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Benefit Trends in 2011
As your company has likely experienced, health care costs were expected to rise between 5 and 11 percent in 2011, according to several reputable surveys and research groups.
Several causes were cited, including the slow economic recovery and increased health care utilization; the most notable factor was the cost to implement various health care reform provisions. |
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HHS Final Rule on Controlling Premium Increases
On May 19, 2011, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final regulation aimed at controlling large health insurance premium increases.
This regulation was implemented to comply with the provision of health care reform that required HHS to establish a new process to annually review "unreasonable increases in premium for health insurance coverage." The reform provision mandated that the process must require health insurance issuers to submit justifications for unreasonable premium increases prior to implementing the increase. |
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Wellness Initiatives to Promote Healthy Weight
The primary goal of your workplace wellness program is to improve employee health - which will lead to increased productivity and lower health care costs. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best ways an individual can strive toward overall health and avoid preventable medical problems. Help employees manage their weight with these initiatives. |
Transitioning to a Consumer-Driven Health Plan
Offering a consumer-driven health plan can yield substantial cost savings for both your company and employees. Many employers have tranistioned to this type of plan as a health care cost-containment strategy. However, the actual transition can be difficult and effective employee communication is paramount. |
