WORKING WITH A BENEFITS CHAMPION The Gasparilla Inn & Club Works For Its Employees. BY OLIVIA DESMIT // PHOTOS BY CHARLIE WEST
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n an island in Florida that is home to fewer than 2,000 people, a locally owned hotel is offering its employees a radical health care plan—and saving millions of dollars.
The Gasparilla Inn & Club, which has 470 employees, has saved an estimated $200,000 per year since switching to a self-funded health care plan in 2016. Through the FairCo$t Health Plan, which is managed by Mitigate Partners, The Inn has been able to save both its owners and employees money while providing its employees with better, more accessible health care. BENEFITS CHAMPION
Since the switch, Liz Schrock has been helping employees navigate the self-insured plans; one even has a $0 employee contribution. “I spend a lot of time getting to know each employee,” she says. “I sit them down, ask them about their family and if anyone is managing health issues.”
Because the health plan involves partnerships with local providers, such as a radiological center, local health clinic and a local pharmacy, employees have help on where to go to get the best deal. By choosing The Inn’s insurance plan for their health care needs, employees can receive care for a fraction of the cost of other providers — and with some providers, for free. “I guide them where they need to go in order to save them and the plan the most money,” Schrock says. “I’m always available, even nights and weekends.” The care and attention spent with each employee not only helps Schrock get to know their needs better, but it also results in them having better health care coverage for their families. “We have a gentleman who, when we originally showed him the plan choices, chose the Silver Plan because the biweekly salary deductions appeared more affordable to him. When I learned he has a child with special needs, together we moved him to
Liz Schrock, benefits manager
10 | Maverick • Winter 2022
