A new study from the Gallup Organization, a research and performance-management consulting firm that monitors public opinion, shows that employer-sponsored health insurance is on the decline. Gallup, well known for its studies and polls concerning the insurance industry and federal government, says that the number of people receiving health insurance from their jobs has fallen nearly 2% from the level it was at a year before. The study suggests that the decrease may be due to high levels of unemployment and new insurance regulations that make it more costly for…
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Tennessee insurance representatives and business owners meet to discuss the health insurance market
Professionals representing the Tennessee health insurance industry gathered in Hendersonville, Tennessee, this week to meet with business owners and state officials to discuss the current state of the insurance market and what effects a health insurance exchange would have on it. The changes coming to the insurance industry as part of the Affordable Care Act have left many business owners in the state with questions. Some are unsure how the new laws will affect their ability to offer health care to their employees, while others are still questioning what a…
Read MoreVeridian Credit Union of Iowa implements new health insurance program that aims to make employees healthier
The rising cost of health care is beginning to put a great deal of strain on U.S. employers. Along with the soaring costs of health care, insurance is also rising, compounding the financial troubles faced by employers. Veridian Credit Union in Iowa is taking an aggressive stance of the health of its employees by introducing a new wellness program that is designed to keep the company’s health costs down. The program comes with coverage for voluntary screenings but also includes a steep penalty for those continuing unhealthy habits. The credit…
Read MoreBay Area Council Unveils Roadmap for Creating a High-Value Healthcare
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Bay Area Council today released its “Roadmap to a High-Value Health System ,” which outlines a series of concrete strategies for leveraging California’s power as an innovator to control rising healthcare costs for business and individuals. The Roadmap will serve as the foundation for the Council’s ongoing engagement with healthcare reform implementation, value-based healthcare purchasing by Bay Area businesses, and health system transformation. “Reigning in rapidly rising healthcare costs is critical for maintaining the competitive edge of Bay Area and California businesses in our global…
Read MoreObama administration’s nationwide health insurance framework
The federal government has – through the announcement of a framework for the Obama administration’s basic benefits package for Americans who are privately insured –made public its decision to play a vital role in the healthcare of the country, and the reforms it has made to it. The Institute of Medicine, a non-government, independent organization, has released a report with the guidelines for what is called the “essential benefits package”, as well as the way in which it will be kept affordable for both taxpayers and small businesses, while it…
Read MoreSurvey 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…
Read MoreHealth insurance price increases may slow next year, shrinking profits for smaller insurers
An analyst at Wedbush has released estimates that have shown that in 2012, there may be a slowing in the rising cost of health insurance, but that this may cause smaller insurers that concentrate on commercial coverage to achieve smaller profit margins. The Wedbush analyst, Sarah James, released a research note that showed that employer and insurer surveys have been indicating that price increases will be slower next year than they were in 2011, as a result of some of the health care reform elements having been implemented. Though this…
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