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Can anyone tell me about this company?

I would like to know if anyone has ever heard or done business with "American Specialty Health Networks, Inc. they are out of Calif.
Thanks, Joan

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Permalink Reply by Jody C. Hutchinson on April 9, 2010 at 7:49am

ASHN is a company that provides health insurance in California. They have an affinity plan for massage where you sign up and agree to give their card holder a deep (25%) discount off your normal fees. They promise a lot for signing up. However, a few years ago many chiros in the Los Angeles area found that their treatment plans were being denied and they were not able to work with ASHN. They tried to sue as a restraint of trade in that most chiro patients had ASHN insurance. I'm not sure of the outcome.
I wouldn't go for this kind of plan, it only takes away.

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Permalink Reply by Stefanie Adams on April 9, 2010 at 11:16am

When I saw your question, a chill went through my body just recalling the nightmares...my co-workers and I called them "Pain in the ASH".

Ditto what Jody said. ASH also provides traditional health insurance with very limited number of visits (usually 10) with minimal reimbursement - $28 a session with a $20 client co-pay. They also have ridiculous documentation requirements that are almost impossible to meet.

Our clinic organized over 100 practitioners in our area to resign from the ASH network and write letters of resignation and disgust all at once. There was no response.

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Permalink Reply by Joan Annunziata on April 9, 2010 at 2:14pm

Thank you for getting back to me so fast with your information on this company. I will not be doing business with them,
thanks.

Jody C. Hutchinson said:

ASHN is a company that provides health insurance in California. They have an affinity plan for massage where you sign up and agree to give their card holder a deep (25%) discount off your normal fees. They promise a lot for signing up. However, a few years ago many chiros in the Los Angeles area found that their treatment plans were being denied and they were not able to work with ASHN. They tried to sue as a restraint of trade in that most chiro patients had ASHN insurance. I'm not sure of the outcome.
I wouldn't go for this kind of plan, it only takes away.

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Permalink Reply by Irene Diamond, RT on April 29, 2010 at 11:44am

For any of these insurance "plans" I always suggest that therapists look at the requirements before committing.
Don't do any that you have to pay to be a part of, and only join the ones that you think you'll be able to handle.

The advantage of being a provider for ASH or any of the others is that you get exposure to more clients because your name is in their directory and on their website.

The advantage is marketing exposure you don't pay up front for, but 'pay for' only once you get a client from them. I say 'pay for' because you 'pay' by accepting a discounted rate for your service. Of course the more people you see- the more likely you will get referrals to other people from them, (who you don't give a discount to unless they are part of the same network), you can sell them on your other services (no discount) and sell them other items like lotion, CDs, etc whatever you have as your revenue sources.

If you join ASH or any of these groups - I suggest, only list one particular service with them. Therefore say you list Swedish Massage as the service you offer through their plan. Now once the client calls you, you may, in fact determine they need another type of service, such as myofascial therapy. You don't need to give them a discount on that since you are not contracted with ASH (or whomever) to provide that. If they need Swedish- go for it at the agreed discounted rate. If you provide the myofascial therapy you may, of course choose to give them some sort of consideration, such as a small discount or additional service, or some other new client bennie- but it will be at your discretion.

Each plan is worth considering as they come across your desk. Being a part of these medical insurance plans only works for some massage therapist's business models, so you need to consider how your business is structured and determine if it will work for you. Again, it is only one way to get your name out so more people know about you.
~ Irene Diamond, RT
www.MassageSuccess.org