Whether you're serving members through your in-house team, a vendor, or a combination, great service increases member satisfaction. And happy members are loyal members. That’s why it’s so important that the vendors you choose align with you and your members’ values and expectations.
In this blog, we’re going to share some tips on how to make sure the vendor you’re thinking of contracting with is a good fit for your health share.
The first obvious step would be to research the vendor by checking their website. Most companies have an “about us” section where you can learn their values, mission, vision, and other important information. If you see anything that doesn’t mesh well with your community, make sure to bring it up to the vendor to get more clarity. However, if it seems clear from the website that the vendor isn’t a good choice, go with your gut.
What do other businesses and organizations have to say about this vendor? Check Google, Yelp, and other review platforms to see what clients and partners think about the vendor. Do take these reviews with a grain of salt though. People tend to only leave reviews if they have a really positive experience or a really negative experience. You typically won’t find much in-between. Still, reviews from real people are a great way to get a feel for if a vendor will serve your community well.
Take the lead on making sure the vendor fits with you by being transparent about your beliefs and values. For example, if you’re a faith-based health share and feel that a vendor might be put off by that, don’t try to hide it. Honesty is the best policy for you and them in order to determine if a partnership makes sense. Whatever your values and beliefs, be open about them to the vendor. When you share what’s important to your community, you may find that the leadership and employees of a vendor are passionate about the same things.
This is a tip for after you’ve already decided to contract with a vendor. If this is a kind of partnership where a third-party company will be communicating with your members, set vendors up for success by giving them email templates, marketing materials, and other resources that maintain your branding and messaging. Members will be more receptive to this vendor if they see your health share's logo, colors, and messaging throughout the vendor’s communications. This will help to ensure that there isn’t a sharp divide between your community and the vendors you choose to contract with.
The people you work with are a reflection of you. It’s crucial to contract vendors that not only meet your budget and service needs but your values too. Since health shares are usually made up of like-minded individuals, vendors that align with your community are a must. Even if a vendor doesn’t share your exact ideals, you can do your part by creating co-branded materials and messaging so there isn’t a disconnect between you and third-party companies that help serve your community.
Discover the major changes happening that affect you, how to prepare, and even how to make the new rules work in your favor.
Discover how to stand out based on unique offerings and high member satisfaction, and how to implement these strategies.
Discover how to bring price transparency into your benefit offerings to increase member satisfaction, lower overall costs, stand out from competitors, and improve member retention.
Discover the roadmap unique to your health plan type and start seeing higher member satisfaction, lower overall costs, and healthier members.
Discover how TPAs, health cost sharing groups, and limited benefit medical plans can benefit from the use of ASCs.
Discover what health plan members had to say about the value of patient advocacy in our survey.
Learn the best strategies and tips for retaining your members while keeping costs low.
Learn the best strategies and tips for growing your members while keeping costs low.
Discover what health plan members had to say about the value of patient advocacy in our survey.
Learn the best strategies and tips for retaining your members while keeping costs low.
Discover how the the new rule will affect TPAs and health plans and how you can start your journey to compliance.
Discover how to add value to your health offerings that delight clients and members but don’t cost a fortune.
Discover what health plan members had to say about the value of patient advocacy in our survey.