Friday, August 15, 2008

Big emphasis on HSAs and high-deductible plans

Many employers want to take a more active role in enticing workers to form the habits and get the recommended screenings that can protect their long-term health. To encourage employees to stick with preventive-care maintenance medications such as drugs to control high blood pressure, next year Guardian hopes to be able to waive the copay on such drugs, Mansberg said.

A growing number of employers are embracing incentive programs that reward workers who take health risk assessments, attend onsite health fairs or participate in biometric screenings, where they're measured for height, weight, blood pressure and other health-risk indicators, she said. "The vendors we work with make the information available to your primary-care physician so [he or she is] kept in the loop of what's going on."

A break on premiums or a small cash incentive can persuade busy workers to make their health a priority, Mansberg said. "A lot of times people will take care of their kids but they don't take care of themselves the way they should. It's another way to make it top of mind."


Full story from Market Watch -- www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=38e267addf124ae18d6733a44a95895a&siteid=nwtpf&sguid=-ELWpQNc4kyEAAp-GHdHfQ

Some employers are dropping formal group insurance coverage completely or just sign up with administrative services like AdminiStaff. The advantage of these outside administrators is that it saves the company hours of processing time for check deductions, while allowing employees to pick and choose insurance plans that fit their needs.
Not selling you anything -- just acknowledging that there are other options out there that are catching on.

No comments: