Austin Lands Innovative Healthcare Advisory Retail Store

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"...Our only motivation is to obtain the best plan at the lowest price for our client." --Pete Mittelholzer, head of Bernard Health's Austin store

Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 20, 2014

Bernard Health, the nation’s first retail healthcare advisory firm, founded in 2006, has landed in Austin at the Galleria Oaks Shopping Center. Adding the Austin store is part of Bernard Health’s plan to expand its geographic reach, which is funded by a recent investment raise of $1.9 million.

With six brick-and-mortar retail stores in four states—Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, and now Texas—Bernard Health has helped more than 10,000 people save an average of $2,000 a year on their health insurance. The innovative company has also helped 200 employers establish health savings accounts (HSA) that have an average adoption rate of 80 percent – considerably above the seven percent national average.

“We’re excited to bring Bernard Health’s consumer-centric healthcare approach to Austin,” said Pete Mittelholzer, head of Bernard Health’s Austin office. “Since all of our advisors are non-commissioned, our advisors aren’t motivated to select certain health plans or carriers for their personal monetary gain. They select the plan that is truly most cost-effective and best tailored to meet an individual or employer’s unique healthcare situation. Our only motivation is to obtain the best plan at the lowest price for our client.”

Since Texas has a high percentage of citizens who do not have health insurance, Bernard Health sees a strong market for its services here, as its unique approach to helping people obtain healthcare coverage can make the entire process much more affordable.

Bernard Health has found a way to help individuals and employers buy healthcare like they buy most everything else—that is, by checking prices and shopping for the best deal. The company’s business model is similar to that of a retail tax preparation firm in that it is a storefront business that helps people navigate a complicated system to their best advantage. Clients note that they are not only able to make sense of the numerous options available, but can also compare those to coverage that might be available through a spouse's plan or a government program.

“We’re here to help people control their healthcare costs by making more informed healthcare choices,” said Mittelholzer. “Our retail store is open five days a week from 8 to 5 p.m., and anyone interested in talking with a store advisor can walk in or call to schedule an appointment.”

In addition to offering healthcare advice to individuals, Bernard Health has helped Austin businesses, like the Spanish immersion preschool Escuelita del Alma, select the right health strategy for employees. Under the direction of Bernard Health, the 27-employee school began implementing an HSA-based health plan in January, which has provided many employees with their first insurance plan.

“For many business leaders, it can be intimidating and difficult to select a healthcare strategy that meets the needs of all employees and controls costs,” said Mittelholzer. “We understand that people who run a business don’t have time to sort through the healthcare confusion. To fully evaluate and make sound healthcare choices for your employees, it’s a good idea to have a trusted advisor, like Bernard Health, on your side.”

To get more information about how Bernard Health can help, visit http://www.bernardhealth.com or call 1-800-505-0750.

About Bernard Health

Bernard Health's mission is to be the world's most trusted advisor when it comes to helping people plan for their healthcare. We work toward this mission through three business units: Retail Advisory, Employer Advisory and Web Services. Retail Advisory serves individuals and families through a network of healthcare retail stores, the current footprint of which is Nashville, Tenn., Indianapolis, Ind. and Cleveland, Ohio. Employer Advisory helps employers manage their health plan strategy more effectively. Web Services' foundational product is BerniePortal, a web-based benefits administration platform that helps employers and individuals manage their health and benefits plans more efficiently. For more information on Bernard Health, visit http://www.bernardhealth.com and http://www.bernieportal.com, find them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter or view their YouTube channel.

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