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D uring the more than two years of living during an ongoing global pandemic, we've all become more acutely aware of the importance of health — our own health, our family's health, and the health of our communities. But for all of us at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, helping to support the health and wellbeing of our members and our communities has always been at the core of our business. And as your neighbor, we have a vested interest in making sure communities throughout Maine are empowered to live healthier lives. Our goal of advancing health is not one dimensional. Through our Foundation, we invest in local community organizations and non-profits across our state, from the southernmost areas to our northern communities, who often face greater economic instability, geographic isolation, generational poverty, and less access to medical, dental, and mental health care. We recognize that the needs of com- munities across Maine are widely varying – which is why we tailor our support on the local level, from our founding sponsorship of a recently launched bike share in the city of Portland to collaborations with local providers and non-profit partners to address health disparities within the rural areas of the state. Committed to helping Maine businesses of all sizes navigate an evolving health benefits landscape As a local, not-for-profit health insur- ance provider, we provide health benefits to more Maine businesses than any other health insurance provider in the state, according to a Maine Department of Insurance report. Mental and behavioral health benefits continue to be top of mind and enhancing access points to care and services is so important as we continue to better understand the impact and relationship between physical and mental health — mental health care is health care. Employers are expressing interest in continuing to grow their wellness offerings to address more holistic wellbeing – and include resources and support that emphasize their employees (and their families) phys- ical, emotional, and financial health — it's all being viewed as a benefits package that provides a competitive edge when vying for – and retaining — talent in the workforce. We're also hearing that there's a greater need for broader reaching support when it comes to health ben- efits because of the evolving family construct in our households. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey in 2019, married couples with children under 18 account for just 19% of households. These numbers show that non-traditional families, including single parents, LGBTQ+ parents, and multigenera- tional households are redefining what families look like. Tied to this, there's a growing number of employees that are part of the 'sandwich generation,' which is how the nearly one in five Americans providing care to adult family mem- bers are being described. Balancing work and caregiving responsibili- ties can be overwhelming for these individuals, and as a health plan we're proactively exploring with our employer accounts ways to support those in a caregiving role with both mental health resources and with support in accessing and navigating care options for their loved ones. With the increasing pressure of inflation working its way into the health care system in the form of rising costs, we also are stressing the importance of health literacy and understanding of benefits. While Maine was recently ranked in the top 10 of all states for its health care in a recent report, the state was number 34 for cost — which was based on examined factors such as the cost of a medical visit and average hospital expenses. Individualized plan deci- sion support — a service offered by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care through Portland-based MyHealthMath — is a valuable addition to an employee benefits package that can help indi- viduals from "over-insuring" by analyzing the employee's unique health care utilization needs and helping them to choose the most cost effective health plan for them and their family. Turn to a trusted, local partner who takes health care and member satisfaction personally. Harvard Pilgrim's health plans are crafted with local decision-making that's based on what you and your employ- ees need — not what shareholders need. Contact us today. S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T Bridging gaps in equity and bringing better health to Maine Ask the Expert By Bill Whitmore, Vice President, Maine, for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Healthier communities are built on a strong plan. As your trusted local health plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is committed to improving the health and well being of the members and communities who count on us. From robust coverage to innovative programs and support, we're here for you. a company LEARN ABOUT OUR GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL PLANS. HarvardPilgrim.org/ME-local

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