HealthChoice Success Stories

Workers happy with coverage

Desma Reid Coleman

Throughout Wayne County you'll find employers who find they can reward employees who stay more than five months on the job and help maintain their health by enrolling their team in HealthChoice. Here are some examples:

Running four small businesses including Fashion Sense, a downtown
Detroit resale clothing shop and Quality Professional Services a business consulting out of her northwest Detroit office keeps Desma Reid-Coleman hopping. Wayne County HealthChoice keeps her and her 10 employees happy.

"A phenomenal group of people coordinate the program now, they call
to make sure I am on target with enrollment and providers," says Desma, who serves on the national board of the National Association of Women Business Owners and encourages other women-owned businesses to get on board with HealthChoice.

Because employees must hold a job for five months to become eligible, the health plan is an incentive for workers to stay on the job.

Other benefits abound. Her mother, Myrtle Jones, a senior who manages the downtown resale shop, uses the Wayne County Senior Prescription Plan to purchase medication to maintain her heart after a severe health episode in 2000.

Desma said employees can visit a range of doctors within a set geographic area. With low cost riders to the policy they can add dental, optical and physical therapy services. The average $180 policy, divided in thirds by the county, Quality Professional Services
and the employee makes it easier for minimum wage employees to see a physician at an early sign of illness, before a cold becomes pneumonia.

"Turnover went down once people came on board with HealthChoice," Desma said. "People want to work for employers who will work with them to ensure good health."

Serving security at Armando's

Cecilia Benedict

Over 150 customers a day arrive at Armando's Restaurant in southwest Detroit for its delicious botanas and fajitas. A staff of 50 employees assures the meals arrive piping hot with quality service. Good health keeps people on their feet and productive.

"Our employees are happy to know we have a benefit plan," says Cecilia Benedict, general operations manager for the 35-year-old restaurant, one of the oldest in Mexican Village. "We find a number of Spanish speaking doctors in our plan who can translate information about conditions treatment."

Fifteen of Armando's wait staff and kitchen personnel are enrolled in Wayne County's Health Choice benefit plan. They use Midwest Health as the provider. The company provides bilingual customer assistants who can direct clients to the proper clinic for their needs. Individuals are glad to have coverage for nagging problems, a bunion on the foot,
a toothache, and a cold that drags on and on. Instead of a whopping $50 or $60 clinic charge for uninsured patients, they pay a $10 deductible. They pay just $17 to $28 weekly for insurance.

"Many people find it scary these days to go without benefits. Employees have to read what is actually covered. They find it provides for basic services," Benedict said. By offering a plan that is paid one third by employees, one third by employers and one third by the
county, the burden of providing health benefits is spread out, making it more affordable to enjoy coverage.

Benedict believes it is a recruitment tool for restaurants. "People feel more motivated to take a job because the cost of benefits are within reach. Otherwise they might stay on welfare just to be covered by government programs. Our employees are proud to work."

Food for thought at Kola’s Food Factory & Pizza

Johnny Kolakowski

Johnny Kolakowski, owner of Kola's Food Factory and Catering, in Riverview, was one of the first businesses to enroll in Health Choice
when it started in 1994. He remains a champion of HealthChoice and 7 of his 20 employees are members.

"We were the first company to come on board with HealthChoice, over a decade ago," says Kolakowski, owner of Kola's Food Factory and Pizza. He offers family dining in a sit down restaurant, catering, home delivery to four communities and a newly acquired pizzeria. "People work better when they aren't saddled by health issues," Kolakowski notes. "Insurance gives employees a feeling of comfort, something they couldn't afford if Wayne County didn't help out."

Employees make from $7 to $10 an hour, barely enough, he says to live on the earth, let alone afford the coverage from major insurance programs. One employee was treated for testicular cancer, several for lumps in the breast and numerous people for colds and flu. With a $10 co-pay for doctor visits, employees will see a doctor, getting the kind of treatment or medication that often reduces down time from a week to just one day.

The referral system works well for Kola employees. They find it easy to navigate the system, to get treatment for covered medical expenses. His employee with testicular cancer received such good care he is now a happily married man.

"A lot of big fancy restaurants go bust because people don't invest in their employees. A restaurant has to be a family that looks out for its people and its customers to stay alive for 25 years as I've done," Kolakowski said. "Health care is the most basic investment and most necessary."

For more information about Kola's Food Factory call 1-734-281-0447.

Manufacturing options at M & W

Seventy-eight of the 200 employees at M & W Industries on Detroit's east side participate in Wayne County Health Choice. What people like best is the vision plan, because they can get discount eye exams and glasses for a better outlook on life. Other options are becoming more pleasing as well.

"The program has improved considerably over the last two years," says Karen Bettcher, human resources manager for the company that makes racks to hold manufactured automotive parts. "I'd credit Lorenzo Lopez for making that happen because his work is exceptional.

Lopez joined Wayne County Health Choice over a year ago and personally calls on all his accounts, assuring employees have access to doctors, pharmacists and other medical personnel. He encourages clients such as Bettcher to call him immediately if an employee encounters a problem receiving services.

Prior to the new administration, Bettcher said she ran into numerous stumbling blocks with getting employees enrolled and keeping them enrolled. Wayne County Health Choice administrator's efforts to oversee the operation and keep watch on its three providers have led to sweeping improvements.

"We use the health care plan as an incentive. People can't enroll until they have been with us six months. They look for that sense of security with a health plan," she said.