Know Your Numbers! The Impact of Health Care Reform on Employer Costs
By Chrystine M. Heier, CEBS, LIA
Co-Founder and Principal, Sullivan Benefits |
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If you are among the majority of employers anticipating that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a/k/a health care reform, will increase your company's medical plan costs, you're dead-on! Companies are facing renewal increases driven by the usual inflation, utilization, technology and increases in cost of care, PLUS, additional cost increases driven by key health care reform provisions required for plans with plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010:
- Expanded Dependent Coverage for Adult Children up to Age 26. This expanded coverage will result in more covered participants and fewer opt-outs. Employers currently maintaining a two tier (single/family) rating structure, should take time now to consider implementing a three (single/2-person/family) or four (single/employee & child/employee & spouse/family) tier arrangement. Estimated Cost Impact: .2% - .25%
- No Lifetime Limits on Coverage. Any limits on the total benefit dollars that a plan will pay out over the lifetime of a participant in a plan must be eliminated. Estimated Cost Impact: 0 - 1% or more if you have one or more large ongoing claims READ MORE.
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Corporate Wellness Director, Sullivan Benefits |
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How many people who diet will actually lose weight and keep it off?
The data is very clear: long term success with "diets" is abysmal. For the majority of people "diets" do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits. Studies show that about 50% of dieters typically regain all of their lost weight within two to three years. By 5 years, almost 100% have regained all of their previously lost weight. Even more compelling, we see that up to two-thirds of those who embarked on weight loss diets will ultimately regain more weight than they initially lost by the 4-5 year mark. In summary, not only do diets fail in the long run, they appear to be a demonstrable risk factor for future weight gain. READ MORE. |
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