Headlines about "Health plans - info for employees"
Gathered from the web by the editors at BenefitsLink.com.
2009 Employee Benefits Survey Report
Excerpt: "SHRM's 2009 Employee Benefits survey report provides comprehensive information about the types of benefits U.S. employers offer to their employees. In 2009, 274 benefits were explored, covering the areas of health care and welfare benefits, preventive health and wellness benefits, financial and compensation benefits, paid time off benefits, family-friendly benefits, flexible working benefits, personal services benefits, housing and relocation benefits, and business travel benefits. The report breaks the benefits down by organization staff size and organization sector and covers trends in benefits offerings over the last five years." (Society for Human Resource Management)
Workscape's Annual Benefits Study: 2009 Results'
Excerpt: "Employees across a range of companies and industries have a newfound appreciation of benefits and organizations have been increasingly able to partner with employees to control rising health benefit costs in a number of different ways, according to the latest findings of a survey of 787 HR professionals conducted by Workscape, Inc., a leading provider of outsourced benefits and talent management solutions, and Workforce Management. [Target page reguires registation to receive the survey via email.]" (Workscape)
Public Perspectives on Health Delivery System Reforms (PDF)
6 pages. Excerpt: "Public opinion indicates underlying support for greater emphasis on primary care, prevention, health information systems and other components of proposed health reform. However, there is also evidence of public concern (1) about the trustworthiness of health care products, providers, and sources of health information; (2) about privacy and confidentiality of medical records; (3) about consumers' capacity and willingness to take on greater responsibility for making health care decisions; and, (4) about the effects of reform on choice of providers and treatment options." (Health Care Financing and Organization)
Insurers Revoke Policies To Avoid Paying High Costs of Treatments
Excerpt: "According to a new report by congressional investigators, an insurance company practice of retroactively canceling health insurance is fairly common, and it saves insurers a lot of money. A subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently held a hearing about the report's findings in an effort to bring a halt to this practice. But at the hearing, insurance executives told lawmakers they have no plans to stop rescinding policies." (Morning Edition via National Public Radio)
Miller & Chevalier/American Benefits Council 2009 Corporate Health Care Policy Forecast (PDF)
Excerpt: "While there are many parallels to last year's survey, the conclusions of the 2009 survey are dramatic. Regardless of their company's size, geography, industry or even the respondent's political affiliation, corporate benefits executives say they are concerned about several crucial health care policy matters. Industry professionals: Support an individual mandate; Overwhelmingly want improving quality to be a priority feature of health care reform; Do not support the establishment of a public health care plan; Do not want their employees taxed on the value their of employer-provided health benefits[.]" (American Benefits Council/Miller & Chevalier)
GM Retirees Face An Uncertain Future
Excerpt: "As a last resort, pensions are somewhat guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., a federal outfit. Pensions for retirees 65 and older are guaranteed for up to $54,000 a year. Coverage is lower for younger retirees." (BusinessWeek)
Retirement When Union Pension Collapses
Excerpt: "Gregg Trunell, 43, began planning for an early retirement even before he began his career. Over the years, he and his wife put the maximum amount into their 401(k) plans, thousands more into IRAs and set 2011 as a target date for retiring. But now all bets are off. Trunell's union pension fund took a hit when the stock market plunged." (National Public Radio)
[Official Guidance] Text of Spanish Language Version of DOL Form for Participants' Use in Requesting COBRA Premium Subsidy Denials (PDF)
11 pages. 'Solicitud de revisi?n acelerada de la negaci?n a la reducci?n de la prima seg?n COBRA al Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos." (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
Get Used to a Working Retirement
Excerpt: "There is a major social and cultural message in the current economic collapse to the future retirees of the U.S.: Forget retirement." (BusinessWeek)
[Official Guidance] DOL Explanation to Employees: Appealing a Denial of COBRA Premium Subsidy, Including Online Filing Procedure
Excerpt: "If you believe you are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage and for this premium reduction through a private sector health plan sponsored by an employer generally with at least 20 employees, but your request for these benefits or the reduced premium has been denied, you may apply to the U.S. Department of Labor to review the denial. If your continuation coverage is provided through a Federal, State or local government plan, or if it is provided pursuant to State insurance law, you should direct your request for review to the [United States] Department of Health and Human Services." (Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor)
The Art and Science of Delivering Bad News on Layoffs/Benefit Cuts in the Workplace (PDF)
Pages 1-3 of 12 pages. (Milliman)
HHS Will Release Guidance on 'Meaningful Use' of Health Information Technology This Summer
Excerpt: "HHS soon will issue guidance and specifications on the definition of 'meaningful use' of health information technology, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal said on Friday, CongressDaily reports (Noyes, CongressDaily, 5/8). 'Meaningful use is very much on our mind,' he said, adding, 'We hope to provide a direction and some specifications in the late spring, early summer' (Goldstein, 'Health Blog,' Wall Street Journal, 5/8)." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Wi$eUp: Financial Planning for Generation X & Y Women
Excerpt: "Wi$eUp is a financial education project targeted to Generation X and Y women. The centerpiece of the program is an eight-module curriculum offered online, as well as in a classroom setting, in educational institutions and other organizations in all ten Women's Bureau regions. In the online program, the curriculum is complemented by an 'Ask the Experts' feature, which permits participants to send questions by e-mail to volunteers with financial expertise. Another feature available to participants in both the online and classroom-based versions is a series of bi-monthly, free one-hour teleconference calls with featured speakers and a question and answer session." (U.S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau)
DOL Close to Issuing Appeals Form for ARRA COBRA Premium Subsidy Program
Excerpt: "The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a detailed form for alleged 'assistance-eligible individuals' to appeal an employer's denial of the COBRA premium subsidy program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), and has asked for quick government approval so that the agency's expedited review process for subsidy denials can begin later this month." (Thompson Publishing Group)
Hourly Employees Spared Painful Benefits Cuts in Chrysler Bankruptcy
Excerpt: "Union employees will still receive company-sponsored health care. CEO Bob Nardelli says 'all qualified employee' pension and 401(k) funds would be protected from Chrysler's creditors." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
HSA Basics: A Tri-Fold Brochure for Use in 2009 (PDF)
Can be reproduced, distributed and displayed freely. (U.S. Department of the Treasury)
Employers Underestimate How Much Employees Value Benefits
Excerpt: "Employee and employer perceptions of how benefits contribute to loyalty differ significantly, according to the 7th annual Study of Employee Benefits Trends conducted by MetLife." (Wolters Kluwer)
More U.S. Workers Are Making Greater Use of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, Survey Finds
Excerpt: "U.S. workers are making more use of their employer-sponsored health insurance benefits because of concerns that employers could cut benefits or increase costs during the economic recession, according to a survey released Friday by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's 'Dollars & Sense' blog reports." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
[Guidance Overview] IRS Explaination on Why Standard Mileage Rate for Medical Expenses Is Substantially Less Than Rate for Business Expenses
Excerpt: "Transportation expenses that are deductible medical expenses under Code Section 213 generally can be paid or reimbursed on a tax-free basis by a health FSA, HRA, or HSA. (Some employers' health FSAs or HRAs exclude medical transportation expenses from the list of reimbursable items to simplify plan administration.) The explanation in the information letter can help health FSA and HRA administrators, who may be asked why the medical and business rates differ so much." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)
2009 Health Insurance Plan Satisfaction Study
Excerpt: "A new study by J.D. Power and Associates shows that customer satisfaction with health care providers varies widely across the United States. The J.D. Power and Associates 2009 National Health Insurance Plan StudySM reports on the results of more than 33,000 health plan subscriber interviews, conducted online between December 2008 and January 2009." (J.D. Power and Associates, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.)
White Paper Touts Advantages of Improved Benefits Communication
Excerpt: "A new white paper released by Colonial Life suggests a strong benefits communication plan can lead to greater employee satisfaction and a stronger bottom line for businesses. Colonial Life contends that employers who discount the value of communication risk wasting their company's considerable human capital investment. According to a press release, the report shows that employers can expect to realize key business and competitive advantages when they implement a strong benefits communication and education program, including decreased turnover, enhanced recruiting, increased enrollments, reduced benefits administration, more engaged and loyal employees, and improved productivity." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
America's Health Literacy: Why We Need Accessible Health Information (PDF)
8 pages. Excerpt: "For the first time, there are national data that demonstrate currently available health information is too difficult for average Americans to use to make health decisions. Limited health literacy isn't a disease that makes itself easily visible. In fact, you can't tell by looking. Health literacy depends on the context. Even people with strong literacy skills can face health literacy challenges . . . ." (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
[Guidance Overview] Employee Benefits Issues to Consider in a Reduction in Force
Excerpt: "As unfortunate as it may be, sometimes the only effective way to increase a company's bottom line during an economic recession is a reduction in force (RIF). The economic analysis should, however, consider much more than just the terminated employees' salaries. Other considerations include nonqualified deferred compensation, stock plans, bonuses, severance pay, retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and FSAs. This article, while not exhaustive, discusses many of the issues an employer may face and thus should consider when performing the economic analysis of a potential RIF." (Deloitte via BenefitsLink.com)
Communicating Benefit Information During Layoffs Can Be Tricky
Excerpt: "With tens of thousands of U.S. layoffs occurring each month, corporate leaders are trying to negotiate a delicate balance: How do they ensure that jettisoned employees pay attention to sometimes time-sensitive and complex decisions at an emotion-laden time? Even during a routine workday, understanding the various acronyms and terms involved can be daunting: COBRA, lump sum, 401(k) rollover and so on." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
Communicating Health-Care Benefits to Employees and Retirees: Recommended Practice (PDF)
1 page. Approved by the GFOA's Executive Board, February 27, 2009. (Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada)
Majority of Employers Committed to Providing Health Care, According to Survey
Excerpt: "Despite rising health care costs and other economic worries, a majority of large U.S. employers remain confident they will continue to offer health care benefits to workers 10 years from now, according to a new survey by Watson Wyatt and the National Business Group on Health (NBGH). According to the survey, 62% of employers are very confident they will continue to offer health care benefits 10 years from now, down from 73% last year." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Small Group Health Insurance in 2008: A Comprehensive Survey of Premiums, Product Choices, and Benefits (PDF)
26 pages. Excerpt: "In 2008, the average premium for small group health insurance was $346 per month ($4,155 per year) for single coverage and $913 per month ($10,956 annually) for family coverage. Within the small group market, premiums fell as firm size increased." (America's Health Insurance Plans)
How Consumer Choice Affects Health Coverage (PDF)
10 pages. Excerpt: "This paper draws on the experience of large employers to illustrate how consumer choices can affect program costs and discusses program design elements that can moderate the costs of choice. Without understanding the impact of adverse selection and incorporating design components to mitigate its effect, an otherwise well-designed program runs a greater risk of failure." (AARP)
Survey Findings: Challenges for Health Care in Uncertain Times, 2009
Excerpt: "This report . . . highlights employer-sponsored health care programs and other benefits including short- and long-term cost trends, strategy, and design features. In addition, it covers employers' practices, views, and perspectives regarding managing health care costs, improving workforce health and productivity, and cost prevention -- allowing us to identify trends, critical business issues, and opportunities as they develop. [Registration is required to access a PDF of the survey findings.]" (Hewitt Associates; registration required to access survey)
EBRI Databook on Employee Benefits
Excerpt: "The EBRI Databook on Employee Benefits is maintained on-line and updated when new data is available. The date next to each chapter link indicates when data and/or links were last updated in that chapter. The EBRI Databook on Employee Benefits includes data from dozens of sources to provide a comprehensive analysis of how the employee benefits system works, who and what its various functions affect, and its relationship with the U.S. economy. The EBRI Databook includes over 400 tables and charts presenting vital statistics on the employee benefit system." (Employee Benefit Research Institute)
[Guidance Overview] Federal Law Extends Health Benefits During Student Medical Leaves
Excerpt: "Effective for plan years starting on or after Oct. 9, 2009, a new federal law requires almost all group health plans to extend dependent coverage when a college student otherwise would lose eligibility because of a medically necessary leave of absence from school. Under the mandate, known as Michelle's Law, dependent coverage during student medical leave must continue for up to a year, unless the child's eligibility would end earlier for another reason. This Update summarizes Michelle's Law and its implications for employer-sponsored health coverage." (Mercer LLC)
Medical Encyclopedia Gives Patients New Source for Health Info Online
Excerpt: "A no-cost online medical encyclopedia, Medpedia, went live today, the New York Times reports. Unlike other online encyclopedias, only trained medical professionals will be permitted to write and edit the site. Each author will have a contributor page that details his or her experience and qualifications. Harvard Medical School, the National Health Service, CDC, the University of California-Berkeley's School of Public Health and others have agreed to give thousands of pages of information to the site." (California HealthCare Foundation)
Decision Aid Trend Empowers Patients to Make Wiser Health Choices
Excerpt: "There's no single right answer for everyone yet patients often are ill-equipped to weigh increasingly complex medical options. Now there's a small but growing movement to get unbiased reports of the pros and cons of different tests and treatments into patients' hands before they fall back on, 'Doc, just tell me what you'd choose.' 'No matter how hard I tried' to be objective, 'inevitably my personal biases got involved,' recalls breast surgeon Dr. Dale Collins of New Hampshire's Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, which helped pioneer the concept that it calls shared decision-making. Think of it as 'informed consent 2.0,' going a step beyond the brief patient education that doctors are required to provide." (AP via Contra Costa Times)
Lessons for Health Care from Behavioral Economics
Excerpt: "The emerging field of behavioral economics has yielded important insights into how individuals make choices. Standard economic theory assumes that individuals are rational, forward-looking consumers who make choices so as to maximize their utility (or happiness). However, numerous laboratory and field studies now show that individuals often have difficulty making wise choices. Difficulties are particularly likely when individuals are faced with decisions that involve uncertainty, tradeoffs between current and future costs and benefits, or significant complexity. Decisions relating to health care, such as whether to purchase health insurance, what plan to choose, and whether and when to consume health care, unfortunately exhibit all of these attributes. Yet the insights from behavioral economics generally have not been applied to the study of health care. A new working paper by researchers Jeffrey Liebman and Richard Zeckhauser, 'Simple Humans, Complex Insurance, Subtle Subsidies,' (NBER Working Paper 14330) seeks to apply such insights." (National Bureau of Economic Research; paid subscription or individual purchase required to retrieve fulltext)
Employees Refocus on Stabilizing Income and Benefits During Down Economy
Excerpt: "Economic strain and fear of losing their jobs seems to have employees shifting their focus from maximizing career advancement and incentive opportunities to securing basic pay and benefit packages, according to Towers Perrin research." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
The Case for a Complete Picture of Benefits Being Communicated to Participants (PDF)
Pages 1-3 of 9 pages. Excerpt: "Given that benefits play a significant role in employees' choices of where to work as well as their motivation and productivity once on board, how can an organization assemble a more complete picture of benefits for its employees? If 70% of organizations participating in a recent survey are any indication, the answer involves increased communication and education surrounding rewards programs." (Deloitte LLP)
[Guidance Overview] IRS's 2008 Version of Publication 969 on HSAs, HRAs, Health FSAs,and MSAs
Excerpt: "EBIA Comment: Publication 969 is a handy tool for comparing the basic features of various consumer-driven health care vehicles without getting too bogged down in the details. The updated version of Publication 969 is also a reminder of the considerable amount of pertinent guidance that the IRS issued in 2008, particularly on HSAs." (Employee Benefits Institute of America)
Company Bankruptcy: What Happens to My Benefit Plans?
Excerpt: "[T]he US Department of Labor released a Fact Sheet called Your Employers Bankruptcy: How Will it Affect Your Employee Benefits? Workers should find out as much information as possible about their health plans and retirement benefits as soon as they learn of possible bankruptcy filing. What's in the guidance? The DOL fact sheet [at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fsbankruptcy.html] explains the types of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 11, and how they can affect workers health and pension plans." (9news.com)
Researchers Find Health Insurer Web Sites Lacking
Excerpt: "Research firm Foresee Results, Ann Arbor, Mich., found health insurance sites averaged a score of 65 on its 100-point scale, compared to an aggregate score of 74 for hospital sites. Average online customer satisfaction across industries is 71, Foresee says." (National Underwriter Life & Health Magazine)
State of the U.S.A. Health Indicators
Excerpt: "In 2008, [the nonprofit State of the USA, Inc.] asked the Institute of Medicine's Committee on the State of the USA Health Indicators to provide guidance on 20 key indicators to be used on the organization's website that would be valuable in assessing health. Each indicator was required to demonstrate: a clear importance to health or health care, the availability of reliable, high quality data to measure change in the indica?tors over time, the potential to be measured with federally collected data, and the capability to be broken down by geography, populations subgroups in?cluding race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Taken together, the selected indicators reflect the overall health of the nation and the efficiency and efficacy of U.S. health systems. The complete list of 20 can be found in the report brief and report." (National Academy of Sciences)
WhyNotTheBest.org - A Health Care Quality Improvement Resource
Excerpt: "WhyNotTheBest.org was created and is maintained by The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation working toward a high performance health system. It is a free resource for health care professionals interested in tracking performance on various measures of health care quality. It enables organizations to compare their performance against that of peer organizations, against a range of benchmarks, and over time. Case studies and improvement tools spotlight successful improvement strategies of the nation's top performers. [Watch this demo at http://www.commonwealthfund.org/usr_doc/site_docs/flash/WNTBdemo/WNTB_FlashDemo_v01.html to learn how to use the site.]" (The Commonwealth Fund)
Carriers to Offer Health Facility Cost Information
Excerpt: "A group of 5 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies will be posting facility-specific medical procedure rates on the Web. The participating companies are WellPoint Inc., Indianapolis; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Detroit; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Eagan, Minn; Highmark Inc., Pittsburgh; and Premera Blue Cross, Mountlake Terrace, Wash." (National Underwriter Life & Health Magazine)
Can Free Advice on Care Choices Lower Health Costs?
Excerpt: "With a vast database of medical information at her fingertips, [a nurse] is testing the premise that patients can make smart choices about quality even when confronted with overwhelming, high-risk medical decisions. In theory, the collective power of those informed consumers will drive up quality and drive down costs, just as it has done in industries from autos to mutual funds. 'That is the health care debate,' said Rob Webb, head of the Care Solutions division at OptumHealth, the Plymouth-based company that employs Imig. 'Can this be a consumer driven economy?'" (Star Tribune)
[Guidance Overview] Compliance Guide for Qualified Medical Child Support Orders
Excerpt: "A 1993 amendment to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires employer-sponsored group health plans to extend health care coverage to the children of a parent/employee who is divorced, separated, or never married when ordered to do so by state authorities. This compliance assistance guide explains these ERISA provisions and describes how to obligate a plan to cover a child." (U.S. Employee Benefits Security Administration)
2008 Consumer Awareness on Diabetes Survey Results (PDF)
44 pages. Excerpt: "To help establish baseline knowledge and to provide a statistically significant view into consumers' attitudes and behaviors regarding diabetes care and the use of healthcare quality information, the Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group on Health (DFWBGH) conducted a quantitative survey with the employees of DFWBGH member organizations in support of the Partnership for Peak Healthcare Performance (PPHP). The survey provided an understanding of an insured employee population that the PPHP could directly impact through worksite interventions at Corporate Member locations." (Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group on Health)
Economic Downturn Imperils Benefits
Excerpt: "Many small businesses trying to weather the recession are cutting employee benefits along with other expenses -- reducing or even eliminating their contributions to health care insurance and retirement plans. These are painful moves that many companies undertake to save their cash flow and, in some cases, employees' jobs. Human resources consultants say owners should aim at making these cutbacks temporary -- and to let employees know that their benefits will be restored as soon as possible." (AP via The Houston Chronicle)
A Look Back at Benefits in 2008: Deadlines, Tough Times, and Opportunity
A review, with links, of previous articles on benefits issues in 2008. (Chang, Ruthenberg & Long PC)
Health Coverage in a Period of Rising Unemployment (PDF)
11 pages. Excerpt: "This policy brief reviews the public and private options available to help people maintain coverage if they become unemployed during a downturn and cannot get employer-sponsored coverage through a spouse. Specifically, it examines COBRA, non-group insurance and Medicaid. And it explains why, despite such options, more people will become uninsured as unemployment rises. Recent analysis predicts that each 1 percentage point increase in unemployment will lead to 1.1 million more uninsured adults." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
Business Group Finds Individuals not Helping to Improve Health Care They Receive
Excerpt: "A relatively low percentage of individuals surveyed say they 'very actively' manage their chronic health conditions, according to research by the Dallas-Fort Worth Business Group on Health (DFWBGH). In addition, survey respondents did not uniformly engage in behaviors that lead to productive office visits. Only one in five (20%) respondents say that they always bring a list of questions to physician visits, and only 40% always bring a list of current prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements to doctor visits." (PLANSPONSOR.com; free registration required)
Few Patients Consult Online Health Care Ratings, Studies Say
Excerpt: "Fewer than 15 percent of Americans said they relied on quality ratings for decisions on insurance plans, hospitals or doctors, according to an October report released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a private organization that focuses on health care issues. That figure is down from roughly 20 percent of people who reported in 2004 and 2006 that they had used comparative quality ratings." (Press-Enterprise Company)
Highmark Network Providers Will Begin Having Conversations with Members About Their Actual Cost of Care
Excerpt: "For example, if a Highmark member were scheduled to receive an x-ray, the provider could use Highmark's real-time capabilities to estimate the cost of the x-ray to the member taking in to account their specific health benefit design including deductibles and coinsurance. The member would then have a clear understanding of their financial responsibility for the service and would be prepared to make any necessary payments to the provider." (Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association)
Does Losing A Job Mean Losing Your Health Care?
Excerpt: "One key thing: If you are laid off, make sure that before you go, your employer gives you a piece of paper known as a 'certificate of creditable coverage.' It helps guarantee that when you do get new health insurance -- assuming you don't have a lapse of more than 63 days -- you won't have to wait for coverage of a pre-existing condition." (National Public Radio)
Healthcare in Retirement: How Much Should I Save?
6 pages. Excerpt: "[K]eep in mind that not all Medicare services are free and not all medical services are covered by Medicare. So, as you plan, be sure you include the cost of health care -- public and private insurance as well as out-of-pocket expenses. . . . [T]he following dollar amounts will give you some idea of what a Medigap policy costs . . . ." (Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement)
[Guidance Overview] New California Legislation Mandates Security Standards and Breach Notifications for Medical Information
Excerpt: "Effective January 1, 2009, California businesses may be held liable for unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of confidential medical information. California Senate Bill No. 541 (S.B. 541) and Assembly Bill No. 211 (A.B. 211), which amend the California Civil Code and the California Health and Safety Code, were signed September 30, 2008, by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The action was motivated in part by recent, notorious incidents of unauthorized access and disclosures of celebrity medical records." (Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati)
Vision Care: Focusing on the Workplace Benefit (PDF)
9 pages. Excerpt: "The Vision Council has compiled Vision Care: Focusing on the Workplace Benefit to explore the value of vision benefits for both employees and employers. Healthy vision for employees means better quality of life while for employers it can mean a healthier workforce, higher productivity and fewer absences. Offering vision coverage can be an additional way to attract quality employees." (The Vision Council)
Report Shows Primary Care Doctors Have Limited Knowledge About Consumer-Driven Health Plans
Excerpt: "A large proportion of the nation's primary care physicians are not prepared to advise patients enrolled in consumer-driven health plans on such issues as coverage limitations and cost considerations, a new survey has found. In fact, 43 percent of the doctors responding to the survey, which was conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program and published Wednesday, October 8, in the American Journal of Managed Care, said they have heard 'a little' or 'not at all' about consumer-driven health plans . . . ." (Workforce Management; free registration required)
How Engaged Are American Consumers in Their Health and Health Care, and Why Does It Matter
Excerpt: "Patient activation refers to a person's ability to manage their health and health care. Engaging or activating consumers has become a priority for employers, health plans and policy makers. The level of patient activation varies considerably in the U.S. population, with less than half of the adult population at the highest level of activation, according to a new study . . . ." (Center for Studying Health System Change)
Business Groups Question Health Benefits Cost Disclosure Bill in Senate
Excerpt: "Several business groups are 'reacting with caution' to a bill proposed last week that would require employers to show the entire cost of an employee's health coverage on a tax form . . . . Under the legislation . . . employers would have to disclose on annual W-2 tax forms the amount spent on health insurance premiums for employees and their families, as well as the amount spent on dental and vision coverage . . . . The senators believe that showing employees the cost of health care they lose in wages will encourage them to be more thoughtful in making health care decisions and help reduce health care costs . . . ." (Kaiser Family Foundation)
The Erosion of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance: Declines Continue for Seventh Year Running (PDF)
23 pages. Excerpt: "Even as employment-based coverage has declined, the share of Americans who receive coverage through private purchase (non-group market) has also declined. The safety net programs -- Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) -- have kept millions of families insured when their employment-based benefits were lost." (Economic Policy Institute)
Leaving Employment by the Federal Government Before Retirement? What Happens To Your Benefits?
Excerpt: "What happens to Your Benefits if you leave before you retire? As many of us periodically think of leaving federal service for various reasons (the grass is greener or the boss from Hell are common reasons) this information is important and can help us make the right decision when or if the time comes." (FedSmith Inc.)
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