"State of Medical Insurance in Washington and Aging Population Needs"

"State of Medical Insurance in Washington and Aging Population Needs"

Lecture will be presented by: Elizabeth "Beth" Berendt
(Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner)

Abstract

We live in a time when medical costs are growing seemingly without bound, and concurrently the "baby boomer" population is beginning to swell the ranks of people who exceed 60 years age.

Our society faces critical questions regarding the best use of technology for promoting factors along the spectrum from quantity of life to quality of life. Changes are in process in Washington State law regarding medical insurance, and we will review the "state of medical insurance in Washington State" in our ongoing focus on factors that drive better engineering for the aging population with an aim of affordable and effective healthcare.

Speaker Biography:

Our speaker on this topic is Elizabeth "Beth" Berendt. Beth Berendt has over 27 years of experience in employee benefits purchasing for both public and private purchasers, as well as, insurance financing and regulation. She currently serves as Deputy Insurance Commissioner for the Washington State Office of Insurance Commissioner and is responsible for the Rates and Forms Division.

Beth was the Employee Benefits Vendor Accounts Manager for Microsoft Corp where she negotiated and managed contracts for the company's employee benefits programs. She also served for six years as Assistant Administrator for Health Plan Management for the Washington State Health Care Authority where she was responsible for the procurement and management of all employee benefit and managed care contracts for the Public Employees Benefits Board and Basic Health Plan Programs. While at the Health Care Authority she had executive responsibility for the primary health care grants to Community Clinics in Washington and the Agency's communications division.

During her prior service at the OIC she served, as Administrative Deputy Insurance Commissioner with emphasis is health care policy and insurance regulation as well as a rates and policy analyst. Her private industry experience included employment by Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska (now Premera Blue Cross) and the Prudential Insurance Company of America in a variety of research and management positions.

Beth is a graduate of the University of Washington having studied Speech and Hearing Sciences. She and her husband Paul live in Olympia, Washington and have a 12 year old daughter, Michaela.

For Directions see: http://www.washington.edu/home/maps/southwest.html/

Department of Bioengineering, William H. Foege Building
1705 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA

 Recommended parking in behind Health Sciences Bldg.,
accessible from 15th Ave. N.E., Entering into Gate 6 on Columbia Road for parking Pass.
The parking fee in the evening is $5.

For more information, contact:

• Dan Harrison,email