Here we go again with the cost shifting! Just one year ago this week (on 8/22/2010) I posted the following report, http://yourwellnessnhealth.com/?p=668, that projected what employers were going to do in 2011 on healthcare. Did we learn nothing in one year? Apparently not!
This week a new survey by the National Business Group on Health, (“NBGH”) reported that large U.S. employers are again planning to shift higher health care costs to worker in 2012.
Bsed on the survey, employers estimate that their health care benefit plan costs will increase on average by 7.2% in 2012. This is a slightly lower projected percentage increase than what was projected for 2011. Last year the average projected increase was 7.4%. The actual increase turned out be higher than projected. And this years projected is actually a larger increase in actual dollars because of the larger baseline expense 2011 when compared to the 2010 baseline expense.
In addition the general outlook on the economy is more pessimistic at this time than last year so more businesses need to control cost now more than last year.
So what should employees prepare for from their “family friendly” employer–a bigger share of the benefits tab over the next year as large employers fail to see the alternatives strategies available to be implemented other than cost shifting to employees. Yes, there is some good parts to their strategies such as wellness initiatives and increased consumer requirements within the system. But for the most part, it is again a failure to lead by Human Resource Management hiding behind the status quo, follow the pack mentally that is reported each year within this survey.
Interestingly the NBGH survey also found changes in benefit programs seem to relate to various components of the health care reform law. The survey suggests some are to control increases created by the new law and others avoid the “cadillac tax”. Fifty-three percent plan to increase the percentage that employees contribute to premiums. Thirty-nine percent plan to increase in-network deductibles and twenty-three percent plan to increase out-of-network deductibles. Some are planning to increase out-of-pocket maximums next year. For more information on the survey details go to www.WNBGH.org.
“Employers are being much more aggressive in their use of cost sharing techniques and cost control programs, and are making certain that employees have more reasons to be cost-sensitive health care consumers,” said Helen Darling, president and CEO of the National Business Group on Health.
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Unless you are a healthcare policy geek like me, you probably have not heard about this new wrinkle coming to your state in 2014.
Recent announcements by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) warns the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) should not to create a loophole that would give the favored, large insurance companies regulatory advantages over their smaller competitors and thereby establish a new “national” insurance plan product.
There could be significant potential consumer implications if the new multi-state plans offered through the exchanges were held to different standards to local (single-state) plans, suggests the NAIC. As you may know, beginning in 2014, OPM is charged with contracting with at least two health plans to be automatically sold on every state’s exchange as “multi-state plans.”
It is suggested, the intent of the law was to operate a level playing field. As it turns out, the actual language of the law is somewhat ambiguous, and could allow for two sets of rules — one for large multi-state plans and one for the non-favored plans. This provision could unintentionally upset state insurance markets and erode consumer protections, and establish a nationalize system disguised as a private plan.
There is no simple solution for this although the NAIC has urged OPM to require multi-state plans to meet all state laws and regulatory requirements. And we know that is impracticable, if not impossible.
Just another reason that we need to get the federal government out of our health care plan design. Let the free market reform, and adjust as needed. To learn how your company can position themselves in this dynamically changing and challenging times, contact us today at www.yourwellnessnhealth.com
Living with and Minimizing the Recurrence of Gout
Did you know that more than five million Americans suffer from gout? That is right and the rate has doubled in the last twenty years. If you understand that gout is linked to obesity and hypertension, then this is not as surprising considering how many Americans suffer from those health issues.
Gout commonly results from an excess of uric acid, a waste product formed from the breakdown of nitrogen compounds called purines, that can been found naturally in the body and certain foods. [On a side note, I have read some studies that have found an inverse correlation between gout and MS. Something about these two diseases needs more research if you ask me.]
Back to uric acid that builds up in the blood, and forms crystals deposits in your joints. Your body sees these crystals as foreign invaders and releases inflammatory substances that make your joint hot, red, swollen and very tender. Experts say, gout cannot be prevented but recurrences can be minimized by taking the following steps:
- Loss weight if you are overweight
- Treat your high blood pressure
- Limit alcohol use, especially beer
- Avoid medications that can increase uric acid levels
- Control the amount of meat and seafood (in particular, herring, sardines, anchovies and scallops)
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C (Like the sound of that–Learn how here)
