American Society of Employers
New Strategies for Employers as Healthcare Costs Set to Surge in 2025

29 October 2024

New Strategies for Employers as Healthcare Costs Set to Surge in 2025

Author: Emily Price

Recent surveys on healthcare have taught us one major thing – healthcare costs are expected to rise.  A survey completed by Willis Towers Watson reports that employers are seeking new strategies to manage rising health care costs, which are expected to grow by 7.7% in 2025. Instead of raising employee premiums, many companies are focusing on cost-saving measures like improving health plan designs and offering access to higher-quality care at lower prices. There is also a trend...
Is Health Insurance Really a Benefit if Employees (and Employers) Cannot Afford It?

20 August 2024

Is Health Insurance Really a Benefit if Employees (and Employers) Cannot Afford It?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Affordable employer health insurance is becoming an employer burden and an employee wish.  According to the Kaiser Foundation in their 2023 report, the average annual premium for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2023 was $8,435 for single coverage and $23,968 for family coverage. The average annual single premium and the average annual family premium each increased by 7% over the last year. Comparatively, there was an increase of 5.2% in workers’ wages and inflation was at...
The Impact of Rising Healthcare Costs on HR

12 September 2023

The Impact of Rising Healthcare Costs on HR

Author: Anthony Kaylin

More than half of the working population in 2021, 155 million, relied on employer health coverage. While average premiums are up 4% from 2020, costs are up 47% when comparing 2021 to 2011. Deductibles have surged 68.4% over the last decade with the advent of high deductible plans.

New Worry for HR: Healthcare Fiduciary Lawsuits

25 April 2023

New Worry for HR: Healthcare Fiduciary Lawsuits

Author: Anthony Kaylin

In 2022, The Transparency in Coverage Final Rule, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), became effective.  The rule requires health insurers to disclose pricing for covered services and items and must include the rates they have negotiated with participating providers for all covered services and items, as well as the allowed and billed amounts for out-of-network providers. Allowed amounts are the maximum rates insurers will pay for a given service and billed...
Healthcare a Key to Retention of Employees

17 January 2023

Healthcare a Key to Retention of Employees

Author: Anthony Kaylin

A new survey by Forbes found that 8% of respondents left a job they liked to seek better health insurance. Another 20% decided to get a full-time job instead of a part-time job so they could get coverage. 31% of respondents with employer-sponsored insurance said they stayed with a job they disliked for the company’s health insurance. 

Health Insurance Premiums Expected to Rise 6% in 2023

23 August 2022

Health Insurance Premiums Expected to Rise 6% in 2023

Author: Kevin Marrs

ASE released its 2022 Healthcare Insurance Benefits Survey.  The annual survey, covering Michigan employers, examines the premiums, deductibles, and co-pays of employer-sponsored health plans as well as wellness benefits and cost control strategies.

 

Roe v Wade is Overturned, Now What?

28 June 2022

Roe v Wade is Overturned, Now What?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Last Friday, the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion decided in an earlier Supreme Court case in 1973 called Roe v. Wade. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, effectively legalizing the procedure across the United States. In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, No. 19-1392 (June 24, 2022), the Supreme Court ruled that Mississippi could ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, overturning Roe v. Wade.
If Roe v Wade is Overturned, Then What?

10 May 2022

If Roe v Wade is Overturned, Then What?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

For many employers, their healthcare benefits include access to pregnancy termination procedures, or abortions.  The right to abortions was decided in a 1973 case called Roe v. Wade. The case was controversial for multiple reasons, but the crux of it is that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas statute banning abortion, effectively legalizing the procedure across the United States. Before the decision, abortion had been illegal throughout much of the country forcing many women to...
Virtual Healthcare is on the Rise

12 April 2022

Virtual Healthcare is on the Rise

Author: Heather Nezich

Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care has become a standard healthcare option among today's companies. In fact, 93% of HR professionals said their organization offers access to virtual care, and about a third of them said their company had started to provide that care within the last two years.  In the most recent ASE Healthcare Insurance Benefits Survey, 63% of ASE survey respondents stated they offer telehealth benefits.

Consumer Directed Healthcare Plan Providers Deliver Telehealth Services

29 March 2022

Consumer Directed Healthcare Plan Providers Deliver Telehealth Services

Author: Jason Rowe

Nearly 180 million Americans have employer-provided health insurance coverage, and 40% of them are covered by a Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP), which combine a high-deductible plan with a tax advantaged health savings account (HSA).

Employee Resilience is Dependent Upon Employer Support

6 October 2021

Employee Resilience is Dependent Upon Employer Support

Author: Heather Nezich

As the pandemic continues to unfold, the ability of employers to have a positive impact on employee health and resiliency cannot be understated according to a recent Mercer Survey, Health on Demand.

How to Have a Successful Open Enrollment – Communicate!

28 September 2021

How to Have a Successful Open Enrollment – Communicate!

Author: Linda Olejniczak

Typically, HR coordinates open enrollment communications for most organizations, but the communications department should play a vital role. If your employees don’t understand their options, it doesn’t matter how competitive the benefit packages are.  With remote workers and plenty of distractions in your employees’ daily lives, most employees are confused.  According to a recent Voya survey, 66% of workers want a better explanation of their benefits. ...
The Evolution of Benefit Programs – Health and Well-Being Efforts Rise

14 September 2021

The Evolution of Benefit Programs – Health and Well-Being Efforts Rise

Author: Jason Rowe

As businesses manage the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have increased their focus on creating benefit programs that address the evolving needs of their diverse workforces, especially mental/emotional health, work/life balance, and financial health. Moreover, 80% of employers report that diversity, equity, and inclusion influence their corporate well-being strategies. This is according to Fidelity Investments® and Business Group on Health’s Employer-Sponsored...
Treatment for COVID-19 May Result in Hefty Medical Bills for Employees as Insurance Companies Remove Waivers

31 August 2021

Treatment for COVID-19 May Result in Hefty Medical Bills for Employees as Insurance Companies Remove Waivers

Author: Kevin Marrs

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has strained our healthcare system.  Now as the pandemic enters a new resurgence in the United States and hospitalizations increase, employers and their employees might be in for a surprise: hefty medical bills.  
Should You Charge the Unvaccinated a Surcharge for Their Healthcare?

31 August 2021

Should You Charge the Unvaccinated a Surcharge for Their Healthcare?

Author: Anthony Kaylin

Recently Delta Airlines announced that it will charge employees on the company health plan a $200 per month additional charge if they fail to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Delta argues that the costs of hospital stays for COVID total, on average, about $40,000-$50,000 per incident thus driving up healthcare costs for all employees.

 
RSS

Filter:

Filter by Authors

Position your organization to THRIVE.

Become a Member Today