Employers Prioritizing Enhanced Benefits in New Year, Not Cost-Cutting
Despite group health insurance costs expected to rise 5.4% this year, the tight labor market is forcing employers to prioritize enhancing benefits over cost-cutting measures, according to a new report by Mercer. With Americans increasingly struggling to pay their health care
More Providers Charging for Some Health Portal Services
As more health services are being rendered through providers' patient portals and telemedicine, some providers are starting to bill for some of those interactions. A number of health systems around the country have started billing for certain types of messages, largely
New Law Yields Results, Prevents 9 Million Surprise Medical Bills
As many as 9 million surprise medical bills have been prevented since January 2022 due to the impact of the No Surprises Act, according to a new report. This is the first data that indicates the law, aimed at eliminating surprise
Premium Reimbursement Plans Grow in Usage, Despite Drawbacks
More employers are opting to fund accounts that their employees can draw on to purchase their own health insurance, either on an Affordable Care Act exchange or on the open individual market, according to a new report. Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement
Narrow Networks, Tiered Plans May Reduce Costs
Inflation, an aging workforce and people catching up on care they skipped during the COVID-19 pandemic are some of the main ingredients that will drive the cost of group health benefits over the coming years. The key for employers grappling with
Many Injured Workers Feel Unsupported, Frustrated by Claims Process
A recent study has found that injured workers are often left feeling frustrated and fending for themselves after they file a workers' compensation claim. The survey of injured workers by researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada found that
Is Health Plan Self-Funding Right for Your Firm?
As group health costs continue climbing and more employees struggle with the cost of premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, some employers are starting to take a second look at self-funded, or partially self-funded plans. These plans give employers more skin in the
How to Coax Disengaged Employees to Sign Up for Health Coverage
One of the most difficult aspects of annual open enrollment is reaching workers who are disengaged from the process and never bother signing up for your group health plan and other benefits they could take advantage of. While employers shoot for
Employees and Employers Save with Cafeteria Plans
As health care costs continue rising and employees are being asked to shoulder more of the expense burden, you can help them by offering a tax-advantaged plan that allows them to save for medical expenses. These cafeteria plans, which are governed
Finding Health Cost, Insurance Data Still a Struggle for Patients: Report
Despite newly enacted federal transparency rules for hospitals and health plans, some large hospitals are still not posting the required price lists for their services, according to a recent report. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ transparency rules were implemented