Dec. 11, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by Avera.

Avera Health Plans and DAKOTACARE recently closed the door on two buildings and crossed the threshold on a new, shared location at 5300 S. Broadband Lane.

Both health insurance companies, as well as DAKOTACARE’s subsidiary company DAS, are owned by Avera. DAKOTACARE and DAS were purchased by Avera in late 2015.

“Four years ago, this merger brought us together under Avera – still three companies but with greater collaboration and a culture that began to be shared. Today, moving into one building marks a new era of greater collaboration, as well as continued growth and innovation,” said Rob Bates, Avera executive vice president of insurance services and population health.

The two companies were neighbors previously in office space off of 49th Street – DAKOTACARE on South Kiwanis Avenue and Avera Health Plans on South Elmwood Avenue.

“At that time, as our employees wanted to collaborate, it meant hiking across parking lots, whether that involved umbrellas, rain boots, snow boots or what have you,” Bates said.

Avera Health Plans offers small- and large-employer group plans, individual plans and Medicare supplement plans.

DAKOTACARE serves employer groups and offers products that serve self-insured groups, including ancillary and stop-loss products.

DAS is a third-party administrator for self-insured groups, doing work surrounding enrollment, claims, customer service, medical management and reporting.

“At the new site, you won’t find a floor for Avera Health Plans or a wing for DAKOTACARE and DAS. Rather, we have people with similar responsibilities working in close proximity, so they can collaborate and sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron,” Bates said. “Four years ago, this may have been our vision, but today, it’s reality. We’re three companies that share one culture, one vision, one mission and now, finally, one building.”

Deb Muller, CEO of Avera Health Plans and DAKOTCARE, said she could see the possibilities right away at the new location, with its high ceilings, large windows, great views and plenty of space.

Between the former two buildings and the new location, there isn’t a lot of difference in square footage. “But when you take out all the hallways and doors that separated people – wow, what a difference,” Muller said. With new colors on the walls, new coverings on the floors and some of the latest office configurations from Interstate Office Products, the space became exactly what Avera’s insurance companies needed. Avera also is creating some closer parking space for members who prefer to come in person to pay their bills or to inquire about insurance questions.

“We have space for collaboration. Space for huddles and brainstorming. Space for expansive and innovative thinking, and we’re very excited about how this will impact our work,” Muller said.

Approximately 200 of Avera’s 250 insurance employees work at the site.

“When we told our employees about this move, they clapped and cheered. They were ready to come together as three companies but one culture,” Muller said.

People who work in the health insurance business are constantly living with change – and change isn’t easy for anyone, Muller acknowledged.

“It’s taught us a lot of valuable things. It’s taught us to think a bit more broadly. We don’t hear a lot of ‘no buts’ and ‘yes buts.’ Rather, it’s more common to hear ‘Let me think about how that might work.’ ”

Regardless of whether they work in sales, medical review, wellness, claims or customer service, Avera insurance employees are on the front lines of health care delivery, Muller said.

“For that one patient, his or her insurance ID card is just as important as getting an IV placed or having an MRI. That card opens the doors to care.”

Muller said the new environment is conducive to creativity, problem-solving and looking at things from all angles.

“How do we do things smarter and faster so we’re able to serve the next generation of consumers? For our employees, it’s not about where you sit, it’s about who you are serving.”

You can learn more about Avera Health Plans and DAKOTACARE on their websites.