health care costs Archives - Word on Benefits

Health Plan Oncology Offerings—Designing the Best Possible Benefit

Anne Newhouse

18 Jun 202418 Jun 2024

In recent years, various sources including SunLife and the Business Group on Health have reported that cancer leads high-cost health claims for self-funded plans. Claims data shows the top three diagnoses currently driving claims are cancer, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases. It’s no […]

Disease Management Employee Benefits Health Care U.S. Wellness

Employers Project 7% Rise in Health Care Costs for 2024

Cara McMullin

15 Aug 202315 Aug 2023

U.S. corporate employers project a median health care cost increase of 7% for 2024, according to International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans survey results. The 7% increase is on pace with cost trends projected last year in a similar survey conducted by […]

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What to Know About Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements

Anne Newhouse

02 Mar 202310 Mar 2023

Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) have traditionally been used for medical cost sharing purposes to help employees with copays, coinsurance and deductibles. On June 13, 2019, the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services issued a final rule creating a […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care

Benefit Trends—Health Care Cost-Containment Strategies

Justin Held, CEBS

04 Jan 202310 Mar 2023

According to a recent International Foundation survey report, health care costs are expected to increase by 7% between 2022 and 2023. In response to the cost escalation, health care plan sponsors are looking for ways to limit the growth of their health […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance U.S.

Employers Project 7.5% Rise in Health Care Costs for 2023

Cara McMullin

20 Sep 202220 Sep 2022

As industry experts predict that organizations should brace for increased health care costs in 2023, the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans launched a survey of U.S employers to identify the considerations they are contemplating for the coming year. Results show that […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Insurance Mental Health U.S.

What to Expect for Health Care Costs in 2022

Anne Newhouse

22 Nov 202122 Nov 2021

As we get closer to 2022, plan sponsors are wondering what next year will mean for their employee benefits plans, especially group health plans. Health care costs are complicated, and the pandemic made everything even more complicated. COVID-19 continues to impact plans […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care U.S.

The Pros and Cons of Self-Funded Health Plans

Staff

26 Jul 202126 Jul 2021

Employers providing health care benefits to their employees can choose one of two options: a fully insured health plan or a self-funded health plan. Although there are many similarities between the two, there are striking differences as well—And each approach has its […]

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care U.S.

Changes in Health Care Claims Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Justin Held, CEBS

10 Jun 202109 Jun 2021

Over the past year, the International Foundation has surveyed U.S. organizations on three separate occasions to examine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the most recent edition, respondents were asked about changes in the number of health care claims over this […]

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care Multiemployer Regulatory U.S.

How Do Multiemployer Plans Claim COBRA Premium Assistance Credit?

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

09 Jun 202108 Jun 2021

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued Notice 2021-31 which provides guidance for multiemployer plans and plan administrators regarding the new credit available to them for providing continuation health coverage to certain individuals under COBRA. We summarized the COBRA changes under American […]

Canada Employee Benefits Health Care Wellness

Legal and Practical Considerations for Virtual Health Care in Canada

Alyssa Hodder

19 May 202118 May 2021

There’s no question that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of virtual health care in Canada, but we’re now learning that it’s not just a transitional measure. A panel at our recent virtual conference, Today’s Legal and Legislative Landscape Across Canada, explored […]

health care costs

Health Plan Oncology Offerings—Designing the Best Possible Benefit

Employers Project 7% Rise in Health Care Costs for 2024

What to Know About Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements

Benefit Trends—Health Care Cost-Containment Strategies

Employers Project 7.5% Rise in Health Care Costs for 2023

What to Expect for Health Care Costs in 2022

﻿The Pros and Cons of Self-Funded Health Plans

Changes in Health Care Claims Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

How Do Multiemployer Plans Claim COBRA Premium Assistance Credit?

Legal and Practical Considerations for Virtual Health Care in Canada

The Pros and Cons of Self-Funded Health Plans