Saying health insurance will be more expensive next year than this is a bit like observing that the Sun should turn up in the East some time around dawn. But it does look like the numbers are going to be meaningful in 2017 (see here: https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pressroom/pressRelease.cfm?ID=281). Other than passing higher premiums to employees, who out there is planning significant changes to their program? There's talk of eliminating spousal coverage (at least when the spouse can acquire insurance from their own job), increasing the focus on telehealth, and expanding HSA -style plans. I'm interested to know how many of you are looking at these sort of structural changes.
How To Manage Health Benefits in 2017
Answers
We are using a PEO right now, and one reason was to get better pricing for benefits. We may be reaching out to competitor PEO's for 2017, to see whether they could get us even better pricing for benefits.
Rather than eliminate spousal coverage, my spouse's firm charges $150 a month more in premiums for spousal coverage, if the spouse is employed and eligible for coverage from their own firm but doesn't elect to take it.
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Human Capital