We aim to remain one of the best health plans in America and continue to provide our customers with an exceptional customer experience.
The most prominent national health plan rankings from U.S. News & World Report and NCQA have consistently ranked ConnectiCare among the top health plans. In fact, ConnectiCare was ranked sixth in the nation in 2005 and 2006, fifth in 2007, thirteenth in 2008, and twenty-seventh in 2009. Over 250 plans nationally are evaluated for this ranking.
ConnectiCare was incorporated in 1981 as a non-profit, Connecticut-licensed health maintenance organization and has remained in Farmington, Connecticut throughout its history.
The company reorganized in July 1999 to become a for-profit stock corporation. It recapitalized in 2001 and was investor-owned from 2001 to 2005. ConnectiCare’s conversion process resulted in the creation and funding of the largest independent health foundation in the Northeast, The Connecticut Health Foundation.
On March 10, 2005, ConnectiCare was acquired by the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP). As part of the HIP family, ConnectiCare continues to conduct business autonomously under its well-respected name brand and its locally-based management team in Farmington. HIP Health Plan of New York is the largest HMO in New York City based on commercial membership. HIP is a large provider of health insurance coverage for New York State, federal employees, and labor unions. For additional information about HIP, please visit www.hipusa.com.
In 2006, HIP Health Plan of New York and GHI (Group Health Incorporated) affiliated under the common parent EmblemHealth. With more than 5,000 employees, HIP and GHI together is the largest health insurer based in New York State serving more than 3.4 million people with over 106,000 providers across the tri-state region.
EmblemHealth has submitted to the New York State Insurance Department its plan to convert and combine the two not-for-profit health plans into a single for-profit public company. The conversion is subject to the approval of the New York State Department of Insurance.
In 2009, ConnectiCare completed the building of a new corporate headquarters next to our existing operations center. The project allowed for a new centralized campus for all employees. With the new green and high-tech campus, ConnectiCare has also gone completely “smoke free” to demonstrate our commitment to public health.
Michael Wise took the helm at ConnectiCare in March 2010. As President, he leads ConnectiCare drawing from his senior experience with multiple health plans. Wise has led ConnectiCare since late 2005 as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. Over his tenure, he has continued to grow his management over the entire company and is an established leader for the EmblemHealth enterprise.
ConnectiCare achieved over $1 billion in revenue in 2009 and has been ranked on Connecticut Magazine's Top 100 list of largest companies with headquarters in the state.
The company’s high-performing culture coupled with its talented employees has made ConnectiCare an employer of choice in the Hartford region. ConnectiCare’s low voluntary employee turnover rate (5 years under 6%) is exceptional for a company with an in-house call center.
ConnectiCare’s Farmington campus contains a high-technology call center and in-house disease management programs. There are over 500 employees based here.
ConnectiCare is an active member of the Connecticut Association of Health Plans, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, and the MetroHartford Alliance. We are engaged on legislative issues that have an impact on our business and our customers. Mickey Herbert, our former President, was past Co-Chair of the Connecticut Health Insurance Policy Council and member of the Connecticut HealthFirst Authority.
ConnectiCare demonstrates its ongoing commitment to the community and non-profit organizations through its Community Benefit Program, United Way Campaign, and Employee Matching Gift Program. In 2009, our employee based United Way Campaign raised $104,000. This year ConnectiCare contributed over $700,000 across the state to support community causes and organizations that promote health. ConnectiCare participates in walks in support of better health, our last one was for the American Heart Association.
ConnectiCare serves approximately 240,000 members along with its affiliates:
•ConnectiCare of Massachusetts, Inc.
•ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc.
We serve in the following areas:
•Connecticut
•Western Massachusetts in Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, and Franklin Counties
ConnectiCare maintains a substantial regional network access area that covers all of Connecticut; Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and portions of Berkshire counties in western Massachusetts; and the metro New York area including the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, and Rockland counties. Members have an in-network choice of more than 22,000 fully credentialed health care providers and 126 acute care hospital, including all Connecticut hospitals.
ConnectiCare offers health insurance products on both a fully-insured and self-funded basis including:
•HMO
•Point of Service (POS)
•Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
•Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
•Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)
•Individual Health Plans (Solo)
•Dental Plans
•Medicare Advantage (started January 2008)
Consumers looking for a Medicare Advantage product will find many options with our “ConnectiCare VIP Products”. They will receive all the benefits of original Medicare plus benefits such as disease management programs, health and wellness support, limited dental benefits and more.
A primary business focus is meeting the insurance needs of small group employers. To accomplish this, ConnectiCare works closely with the state’s Chambers of Commerce and the Chamber Insurance Trust to develop products that offer a variety of affordable plan options.
ConnectiCare Solo was launched in 2005 to respond to the growing need for individual health coverage. ConnectiCare Solo provides individual plans with and without Health Savings Accounts. ConnectiCare was the first health plan in the nation to offer a high-deductible HMO Plan compatible with Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
In October 2007, ConnectiCare launched a new employee wellness program called “ConnectiCare Wellness & Rewards”. The program focuses on insurance premium rebates to encourage ConnectiCare employees to attain personal health goals. The ConnectiCare Rewards program is now being offered as a pilot to a few member companies, and eventually plans are to expand it to more members. ConnectiCare has received recognition from the MetroHartford Alliance, Bridgeport Regional Business Council, and the New Haven Chamber for its work in this area.
We have the highest member-satisfaction scores for customer service and claims processing among our competition in Connecticut.
Outstanding Service Benchmarks:
•99.8% financial accuracy for all claims paid
•97% of all claims paid within 30 days
•90% of all claims paid within 15 days
•1.5% call-abandonment rate
•99.5% enrollment accuracy
•1.4 day average for turnaround of ID cards
ConnectiCare was accredited by the NCQA in 1996 and has maintained an "Excellent" rating from 1999 to present. ConnectiCare of Massachusetts also holds an “Excellent” rating.
ConnectiCare was ranked number 1 in Connecticut among HMO plans for the lowest member complaint ratio in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. (Based on data by the CT Department of Insurance)
ConnectiCare earned the highest member satisfaction score for customer service among our competitors in Connecticut – and well above the national average, according to the 2009 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey (CAHPS).
88% of our members said they would recommend ConnectiCare to their family and friends if they needed health insurance. (2008 CAHPS Survey)
ConnectiCare was the 4th HMO in the nation to receive NCQA accreditation for its Disease Management programs.
ConnectiCare’s BREATHE Program received the “2002 National Exemplary Practice Award” by the American Association of Health Plans and the Washington Business Group on Health.
Health Industries Research Companies (HIRC) named ConnectiCare to its top selection of 2005 Leading Disease Management Organizations. Only 23 health plans, 5% of health plans nationally, have received this designation. The HIRC selection is based on extensive market projections and analysis, surveys, and in-depth interviews with health care industry executives. Only two other health plans in the New England region received the designation, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont.
ConnectiCare is the first health plan with in-house programs to earn the Health Industries Research Companies (HIRC) distinction and the Disease Management Purchasing Consortium (DMPC) Savings Certification; and one of few health plans in the country to have both a DMPC and NCQA excellent accreditation.
•In 2007, ConnectiCare received the “Excellence in Practice” Award from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) for its innovative program “The Royal Treatment.” Only twelve organizations internationally have been selected for “Excellence in Practice” top honors.
The program was developed to raise the performance bar on ConnectiCare’s already excellent service and customer satisfaction. In 2006, ConnectiCare had received an “Excellence in Practice” Citation from ASTD. The program was developed in 2005 to raise the bar on ConnectiCare's already excellent service and high levels of customer satisfaction. The ASTD award recognizes organizations that demonstrate enterprise-wide success as a result of employee learning and development. Others companies competing in the international contest for the top honor included companies such as FEDEX, Daimler Chrysler Motors Company, Ford Motor Company, and Hewlett-Packard Company.
•The leadership team at ConnectiCare was named the 2006 Top Leadership Team in the Health Plans) by HealthLeaders Magazine.
updated 3/12/2010
