David Contorno: A De-facto Benefits leader transforming the American healthcare spending

It is a stark reality that, despite being one of the wealthiest nations in the world, most people in the USA lack access to affordable healthcare. The exorbitant cost of healthcare in the US, is a burden on the average American. To make matters worse, many individuals are left without insurance coverage, leaving them vulnerable to financial ruin due to high medical costs. It is not just the individuals who suffer, but also the companies who are forced to pay excessive premiums without any supporting evidence. Shockingly, despite this, insurance companies continue to make increasing profits, putting more pressure on employers to increase their payments each year. It is time to demand a change in the healthcare system and make it accessible to all without burdening the average American.

The scenario highlights how important it is to have employee benefit plans that are customized to meet individual needs. Rising medical costs can be overwhelming, and a comprehensive health plan can provide much-needed support to employees and their families. David Contorno, a Certified Health Value Advisor understands the complexities of the healthcare industry and is dedicated to bringing the American Dream back to life. Instead of giving up on this complicated world, he strives to provide customized solutions that can make a real difference. 

In this chapter of “C-Suite Starlight: CEO of the Year- 2024,” we will explore how David, through his innovative venture E-Powered Benefits, is helping employers who care about their employees navigate the complex and evolving healthcare landscape through customized benefits plans.

On a journey to harbour change

David started his professional career when he was twelve years old. He started his career in life insurance telemarketing by arranging face-to-face appointments with the agent he worked for.  Although he was doing good, he changed his path and spent few years working for a chain of camera stores. Shortly after, though, he returned to the insurance sector and began offering group health insurance products to small and medium-sized enterprises. He became a traditional broker and provided health plans for the next twenty years.

During this period, he observed a number of intricacies, one of which was an uneven compensation structure. Having worked in insurance for the majority of his life, David says, “I knew I had to do something to change this, especially after seeing the rates go up and benefits go down year after year.” Since the US healthcare system is making a lot of leaders and stockholders tremendously wealthy, he realized it is not broken. Rather, it is not intended to be equitable for everyone. Many end customers, particularly the middle class, are unsure about services, and neither does the service provider. Before receiving payment, a doctor is unaware of their exact compensation.  

He aspired to support consultants, employers, and staff/patients in standing against the fragmented and prohibitively costly healthcare system by rewarding those who are genuinely delivering superior clinical outcomes with the utmost transparency and candour. This became the premise of E-Powered Benefits. The firm specializes in creating health plans catering to all kinds of entities, covering more than regular policies at a cost usually between 35% and 60% less.

A ’One of a kind’ Industry Disruptor

E-Powered Benefits helps companies and other industry brokers/consultants through a learning process so they can create their unique health plans. It offers fully insured carrier plans that are both premier and non-traditional in terms of employee benefits. It also offers regular, web-based meetings that have been going on for a long time and are accessible to all business leaders, interested parties, and beginners. 

Next, it plans an annual symposium for bold and dynamic trailblazers. Over 400 healthcare advisers, including physicians and solution partners, attend this conference. David’s business partner and wife, Emma Fox created the Symposium to share knowledge about creating and managing these customized health plans. This exemplary collaborative movement allows the firm to explore multiple quarters of the healthcare scene— rivals—and encourage them to adopt its model. The firm also provides a Health Value Advisor Course that is credentialed by The Validation Institute and acts as a learning tool to reward better clinical outcomes and overall well-being. Finally, it offers auditing tools for health plan diagnosis and treatment.

All these ultimately corroborates David’s core idea – to bring together consultants, companies, and workers/patients and reevaluate the costly American healthcare system. After all, as the tide rises, so do all ships. Its distinctive health plans are what really sets it apart in a dynamic and mature market.

Ensuring ‘Transparency’ Across the Board

With an emphasis on tailored health plans, E-Powered benefits has established a solid reputation for dependability and excellence. It remains dedicated to its clients when working with them, refusing to accept commissions from health plans, bonuses, or insurance company’s profits. And they do so for the entire year, giving clients total control and transparency over how much they spend for healthcare. Every health plan is meticulously regulated to ensure that clients have 24/7 access to the health plan records. 

The health plans are designed to allow employees and their families a way to receive prescription drugs and medical care with no fees from their pockets. They are designed with everything in mind, including benefits, reducing risks, educating both staff and employers, managing day-to-day operations, and the renewal procedure. David adds, “Our plans provide total transparency, whereas many companies are paying millions into a dark box.” In addition, they let clients know the exact amount of money they save from their previous plan and reveal their fees on their website.

Changing the Industry from within

David’s vision behind E-Powered Benefits isn’t limited to employee benefits. He is motivated by a more profound vision. The American healthcare system remains static, which is rewarding to status quo carriers and brokers. Hospitals and carriers profit more even when costs rise. However, until services are delivered, neither medical providers nor patients are aware of the cost of those services. Expenses as a whole increase even when efforts are directed at reducing prices. More competition equals higher costs, even when the supply and demand for services are dysfunctional. 

David is deeply committed to assisting individuals in overcoming such ambiguities. This is the main reason he consistently focuses on mentoring and teaching. Through one-on-one conversations, teaching the CHVA course, and lectures in educational settings, he utilizes his expertise and experience to unveil the true nature of the healthcare system. To take things a step further, he even uses the same metrics when requesting applications from clients for medical services. David says, “It is important that people know that I walk the walk, not just talk the talk.” Although it’s challenging, this adds another level of transparency and elevates him above standard brokers.

Working with a Mission-Driven Team

There is an old saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” This is a universal truth, as no leader can achieve much without a dedicated team of employees. Fortunately for David, his team has all their minds focused on the same objective. He is a devoted disciple of Simon Sinek, with whom he shares an emphasis on building a solid culture founded on principles, empathy, trust, and teamwork. “If their “why” matches my “why,” that says more than education, work experience, etc.,” he says. These fundamental values have assisted him in building a high-performance team that operates as a cohesive unit. 

Eyeing a Fruitful Future

David is a real champion for paving the way for affordable and better healthcare. His unwavering commitment to improving healthcare has earned him multiple prestigious accolades. He is collaborating with leading firms and mentoring his team members to help them grow. By building a robust community of like-minded individuals, David aims to create plans with comparable outcomes, creating a ripple effect that will enable individuals to lead better lives and access better healthcare. His vision is to help people plan for retirement without worrying about the financial consequences.

Simultaneously, he hopes to keep offering cutting-edge health plans that can improve clinical outcomes while reducing costs. This will not only help employers save money but also waive all members out-of-pocket expenses. Beyond savings, members will be able to receive proper care without worrying about basic needs.

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