HSA
News & Headlines
11/25/2007-
Employees
not seeing many HSA bargains - Another
great example of how not to offer a HSA plan to employees
_But when employers offer an HSA to their workers
along with other insurance options, studies have shown
that employees tend to favor more traditional coverage.
Some economists believe part of the problem is that
employers aren't pricing their HSA's appropriately.
10/3/2007
- Wising
Up on Health Care
Wall Street Journal - They're getting it from their
employers, who are introducing copays, health savings
accounts and other consumer-activation measures with
an explanation that ...
10/3/2007 -
Some Deere salaried retirees see health benefit changes
- Some 750 Waterloo-area John Deere salaried retirees
and their dependents will see some changes in their
health care coverage Jan. 1.
9/19/2007 - The
Return of HillaryCare - Thirteen years after “HillaryCare,”
her failed one-woman crusade for universal healthcare
coverage, became a byword for political overreach, Sen.
Hillary Clinton is in the health care business once
again.
9/17/2007
- What
happens to a company when a HSA plan is adopted?
Five years ago, the grocery chain Whole Foods Market
switched to a different kind of health insurance, a
policy that puts patients more in control:
9/17/07 - Where
Do the Candidates Stand?
The Council for Affordable Health Insurance has published
a comprehensive guide to the 2008 Presidential candidates'
stands on health care reform. The document is being
updated frequently, as candidates change their position
like the weather
9/14/2007
-
Fine-Tuning
Consumer-Driven Health Plans. With a few years of
experience under their belts, employers and health plans
are adjusting their consumer-driven health plan offerings
in an attempt to make them more attractive to plan sponsors
and employees.
9/5/2007
- Health
insurers lure young adults
Health insurers are wooing the population least likely
to be insured -- young adults in their 20s and 30s --
with individual policies tailored to their pocketbooks
and health concerns.
9/5/07 OH -
Sycamore Board of Education approves contract, adopts
HSA The Sycamore Board of Education approved a three-year
collective bargaining agreement with OAPSE (Ohio Association
of Public School Employees) Local 243 during a special
meeting Aug. 29.
8/29/2007
Indiana to start HSA plan for uninsured
The Healthy Indiana Plan will provide health insurance
for uninsured Hoosiers who earn less than 200 percent
of the federal poverty level -- about $20,400 for an
individual and $41,300 for a family of four -- and who
are without access to employer-sponsored health insurance.
State officials have said that as many as 130,000 Hoosier
could be eligible.
8/28/07
Rhode
Island Teacher Union Suggests HSA Health Plan but criticized
by District - Mullen, the union president,
said teachers are eager to get negotiations behind them
and settle into the new school year. The School Committee
president, had criticized the teachers’ most recent
offer as too expensive. She said it failed to support
claims of significant savings in an alternate health-insurance
plan with a high deductible and health savings account.
8/27/07
-
Communication and Information Tools Critical to Health
Savings Account Success According to a new study
conducted jointly by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, most employers
that offer Health Savings Account plans say communicating
with workers about these plans is their greatest challenge.
8/21/07
California
- Arnold's Health Flop
His plan was never that conservative or market-based.
Like former Governor Mitt Romney's plan in Massachusetts,
it turns on an individual mandate. That is, it requires
all residents to buy insurance or get it from the state
or their employers -- or otherwise face penalties such
as garnished wages.
8/21/07
- COSTLY
'AFFORDABLE' HEALTH CARE Wisconsin's decision to
implement a universal health care system may allow it
to become an example of what not to do for the rest
of the country. But the perils of socialized health
care can already be seen in Europe, where certain medical
treatments or drugs are no longer available to Europeans
above a certain age
8/20/07
-
Michigan School districts report saving money in insurance
pool School
districts that banded together to form a regional health
insurance pool in southwest Michigan say they are saving
an average of 7 percent on insurance costs, and the
number of districts in the pool has jumped from nine
to 29.
State
employees to see lower health care premiums in ’08
- The Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group
Insurance Board had welcome news for state employees
on Friday: Health care premiums will decrease for the
second-straight year beginning in January.
8/17/07
- Is Your Insurance Consultant
a Expert in HSA Style Plans?
Unions,
Municipalities and School Districts should read this!
8/14/07 -
Publix to offer 7 popular prescription antibiotics for
free
Publix supermarket chain said today it will make seven
common prescription antibiotics available for free,
joining other major retailers in trying to lure customers
to their stores with cheap medications.
8/1/2007
- Health
Insurance open enrollment for self-employed in Florida
Self-employed Floridians are being reminded that August
is open enrollment month for single-group employers
to get health insurance or switch plans on a guaranteed-issue
basis, meaning insurers and Health Maintenance Organizations
(HMOs) must offer coverage without regard to health
status. The
open enrollment period begins today and continues through
August 31, 2007
6/6/07
- County
insurance program is defended
The guest commentary authored by Neil Rainford which
appeared in the June 3 edition of the Herald Times Reporter
contained so many inaccuracies that a response is merited.
5/4/07 -
Ohio
representatives Larry Flowers (R-Canal Winchester) and
Dan Stewart (D-Columbus) CLUELESS on HSAs and employee
benefits Flowers joined with Rep. Michelle Schneider
in asserting that while a savings account is one thing,
a high-deductible insurance policy is something else
altogether. "This (H.B. 116) requires those (public
pension) systems to offer (high-deductible) insurance
policies. I'm troubled by that," Flowers said.
"I've talked to the folks at Wendy's International.
They have HSAs and they love them. But high-deductible
insurance is different than an HSA." This
would actually be funny, if Rep Flowers was joking....sadly
for thousands of state employees, he isn't.
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