Sam's Club launches health exchange for small business owners

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club on Wednesday announced a number of first-of-its-kind services, including the introduction of a health exchange service in partnership with Aetna, to better serve its small business clientelle. 

 

"The small business area for Sam's is an area that we care deeply about as a company," commented Rosalind Brewer, Sam's Club CEO. "The small business community for us is really a cornerstone of our business base," she said. But the face of that small business owner is changing, Brewer noted — 70% of Sam's Club's small business customers are micro-businesses with fewer than five employees. 

 

"[Our members] have told us that they need clarity on small group healthcare," Jill Turner-Mitchael, SVP health and wellness at Sam's Club, said. "With the launch of the new Aetna Marketplace for Sam's Club, small business owners can have plan choices for their employees that are affordable, personalized and easy to use." 

 

The key benefits of this new health exchange for small business owners include streamlined administration, budget predictability, cost control and curated options for coverage. "With the Aetna Marketplace, Sam's business members can choose a predefined contribution or a flat pre-tax dollar amount that their employees can apply to the plan of their choice," Turner-Mitchael said. "The Aetna Marketplace for Sam's Club is an exclusive investment. We are the only retailer to provide a private small business health exchange offering big business benefits to today's small business owners." Citing JD Power figures, Turner-Mitchael noted that 47% of employers are expected to move to a health exchange model by 2015. 

 

The new solution complements Sam's Club's healthcare initiatives, including prescription savings, on-site immunizations (at a business owner's place of business or in the club) and 10 free health screenings per year that are open to the public. "We know healthcare is a complex issue and we want to simplify the process of enrolling and managing healthcare for small business with Aetna," Turner-Mitchael said. 

 

In addition to the health exchange, Sam's Club introduced new legal services and payroll services for small business owners. And Sam's Club travel mobile app is expected to launch next month that will allow members to book travel on the go.