Shared name both a help, hindrance to health plan

Henderson Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Saint Mary's Health Plans for its 1,400 member firms as the Reno-based health plan continues to reach across the state.

The for-profit health plan is separate from Saint Mary's Hospital. Both are independent subsidiaries of Catholic Healthcare West. The California-based concern last year acquired both the hospital and the insurance firm.

Sharing a name with Saint Mary's Hospital a 100-year-old Reno landmark is both help and hindrance, says Greg Johnson, director of sales and marketing at Saint Mary's Health Plans.

On the plus side, Saint Mary's is a respected brand name. But confusion can result.

Saint Mary's Health Plans was established in 1993 as a for-profit company and provides group-health-insurance to over 70,000 Nevadans statewide.

The insurance company, while based in Reno, cultivates members statewide, says Johnson. It offers both small and large group plans.

"The majority of our business is with companies having under 50 employees," he says, but the company also counts among its customers many of Nevada's counties and cities.

Prior to the endorsement from Henderson Chamber of Commerce, Johnson says Saint Mary's Health Plans won endorsements from Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Carson City Chamber of Commerce, Washoe County Medical Society, Clark County Medical Society, and the Nevada Rural Hospital Association.

Las Vegas-area members have access to 1,700 providers and 14 hospitals in the valley, including all three St. Rose Dominican Hospitals.