"The Never Pay Pathway" Health Literacy Videos Have LAUNCHED!
They are gorgeous and engaging. This first-of-its-kind resource will help consumers take control and save big with every health care encounter.
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of The Never Pay Pathway!
The Never Pay Pathway is my video curriculum that shows consumers how to navigate the financial pitfalls of the American health care system. Its 16 on-demand videos - about 5 minutes each - provide practical principles and useful tips to help consumers take control and save money with every health care encounter. To learn more, go to www.allenhealthacademy.com.
I’m so pleased to make this announcement because there’s a tremendous need. Our health care system has been exploiting us by hiding prices, overcharging, billing for unnecessary treatment and more. About 100 million Americans are burdened by medical debt, according to a recent Kaiser Health News story. Those who aren’t in debt have been paying more than they should. It’s sad that it has to come to this, but consumers must learn to protect themselves from this unjustified financial toxicity.
The Never Pay Pathway videos empower health care consumers. The videos are based on my book, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win," which has been helping people save hundreds and thousands of dollars on individual health care encounters. The videos make the concepts and tactics in the book accessible to more people.
I’m also pleased to announce the release of the videos because it’s been such an exciting collective effort to make these videos a reality - and many of you have been part of it! I owe a huge thanks to so many people!
Let’s start with the backers of our two Indiegogo crowdfunding campaigns, which raised $55,000 in donations. Wow! That includes many of you! Many others pre-ordered the videos, which also provided funds we used for production.
(If you pre-ordered or made a crowdfunding donation - please check your email inbox. I granted access to the videos late Friday for the pre-order customers and the crowdfunding backers whose donation resulted in free access. If you don’t see emails from me, including one with your username and a temporary password, please check your spam folder. If you still don’t see it, email me at neverpay@marshallallen.com, so I can make sure you get access.)
As you can see from the full list of credits and acknowledgements on my site – this has been a group effort!
Once we had the funds, we had to execute the vision with excellence. I never could have created The Never Pay Pathway without my friends Chris San Juan and Christian Acker, who run the creative agency Mythic Proportions and have partnered with me on this project. These guys took an idea and brought it to life - wildly beyond my expectations. You will see their creative direction and fingerprints all over the videos and the website and online platform where they're hosted.
These videos would have been lame if it was just me talking to the camera. Fortunately, we were able to enlist some of the best to make them visually clever and engaging. Each video features the excellent illustrations of Jake Nicolella and lively motion graphics/animations by Jorge Noujaim.
I can't even take credit for coming up with the idea to make these videos! That goes to Taylor Lindsey, a Health Rosetta benefits advisor in Virginia. More than a year ago Taylor and I were discussing my book, and he pointed out that most employees are not going to read a book. Sad, but true! Taylor suggested turning the content into a series of health literacy videos he could distribute to the employees on his clients’ health plans. Add a certificate of completion, he said, so the employer could be confident that the employee had a foundation of knowledge to navigate the health care system. Done!
It was so fun for our team to bring this vision to life. Think about the alternative - which is the current status quo for working Americans and employers. Right now employers and employees pay tens of thousands of dollars a year for health benefits without showing the workers how to avoid needlessly overpaying. That’s not wise. We expect working Americans to know how to manage their bank accounts and credit cards. Thus, it’s also reasonable to train them to manage the money they and their employers are spending on health care. When employers and employees work together, they can bring down the cost of health care, without compromising the care they need. My book and The Never Pay Pathway videos show how it can be done.
We’ve got more coming here at Allen Health Academy. Our Never Pay Pathway smartphone app is in development, and so is an online coaching program to further help consumers. I also have ideas for additional videos - so stay tuned.
Our team can't wait to hear what you think of the videos. We are most excited to hear how they equip and empower consumers to get the care they need without being exploited financially. Please share your Victory Stories with us.
We know that employers and employees can work together to lower health care costs - reducing deductibles and premiums along the way. It’s already happening! We hope The Never Pay Pathway videos will give the consumer-friendly health care movement a big boost!
Reach out to us at neverpay@marshallallen.com if you have questions.
Health benefits advisors are PUMPED about equipping employees
When Kelly Fristoe, president-elect of NAHU, introduced me to speak at the organization’s conference two weeks ago, he said he likes to insert fake million dollar bills deep into my book when he gives it to his employer-prospects. It becomes a conversation starter because, he pointed out, the book literally shows employers how they could save a million dollars on their health benefits - and he can guide them through the process.
I love Kelly’s tactic because it shows what we know to be true. Employers who work with savvy advisors to redesign their health plans are saving massive amounts of money, while improving the benefits they provide to employees. It’s already happening, we just need more employers to get on board.
The NAHU attendees blew me away with their enthusiastic response to my keynote address. It was a tremendous honor to speak at the conference and meet so many like-minded people. This movement is growing!
New York Times reporter gets $21,500 surprise medical bill — for 10 stitches!
I loved sharing tactics to fight unreasonable and overpriced medical bills with reporter Melinda Wenner Moyer for her recent New York Times column. Patients have more leverage in these situations than they might think. They just need to be empowered with the information to defend themselves.
MicDropper croons about “Never Pay the First Bill”
If Weird Al and Frank Sinatra had a love child who worked in health benefits - it would be Frank MicDropper, aka Chris Yarn. So when MicDropper wrote a song about “Never Pay the First Bill” and “The Price We Pay,” by Dr. Marty Makary - I felt like my life had peaked. It’ll get your toes tappin’ and features fun cameos from insiders in the benefits space. Check it out!
My Amazon reviews feature consumers defeating health care bullies
One of my primary goals is to destroy the myth that employers and working Americans are helpless victims of high health care costs. My book and The Never Pay Pathway videos show how to stand up to the bullies. We can fight back and save a lot of money, while getting the care we need. Let’s keep arming working Americans with information to bring down costs for themselves and their health plans.
As always, I welcome your feedback and suggestions!
Let’s do this!
Congratulations on this exciting launch! These videos will help so many consumers, including me!