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By Deborah Vietor
What does a Health Advocate do?
A health advocate helps individuals navigate the healthcare system, understand their medical options and receive the care they need. Their role can vary depending on the setting, but core responsibilities typically include advocating for the patient by attending medical appointments, with them and asking the right questions, reducing costly hospital and insurance bills, ensuring the patient sees the right doctor, receives the correct diagnosis and is taking the right medications. Negotiating with insurance companies, Medicare and Medi-Cal are additional services which can be provided.
As a Private Health Advocate, Gabrielle Hochberg, President of Health Advocate Experts, a not for profit, self-funded company, holds a master’s degree in health services administration from the George Washington University. Many years of expertise, passion and compassion drive her and her team in assisting her clients while advocating for their healthcare needs.
Having worked in health policy, health consulting, insurance and the HMO fields, Hochburg brings a wealth of experience to support her clients in the unique and often confusing challenges in the medical arena.
She has worked with insurance companies to reduce costs, assists clients in repairing their credit, even once collection is involved, accompanies individuals and family members to doctors and hospital appointments and identifies the correct physicians.
A host of additional health advocacy initiatives are offered. These include assisting mental health patients and their families in navigating the system for many of their needs. She provides eldercare services for those who may be facing long and short-term insurance healthcare issues, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Many are unaware of what their policies cover and may go out of pocket which becomes unaffordable.
Asked what inspired her to become a Health Advocate, Hochberg shared her personal health journey: At 18, was exhausted and in constant pain, finding herself sleeping much during her first year of college and not eating. She was initially diagnosed with Ileitis, a significant inflammation of the large colon and ileum. Following serious surgery from her disease, during which she did not have an advocate, she began her quest toward spending a lifetime helping others.
Her passion and goal is to see insurance companies and the healthcare system reward people for being and staying healthy as some do in other countries. Why not cover the cost of healthcare advocates?
As Head of Long-Term Care Insurance Business Line through Independence Blue Cross years ago in Greater Philadelphia, Hochberg developed, implemented and directed a long-term care insurance business line.
She established a sales and marketing department with a sales distribution system of 100 producers in the first year of operation. She achieved a 43% reduction in costs through negotiations of a third-party administrative agreement.
She developed the first Medicare risk management program in Pennsylvania, allowing Medicare recipients to use an HMO for their Medicare benefits.
A 529 plan is an investment account to save and invest money for a beneficiary’s education expenses. Why is there not a 535 plan? Her vision for a 535 plan would include parents investing as low as $50 to $100 per week to fund their children’s long-term care. A visionary and someone who thinks out of the box, these are the types of ideas and programs Gabrielle is passionate about.
Advocating for children, seniors and the general population, she addresses questions regarding navigating the medical system. When necessary, she even works with the Social Security Administration.
Remaining undaunted, a particularly challenging case involved a client with healthcare needs during Covid-19. Although he initially worked with her, he stubbornly refused help, insisting on a hospital stay, even if unnecessary. Unfortunately, he incurred exceptionally high hospital costs which easily could have been avoided.
Although Hochberg continues to focus on plans including nutrition, exercise and integrative medicine, she works with individuals based on their needs to identify and connect the best medical care with the best costs per client.
Knowing the best doctors, she respects the desires and needs of each client, involving them in the process. Part of her services include a program including an annual nominal fee where the client can ask as many questions as they like on a regular basis.
As a healthcare advocate, attending doctor’s appointments with clients and their families is a vital aspect of the process as many have no idea what to ask when presented with health concerns.
Testimonials from clients include Tracie K., mom of Charlotte, age 17 who hit a roadblock as a much-needed prescribed medication was denied her daughter through insurance. Gabrielle miraculously got the medication approved, one of the many examples including how Gabrielle will fight for the client to resolve their healthcare needs.
Tracie stated, “We are so grateful for Gabrielle Hochberg. We highly recommend her if you need this kind of help.”
Another success story involved Bill, a client with a greatly inflated $29,000 hospital invoice. He offered the hospital $7,000 which they refused. Then Gabrielle stepped in, reducing the charge to $3,500.
Mark met Gabrielle in 2015, weighing over 265 pounds, resulting from poor nutrition and no exercise. Gabrielle was able to assist Mark in developing a healthy lifestyle, resulting in a weight loss of 50 pounds and no more meds! This was a result of her life coaching program which she often integrates into client plans.
“Gabrielle has been a huge influence in my life and I’m very grateful to her for the knowledge, advice and influence she has imparted to me over the past few years. I recommend Gabrielle to anyone who wants to improve their health and live a better life,” stated Mark.
For more information contact: www.Healthadvocateexperts.com
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