Leadership Limelight Series:

Working Together to Improve Affordability

A Brown & Brown Event

Join Brown & Brown and three of the top health insurance carriers in Michigan on February 25, 2025, to discuss the current state of healthcare and the changes anticipated in the future. During this panel event with BlueCross BlueShield, HAP, and Priority Health, we will cover the following topics:

  • Healthcare affordability: Analyze the root causes of rising healthcare costs, including pharmaceutical pricing, administrative expenses and utilization trends, while exploring actionable strategies to make healthcare more accessible and sustainable.
  • Current landscape and challenges: Discuss the most pressing issues in healthcare today, including rising costs, regulatory changes and the increasing demand for personalized care.
  • Innovation in healthcare delivery: Explore advancements in telemedicine, digital health platforms and AI-driven diagnostics reshaping patient engagement and treatment efficacy.
  • Value-based care initiatives: Review the evolution of value-based care models and the role of insurance carriers in promoting outcomes-focused approaches to improve both care quality and affordability.
  • Future Trends and Strategic Priorities: Outline anticipated shifts in the healthcare industry and emerging collaborations between insurers and tech companies to enhance patient experience and access. 

When

Tuesday, February 25th, 2025

7:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Where

The Prince Center

The Board Room, 1800 East Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Breakfast/Networking: 7:30 am 

Speaker Opening Comments: 8:00 am 

Panel Discussion and Q&A: 8:20 am 

Closing Statements: 9:30 am 

Rick Abbott
Senior VP of Employer Solutions, Priority Health

Rick Abbott leads Priority Health’s benefit options that serve small and large companies across Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. He oversees a market-focused team including product innovation, wellness, underwriting, sales and client services, sales operations and marketing. He also leads the organization’s strategic alliance with Cigna, which offers Priority Health members access to the company’s national network of providers when they travel outside of Michigan. With over a decade of experience in health care leadership, Rick Abbott is a seasoned executive in employee benefits and strategic health solutions. Previously, Rick was CEO of Lyn Health, Vice President of Product and Market Solutions at Premera Blue Cross and has held senior roles at Imagine Health and Castlight Health, consistently driving growth and customer success across the health care landscape and always with a passion for improving health care access and outcomes for all.

M. Anderson - HAP

Margaret Anderson
Interim President, Senior VP and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, HAP

As HAP’s Interim President with over 25 years in the healthcare industry, Margaret applies her experience across all market segments. This includes large and small employer groups, government programs (Medicare and Medicaid) and individual sales, leading the plan to growth and continued success. Her experience as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer has allowed for the development of the HAP’s digital strategy, advertising, public relations, marketing communications, community outreach, worksite wellness and market intelligence. Margaret has led the charge to transform these tools and technologies to support value-based health care and best serve HAP members. She began her career in sales and has held a variety of roles in healthcare companies from California to New York.

Joe Hune
Vice President, West Michigan and Upper Peninsula, BlueCross BlueShield

In his role, he is responsible for group business growth and profitability, the delivery of high-quality services, strategy execution oversight, and managing business operations for the Health Plan Business division’s, west Michigan, and upper peninsula operations. Working collaboratively to achieve long-term financial and strategic corporate goals, he partners with enterprise leadership to ensure consumer and provider needs are met efficiently and in the most cost-effective manner.

Hune joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 2019 after serving in the Michigan Senate as a State Senator for the 22nd District from 2011-2018 and the Michigan House of Representatives as a State Representative of the 47th District from 2002-2008. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree with a focus on Healthcare Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Planning from Cleary University.