple accounts, such as an HSA and FSA," said Egan.

"It isn't enough to just put the tools out there," added Egan. "That's why each Trustmark division will provide communication support. This can include everything from a Needs and Readiness Assessment that helps employers and their brokers determine the right CDH approach, to automated online demonstrations that teach consumers how to use and get the most from the Healthy Foundations resources."

Healthy Foundations is currently available to all CoreSource, Starmark, Trustmark Group Insurance, Trustmark Group Select and Affinity Markets groups. Integrated banking partner features of Healthy Foundations will be available through Starmark starting in the second quarter of the year.

About Trustmark

Trustmark Mutual Holding Company, through its subsidiaries, is licensed nationwide to offer a broad line of life, medical, managed care, dental, disability, critical illness and benefit administration products and services to groups and individuals. Subsidiaries and operating divisions include Trustmark Insurance Company, Trustmark Life Insurance Company, CoreSource, Starmark, Trustmark Group Insurance, Trustmark Group Select, Trustmark Affinity Markets and Trustmark Voluntary Benefit Solutions. Trustmark Mutual Holding Company has assets of more than $1.9 billion and administers more than $3 billion in health and life benefits annually. Additional information can be found at www.trustmarkcompanies.com.