25.10.2018 09.34 CDT
Disclosure on health care costs can help reduce those costs. That is not always true.
Increased Health Care Disclosure: Will It Help?
The federal government has taken steps to increase the amount of information available to consumers about health care costs. Will it help?
In recent weeks the federal government has taken a number of steps to increase the information available to consumers. However, it is not clear whether these new disclosures represent breakthroughs in transparency or are simply window dressing.
08.10.2017 11.11 CDT
Employers are caught in the middle of the ongoing stalemate over the future of the ACA. Unfortunately, being caught in the middle could prove to be costly in a variety of ways.
Healthcare Wars: Employers Caught in the Middle
As the political battles over the possible repeal, replacement or repair of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) drag on, employers are likely to get caught in the middle.
As the political battles over the possible repeal, replacement or repair of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) drag on, employers must come to grips with an unpleasant reality: they are likely to get the worst of all worlds for the foreseeable future.
08.09.2017 12.24 CDT
The downstreaming of care – to less resource intensive settings – is occurring throughout the U.S. healthcare system. This trend holds promise for patients and payers, but may be a threat to some existing providers.
The Downstreaming of Health Care
What are the Implications of Moving Care to a Less Resource-Intensive Setting?
Healthcare services are, increasingly, being delivered in less resource-intensive settings. This “downstreaming” of care will only increase in the years to come and promises to produce lower costs, meet consumer preferences and take advantage of technological advances. However, downstreaming of care will also have significant implications for patients, payers and providers.
24.08.2017 06.53 CDT
Healthcare costs continue to absorb an increasing share of benefits funding. This is forcing employers to find new ways to do more with less help employees meet other key needs. This blog explains the different approaches available to employers in meeting these needs and building employees’ human capital.
Human Capital: Enabling Employees to Build Their Resources
Employers are finding new ways to meet employee needs as healthcare costs crowd out amounts available for employer-funded programs.
Employee benefit plans are a way to build “human capital” – defined as the abilities and qualities of people that make them productive. As healthcare costs absorb an increasing share of benefits funding, employers need to find new ways to help employees become secure in their ability to obtain health care, to meet other life exigencies, and to finance their needs in retirement. This blog explains the different approaches available to employers to do more with less in building employees’ human capital.
16.08.2017 09.11 CDT
It may be helpful for members of Congress to remember some key actuarial principles as they continue to consider changes to the health care system.
Large Numbers, Risk Pooling and Congress
As Congress continues to discuss changes to the Affordable Care Act, it may be helpful to share some actuarial and insurance fundamentals.
As Republican legislators continue their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, they keep on looking for new ways to separate portions the insurance markets into different segments. These efforts run counter to some key actuarial and insurance principles: segmenting the risk pool increases volatility and that creation of different risk pools based on health status can lead to increased premiums for many.