Lantern’s surgeons are among the top in the country at what they do—providing members with the best care for their condition and helping them regain their quality of life. That’s one big reason Lantern is different from most health plans. Every surgeon in our network is individually vetted on factors that make a difference for patients, from clinical appropriateness to patient satisfaction, to ensure they deliver the highest quality care.
“I would say that Lantern has a very vigorous and rigorous quality selection program for their surgeons, much more so than any of the other carriers,” said Jennifer Cook, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Florida Joint Care Institute. “For example, if you want to become a provider for Blue Cross or Cigna or United, you fill out a piece of paper and then they credential you and you’re good to go.”
What is a Lantern member?
You’re a Lantern member if you have access to Lantern through your employer or union. That’s it!
Care Lantern Members Can Trust
Lantern surgeons all perform a high volume of procedures within their specialty — an advantage that ultimately benefits members. Lantern surgeons have performed the surgeries their patients need many times.
“It’s been proven over and over again that the surgeons who do the most volume in a specialty tend to get the best results,” said Steve Lucey, MD, orthopedic surgeon specializing in knees, at Atrium Wake Forest Baptist in North Carolina. “It’s no different than if you go to your mechanic and you have someone that specializes in working on carburetors or mufflers, they’re going to be the best in the fastest, and probably even the less expensive in town. And so that holds true in medicine.”
Supporting Lantern Members through the Process
Lantern surgeons focus on helping members improve their lives, not just by performing surgery. Often, they can help their patients find a treatment option that doesn’t involve surgery at all.
“My philosophy is always to get a patient to enjoy and have a very high quality of life, and that always starts with conservative treatment,” Grant Zarzour, MD, hip and knee surgeon, at Gulf Orthopaedics in Mobile, AL. “I think a lot of people are concerned they’re going to come in the door and being a surgeon, my first goal is to grab the scalpel. We’re always going to make sure that we’ve done everything we can to send them through a conservative treatment plan.”
That patient-first mindset is part of what makes the Lantern network different. Specialists aren’t just selected for their credentials—they’re chosen for their outcomes, their approach and their values.
Importantly, this care is also accessible: Lantern members pay as little as $0 for their surgery.
“I tell [Lantern members] that their employer has been very, very wise to become a part of a plan that pays attention to quality and that you’re coming to me because it’s a value-based play, which means that your outcomes are really good, and then your price is better than it would’ve been,” Dr. Lucey said.
