Mike Hamerlik wants you to keep your eye on Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation (WPS).
“WPS is a strong company. Everyone here is dedicated to exceeding our members’ expectations for quality and service,” he says. “We live in Wisconsin. We work in Wisconsin. And we listen to what Wisconsin residents want so we know what they need.”
A former CEO at Noridian Administrative Services of Fargo, ND, Hamerlik brought his unstoppable energy to Wisconsin’s WPS when he was hired as president and CEO in June 2012. Since then, he has re-engineered the WPS leadership team, and WPS employees and customers across Wisconsin are excited to see what’s next.
High quality and great service
“As a company, we do many different kinds of work,” Hamerlik says of the $1 billion company.
WPS serves members who are on government programs like Medicare and TRICARE, those who are part of a group health plan, and those who have individual health insurance. The Arise Health Plan adds to that by insuring Wisconsin residents in more than 20 counties. The EPIC Life Insurance Company provides ancillary insurance. The WPS Community Bank offers full-service financial services to the general public.
“No matter which arm of the business you want to talk about,” he says, “our goal is for every member to get friendly, professional service every time they contact us.”
Honest Wisconsin values
WPS employees work hard to help members safeguard the things that are most important to them: their health, financial security, and peace of mind.
“I believe that a company can only protect these things effectively when it is totally and unequivocally focused on doing what’s right,” Hamerlik says. “I’m proud of the history of ethics and integrity that WPS has in Wisconsin. It gives us firm ground to stand on when we have tough choices to make.”
As a testament to its commitment to ethics, WPS just received its fourth consecutive ethics award from the international Ethisphere® Institute. The award names WPS as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies.
Enriching Wisconsin communities
When Hamerlik is enjoying some personal time, you can find him making friends as a newly appointed member of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce or cheering on the Packers at Lambeau Field. “You have to make time for the Packers,” he quips.
Supporting worthy causes throughout Wisconsin is a part of the corporate culture and heritage of WPS. Employees support local charity drives, mentor young people, donate blood, and much more.
Health care reform
With the primary effects of health care reform imminent, Hamerlik plans to combine WPS’ historic strengths with its statewide presence as a top health insurer to be able to nimbly adjust to local markets.
“Access to high-quality health care at an affordable price is important to everyone in Wisconsin,” Hamerlik says. “We have to find better ways to deliver and receive health care. As an industry, we need to improve transparency about the costs involved in health care so that individuals—each of us—can make our own good decisions.”
Good things are coming for Wisconsin
Change is always exciting to Hamerlik because it offers opportunities for improvements to be made. With improvements in mind, he is also looking into opportunities to diversify the business to keep WPS positioned for future growth.
Hamerlik promises good things are in store for Wisconsin and WPS. “These may not be easy times, and there are certainly challenges ahead,” Hamerlik says. “But by continuing to work hard and do what is right, WPS will continue to succeed in Wisconsin.”
About WPS Health Insurance
Founded in 1946, WPS is Wisconsin’s leading not-for-profit health insurer, offering affordable individual health insurance, family health insurance, high-deductible health plans, and short-term health insurance, as well as flexible and affordable group plans and cost-effective benefit plan administration for businesses. The WPS Medicare division administers Part A and B benefits for millions of seniors in multiple states, and the WPS TRICARE division serves millions more members of the U.S. military and their families. In 2013, the international Ethisphere® Institute named WPS one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fourth straight year. For more information about WPS Health Insurance, visit www.wpsic.com.
