We are the supporters of possible: Total Rewards Trusted Partner

Zi-Le Wu describes her role at BD as a trusted partner for HR, Managers, and Associates.

The manager of retirement plans in North America resides in New Jersey and sits on the Total Rewards team, helping BD Associates, Managers and HR partners as they navigate the details of the company’s retirement benefits, as well as advocating the value of the organization’s Total Rewards program.  

“As a trusted partner, I believe I make life easier for our associates when I help them answer one question (sometimes more) clearly with insights, so they can focus on the work they need to do for BD,” explained Zi-Le. She has more than 30 years of experience in managing benefits for companies large and small and from highly strategic planning to tactical execution.

Understanding the full spectrum of Total Rewards

In 2023, Zi-Le’s husband became another grateful recipient of the company’s comprehensive medical plan as he required shoulder surgery.  

“My husband is a personal trainer and coached others in the martial art of Krav Maga since 2008. He injured his shoulder but kept putting off getting a diagnosis for a few years. It got to the point where it was bone-on-bone grinding and any movement was very painful for him. He was not able to sleep through the night because of the pain. He had limited capacity on the right side, probably could not lift more than two dinner plates.  We were researching surgeons in our network when one of my colleagues on the Total Rewards team mentioned Carrum Health to me as an option. It was a game changer!”

Check out Carrum Health

Carrum Health, which was added to the already robust BD Benefits offering beginning in 2023, partners with the country's top surgeons and world-class hospitals to make getting surgery easier, more comfortable, and less expensive. Carrum provides a dedicated team of top-rated providers who can help determine the best course of treatment and provide care coordination. The result is a better experience and surgical outcome for our associates and their families. But the best part is, surgery performed through the Carrum Health benefit is 100% covered after applicable deductibles. Covered procedures include knee, hip, shoulder, spine surgeries, and more.

“We never would have found this surgeon on our own – he is more than 200 miles from our home.  Normally, when we search for providers through our medical plan, for convenience, we do not expand the search radius beyond 25 miles.  Why would we ever consider crossing state lines to go more than 200 miles away for surgery?  But the Carrum program makes it worth the trek,” said Zi-Le “My husband underwent surgery in August 2023, and he is now at 80% functionality and continuing to improve, which is amazing.  And now he sleeps!  He has resumed normal everyday activity (including chores!), and he is in a better mood because he can sleep. What more can I ask for?” 

Zi-Le shares that she never had to serve as the go-between for the insurance company and the surgeon as Carrum managed that. During her husband’s first appointment with the surgeon, he spent 60-minutes with them to do a full workup and explained what to expect before, during, and after the surgery.

The doctor even called her husband on a Saturday after his initial consult to encourage him to have the surgery sooner, rather than later, based on his X-Ray. And Zi-Le and her husband did not receive additional paperwork to show if the X-Ray or CT scan was approved or not. Carrum had an app that sent them all the paperwork. Carrum emailed the confirmation and checklist and even reminded them of his post-op visit.

“I’m proud to work for a company with such a strong focus on the wellbeing of associates and their family members,” Zi-Le concluded.