GLG News by Life & Health Insurance Consultants

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Incentives to Control Medical Costs

May 5, 2006

Analysis of:Employers focus on Chronic Ailments | www.boston.com

Employers are increasingly reducing or eliminating drug co-payments for employees and dependents with chronic conditions while at the same time subsidizing screening for serious conditions so they can be treated earlier at a lower cost. 38% of employers now offer or plan to offer such targeted incentives in the future up from 20% in 2001. Many employers have cut their medical inflation by 40% or more by targeting incentives because the approach works and results can be documented.

Bilyana SavicPresidentInsurance Insights

Likelihood of repercussions for life insururers unknown

May 1, 2006

Analysis of:Bird-flu pandemic could hurt life insurers | www.insurancenewsnet.com

If the bird-flu virus mutates and begins spreading among humans, the concern is that life insurers would not be prepared for the volume of claims anticipated.

Bilyana SavicPresidentInsurance Insights

Rumblings of Healthcare Reform

April 28, 2006

Analysis of:FTCR: Insurance Cancellation Scandal Widens: WellPoint, Blue Cross & Blue Shield Sued For Illegal Denials of Health Coverage | www.insurancenewsnet.com

Charges of illegal claims denial and illegal coverage cancellations are surfacing in California. The target is currently Wellpoint even though the standards and practices involved are common industry wide and acccepted as appropriate procedures. The twenty three lawsuits filed to date suggest a potential to trigger a multi-state investigation into these practices.

Bilyana SavicPresidentInsurance Insights

HSAs are a shift of cost from employer to employee, not an increase in quality

April 28, 2006

Analysis of:As HSAs Grow, Leaders Debate Accounts' Effectiveness | www.insurancenewsnet.com

Since March of 2005, the number of consumers covered by Health Savings Accounts increased from 1 million to 3 million. Large firms have seen the largest increase. Businesses with 20,000+ employees increased from 12% with Consumer Driven Health Plans to 22% between 2004 and 2005. However, adjustments need to be made to the HSA approach to improve accessability and financial benefits for consumers.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Linking Health and Productivity

April 24, 2006

Analysis of:Sleep deprivation Brings Lower productivity and Higher Health Costs | www.shrm.org

An estimated 50,000,000 to 70,000,000 Americans suffer from sleep disorders that cost US businesses billions in healthcare, lost productivity and safety. A society operating 24/7/365 is creating sleep deprivation that is manifesting itself in a myriad of health related consequences including  an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack and strokes according to a well researched study by the National Academy of Sciences.

Manufacturing, Healthcare and transportation businesses are especially susceptible as are other which never close. Further, even businesses without shift workers are still likely to see sleep related disorders as a product of obesity. Businesses which do not manage to engage their workforce and encourage behavioral  and lifestyle changes will be at a competitive disadvantage. Health Care Insurers with a track record of successful disease management engagement will benefit.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Obesity Research Highlights Consumer Driven Challenges

April 21, 2006

Analysis of:Research Documents Weight Problems | www.benefitnews.com

Medical costs associated with obesity cost U.S. businesses about $8,720 per patient per year. Obesity today ranks as the number one public health issue. Obese employees do not select consumer driven healthplans given alternative options which means weight management efforts and incentives by employers will be necessary at most large employers which offer multiple health plan choices to their employees.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Employers Prepare To Offer Consumer Driven Healthplans

April 21, 2006

Analysis of:Many Offer Basic Wellness, Few Track Results | www.benefitnews.com

Effective wellness initiatives and an engaged workforce are essential elements at reducing healthcare costs yet few employers today are bothering to measure the effectiveness of their wellness programs. The wellness efforts of three large employers are highlighted in this article and provide useful insights into the essential preparations a larger employer must make to actually achieve tangible cost reductions via consumer driven healthcare alternatives. The different incentives offered by 62% of the employers surveyed by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans who actually offer wellness programs show how employers are seeking to engage their workforce and change behavior. Investors in the Health care sector need to consider that it will take years before a significant percentage of the population is enrolled in consumer driven healthplans as many Americans today are not prepared to be educated healthcare consumers.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Consumer Driven Healthcare Trends

April 20, 2006

Analysis of:Attention Healthcare Shoppers | www.healthleadersmedia.com

This article provides insight into the consumer driven healthcare marketplace as it strives to achieve critical mass. Currently only 5% of the commercial healthcare market is enrolled in consumer driven plans and it remains to be seen whether the consumer driven market will continue to grow.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Not so fast

April 19, 2006

Analysis of:Robust Health Insurers Suffer Infirmities in 2006 | www.nytimes.com

This article contains a number of assumptions which may not prove accurate including;
1. Run-up of healthcare stocks has left little upside.
2. Consumer driven healthplans mean lower revenue and lower claims costs.
3. Companies with a smaller Medicare part D enrollment may be more attractive to investors

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Study Shows Employers Bundling More Benefits with Health

April 12, 2006

Analysis of:Study: Employers Offering More Benefits in Tandem | www.plansponsor.com

As employers embrace consumer driven heathcare benefits they are rapidly eliminating organizational silos while coordinating and integrating benefit delivery. This trend has implications for benefit carriers lacking multiple products which can be bundled or integrated seamlessly as employers strive to control health, disability and absenteeism costs.

Previous Page : 12345Next31 to 40 of 43