Employers Mull Higher Health Plan Cost-Sharing for Unvaccinated Staff
Some employers are considering a new incentive for their workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19: Charging them higher health insurance premiums if they don't. A recent brief from consulting firm Mercer reported that employers are looking at surcharging the health insurance
Rules Allowing Mid-Year Health Plan, FSA Changes Will Sunset
A temporary rule that allowed covered employees to make mid-year election changes to their health plans and revisit how much they set aside into their flexible spending accounts (FSAs) will sunset at the end of the year. The rules gave employers
Employer Medical Costs Expected to Rise 6.5% in 2022
As this year sees increased health care spending due to pent-up demand after many people delayed medical procedures in 2020, a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) predicts employer medical costs will rise 6.5% in 2022. Last year was the first time
Tackling the Group Health Employee Premium Burden
As the labor market tightens and businesses struggle to attract new talent, many companies are starting to boost their employee benefit offerings, particularly voluntary benefits. But besides added benefit choices, what many employees want is relief from continually increasing health premiums
Put Money into an HSA instead of a 401(k) After Employer Matching: Report
One of the main recommendations for employees with 401(k) plans is that they should contribute at least enough to their plan every paycheck to ensure they receive the maximum they can in their employer's matching contributions. But a new study by
HDHPs Do Not Slow Down Health Care Spending: Study
A new study has found that high-deductible health plans have only a limited effect on the growth of health care spending for people who sign on for these plans. The National Bureau of Economic Research researched HDHPs over a period of
HHS Proposes Higher Cost-Sharing Limits for 2022
The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed cost-sharing limits that would apply to all Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance policies for the 2022 policy year. The ACA imposes annual out-of-pocket maximums on the amount that an enrollee in a
IRS Lets Employers Give Workers a Break on FSA Contributions, Health Plan Rules
New guidance from the Internal Revenue Service allows employers to temporarily give their employees extra benefits leeway in making changes to their flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs). The guidance, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, also allows
The Top Five Health Conditions Driving Insurance Costs
A new study has identified the top five health conditions that are driving the overall cost of group health plan outlays, and without which spending would actually be falling. The report is enlightening, and employers can use the findings to offer
CMS Approves Medicare Coverage of ‘Breakthrough’ Medical Devices
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued new rules that require Medicare to cover medical devices that the Food and Drug Administration designates as "breakthrough" technology. The rule paves the way for giving Medicare recipients access to the latest