Cost Strategies and Vendor Contracting Employers’ Top Health Plan Concerns
The latest study from the Segal Group includes plan sponsors’ picks for the top five cost-management strategies.
Benefits
More HSA Account Holders Have Funds to Roll Over
Of the HSAs with distributions, the average amount distributed was less than the average contribution, resulting in balance increases, EBRI finds.
Employers Bracing for Increase in Health Benefits Costs for 2018
Employers are looking at various cost-controlling strategies such as partnering with Centers of Excellence and offering telemedicine services.
Health Care Costs Affect Employees’ Financial Future
Seventy-nine percent of employees indicate they have experienced an increase in health care costs, and of those, 63% say they are reducing the amount they are saving for retirement, a survey finds.
Encouraging HSA Use As a Retirement Savings Vehicle
Health savings accounts are seen as a valuable tool for covering health care costs in retirement.
Analysis Projects Huge Retiree Health Care Expenses
“Adding deductibles, copays, hearing, vision, and dental cost sharing, the number grows to $607,662 in future dollars,” the research states.
Holistic Well-Being Programs Becoming Critical Business Drivers
Well-being programs are generally well received by employees and employers are enhancing these offerings to drive employee engagement and stay ahead of the competition.
EBRI Sees a Rebound in Small Employers Offering Health Coverage
In 2016, circumstances appear to have tilted for some small employers, making it more advantageous to offer health coverage, EBRI says.
Creating a Better Open Enrollment Experience
Leaders from Mercer discuss strategies to enhance the open enrollment season for both employers and employees.
Employees Want a Better Open Enrollment Experience
A survey reveals issues employees have with open enrollment season.
Small Employers’ Health Plans Competitive With Larger Companies’
They are actually doing a better job of containing costs, United Benefit Advisors finds.
HSA Assets Have Grown 23% Over the Past Year to $42.7B
The number of accounts grew 16%, to 21 million, according to Devenir Research.
Disease Management Important to Controlling Health Benefit Costs
Employers reported certain diseases/conditions have a big impact on health plan costs.
Large Employers Revamping Health Care Cost Reduction Strategies
Employers expect the cost of offering health care services to increase for the fifth consecutive year, according to the Large Employers’ 2018 Health Care Strategy and Plan Design Survey.
Employers Plan to Step Up Health Benefit Cost Management
Employers are pursuing a wider array of approaches to reduce health care cost and risk—both through improved program efficiencies and members’ health engagement, Willis Towers Watson finds.
New Comparability Plans Allow the Employer to Reward Older Employees and Owners
They are popular among small, professional firms with a disparity in pay.
Out of Pocket Health Costs Could Lead Some to Dip into Retirement Savings
Medical bills are hurting the financial wellness of employees, particularly younger workers, a survey finds.
States Take Similar Action to Private Sector in Reducing Health Benefits Costs
A study finds an increase in cost sharing and the offering of consumer-directed health plans.
A Look at Proposals to Shore Up Social Security
The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College considers two very different approaches to solving the 75-year deficit in Social Security benefits projected by the administration’s recent Trustee Report.
Employers Have Shifted Allocation of Benefits Dollars
There seems to be a disconnect between employees’ primary concerns, needs and preferences and the reshuffling of employer dollars, Willis Towers Watson says.