Survey shows workers often misinformed about costs of employer health insurance

A national survey conducted for eHealthInsurance between the months of September and October 2011, by Kelton Research, has shown that only 47 percent of participants who had employer-sponsored coverage are capable of stating with confidence the amount of their health insurance premiums that is covered by their salary and how much is paid by the employer. The survey also showed that 35 percent of the respondents who had employer-sponsored coverage were able to state how much the annual deductible for their plan was, and only 33 percent of the participants…

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Study shows cost for employees for health insurance is set to rise

The findings of an Aon Hewitt study are showing that the average per-employee cost for health insurance will increase beyond the $10,000 mark in 2012, regardless of the fact that costs are rising more slowly than the current 2011 rate of 7.5 percent. The rate for healthcare premiums is expected to increase by 7 percent, but the actual cost of premiums for each employee is forecasted to be over $10,400. When compared to the 2010 figure of less than $9,800, the 2012 is notably higher. Workers will be responsible for…

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Enrollment rate for employer offered health insurance plans is on the rise, according to Mercer

Despite reports that employers will be making cuts to the health care benefits they offer to workers as the Affordable Care Act becomes fully established in 2014, Mercer, an acclaimed consulting firm based in New York, says that quite the opposite will happen. According to Mercer, enrollment in health insurance plans offered by employers is increasing. The consulting firm surveyed a wealth of companies throughout the nation and found that the vast majority of them were bent on continuing to provide their workers with health care benefits. According to Mercer’s…

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The criteria that states must meet for health insurance exchange marketplace

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is awarding 13 states as well as Washington D.C. a total of $185 million to help to fund the planning and creation of the state-based insurance exchanges that are required by the federal healthcare overhaul. Each will receive a different amount as their portion of the total. For example, California will receive $38 million in order to create its exchange. The governors of the recipient states received a letter from secretary Kathleen Sebelius of HHS, which described the various options and resources…

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States decide if large businesses can use health exchanges

According to the regulations for health care reform issued by the federal government, the authority over whether or not large companies can buy coverage through the new health exchanges will be given to the states, beginning in 2017. These state health exchanges are to play a central role in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The first wave of availability will begin in 2014, when it will become available to businesses with 100 employees or less, and individuals; particularly those who qualify for subsidies for federal health insurance premiums.…

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