Headlines about "Health plans - info for employees"

Gathered from the web by the editors at BenefitsLink.com.
Baby Boomers Are Reaching Age 65, But Are They Actually Retiring?
"Health care is another issue that is causing many baby boomers to delay retirement . . . especially for those who are under the age of 65 and not yet eligible for Medicare. For pre-Medicare retirees, although 80 percent of employers offer a pre-Medicare subsidy, 51 percent of those employers have a subsidy cap . . . ." (BenefitsPro)

New Federal Policy Initiatives To Boost Health Literacy Can Help Nation Move Beyond Cycle of Costly 'Crisis Care'
"If public and private organizations make it a priority to become health literate, the nation's health literacy can be advanced to the point at which it will play a major role in improving health care and health for all Americans." (Health Affairs)

Insured Americans Have Healthier Lifestyles Than Uninsured
"People with health insurance are less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet than those without insurance, according to Gallup Poll data released in December 2011." (American Medical Association)

Healthcare & Wellness Market Survey (PDF)
"In recent years, employers have increasingly introduced wellness programs to address rising health insurance costs. Numerous studies have shown a direct link between avoidable, preventable risks such as obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and smoking and higher health care costs and lost days. The concept of wellness, however, is very broad and relatively new to employers." (William Gallagher Associates)

Healthrageous Releases Mobile Health App
"[The Boston-based company said] that it has launched a mobile app called 'h!GO,' which is available to participants of the company's employer-sponsored online health management plans. The app presents a user with his or her individual health measurements on a handheld device . . . ." (Xconomy, Inc.)

Survey Shows California Health Care Costs Rising, Benefits Shrinking
"According to the survey, premiums for employer health insurance plans have risen 153.5% since 2002, a rate that's more than five times the increase in California's inflation rate. In the last two years alone, the proportion of state employers offering coverage to workers fell to 63% from 73% . . . ." (Los Angeles Times)

Affordable Health Insurance Options for Young Adults
"A study by eHealthInsurance.com found that 73% of employers are expecting an increase in dependent coverage in 2012 due to the law passed in 2010." (Fox Business)

2011/2012 Compensation, Retirement and Benefits Trends Survey (PDF)
"The annual Compensation, Retirement and Benefits Trends Survey conducted by Verisight and RSM McGladrey is designed to uncover key trends across the broad spectrum of retirement, benefits, and employee reward programs.The result is a comprehensive view of firms' total employee reward programs that is rarely available from a single source." (Verisight, Inc.)

Communicating Health Care Benefit Information Study
"These findings illustrate a need for increased benefits communications on behalf of employers, as well as utilizing decision support tools and mobile applications to increase an employee's knowledge of the suite of benefits to best address their individual needs." (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.)

America's Health Rankings? (PDF)
"This report looks at the four groups of health determinants that can be affected: 1. Behaviors . . . . 2. Community and environment . . . . 3. Public and health policies . . . . 4. Clinical care . . . ." (United Health Foundation)

BLS Data Shows Dominance of DC Plans in Private Industry
"Employer costs for employee compensation averaged $30.11 per hour worked in September 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported. Wages and salaries averaged $20.91 per hour worked and accounted for 69.4% of these costs, while benefits averaged $9.21 and accounted for the remaining 30.6%." (PLANSPONSOR.COM)

Variation in Public Opinion on Future of Employment-Based Health Benefits: Findings from 2011 Health Confidence Survey (PDF)
"The public is in large part confident that employers and unionswill continue to offer health coverage following enactment of the federal health reform law. In 2011, 57 percent of individuals with employment-based coverage were extremely or very confident that their employer orunion would continue to offer health coverage." (Employee Benefit Research Institute)

Financial Literacy: The Investment of a Lifetime (PDF)
"Ensuring people have adequate financial literacy skills means building a foundation in reading and numeracy in school. But this is only the beginning. Studies show that financial literacy programs work best when they are well targeted and well timed - right before a financial decision is made." (Toronto-Dominion Bank Group)

[Guidance Overview] New Jersey Mandates Employers 'Conspicuously Post' Notice of Obligation to Maintain Records on Wages, Benefits and Taxes
"Employers who fail to comply with these regulations could be found guilty of a disorderly persons offense and be subject to financial penalties anywhere between $100 and $1,000. In addition, the law prohibits employers from discharging or otherwise retaliating against any employee who complains or inquires about possible violations of any state wage, benefit, or tax law or institutes any action related to any such law." (Pepper Hamilton LLP)

[Opinion] Should Legislation Protect the Obese in the Workplace?
Read the discussion: 'Should it be illegal for businesses to discriminate against applicants who are obese, typically defined as 20 percent above the range of normal body weight or higher? Or is stronger legislation to protect against this type of bias the only answer?" (The New York Times; free registration required)

Young Adults' Health Care Coverage May Cost Parents Higher Premiums
"An increasing number of employers are turning to 'per participant' or 'unitized' pricing so an employee's payroll contribution increases with each dependent a worker adds to their coverage, according to Aon Hewitt . . . . This strategy differs from the more typical single or family coverage or so-called partner benefits that allow workers to include a spouse or domestic partner on their plan." (New York Times; free registration required)

Organizations Manage Health Care Costs Through Employee Education and Accountability
"According to the Employee Benefits Accountability and Consumerism 2011 survey by WorldatWork, 45% of surveyed organizations report that turning employees into educated consumers of benefits is a very high priority for their organization's top management with more senior leaders now acting as advocates." (Employee Benefit News)

Employers Step Up Efforts to Curb Health Care Costs
"Employers are increasingly using financial incentives to encourage employees to participate in programs to help them adopt healthier lifestyles or better manage their chronic conditions, according to the survey. A third of the large employers that offer these programs provided incentives for workers to use them in 2011, up from 21 percent in 2009." (The New York Times; free registration required)

EBRI President's Report, Fall 2011 (PDF)
"The EBRI Center for Research on Innovation in Health Benefits, under the leadership of Director Paul Fronstin, has built an initial database of claims information on nearly 15 million workers and will soon publish study results on pre- and post-conversion behavior and cost." (Employee Benefit Research Institute)

Study Examines How Doctors and Patients See Health Care
"Doctors believe patients receive the preventive care they need about half the time; patients, meanwhile, believe they receive such about one-third of the time." (USA TODAY)

Public Opinion on the Future of Employment-Based Health Benefits: Findings from the 2011 Health Confidence Survey (PDF)
"Over the long-term, public confidence that employers and unions will continue to offer health coverage has fallen. In 2011, 57 percent of individuals with employment-based coverage were extremely or very confident that their employer or union would continue to offer health coverage, down from 68 percent in 2000." (Employee Benefit Research Institute)

EBSA Creates Web Page to Assist Benefit Plan Participants
"'The new consumer assistance Web page and electronic inquiry/complaint process will provide quick answers to the most frequently asked questions and connect workers to experienced benefits advisers if assistance is needed.'" (Littler Mendelson P.C.)

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