Managing Employee Hours: Measure Twice, Cut Once

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It’s an open secret that many employers who will be financially impacted by the coverage expansion intend to manage employee hours to ensure employees remain below an average 30-hour work week when measured over a period of time. However, this strategy is not that simple. Employers must take note of the nuances of the law or expose themselves to huge fines. First, the strategy of managing hours and applying look-back measurement periods is not applicable [...] Read more »

Minimum Value — Is It Affordable?

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The signature achievement of healthcare reform is its supposed ability to ensure accessible and affordable care for all. Through the Medicaid expansion, exchange creation and employer requirements, the legislation was sold as creating a healthcare safety net for all, regardless of employment or financial means. Unfortunately, the third leg of that stool looks extremely wobbly. While employers are required to offer a minimum value plan that is affordable, the resulting benefit plans will be inadequate to provide much protection [...] Read more »

ACA Implementation: Oh, and What About Rating Virgin Groups?

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A slew of unanticipated outgrowths of healthcare reform will challenge lawmakers in the years ahead but perhaps none will be as interesting as figuring out how to handle employers who want to offer coverage but don’t have a health insurance carrier who will write their policy. Under the ACA, an applicable large employer must offer health coverage or face a fine. However, there is a unique challenge for large employers who have never offered coverage.  They [...] Read more »

Unions: How Will They Fare Under Healthcare Reform?

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One of the interesting side notes of healthcare reform is how it will impact collectively bargained entities. Representing millions of middle-income employees, unions largely supported healthcare reform in its early phases, recognizing the challenges their constituents—like Americans in similar situations—often face in securing affordable coverage. However, under pressure from price increases and coverage expansions, some employers are now pointing to the legislation as a basis to modify, tailor or otherwise reduce coverage to collectively bargained [...] Read more »

Weight Control: Step One in Controlling Healthcare Costs

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Last week, I attended a fascinating CIGNA presentation highlighting the challenges our country and, more specifically, individual employers face with the raging epidemic of obesity. There is no greater risk to the public health and no greater contributor to the cost of healthcare than the overweight population and the resulting web of illnesses triggered by obesity. Some of the most shocking facts: 1) Medical costs for obese individuals are nearly 40% higher than for average-weight [...] Read more »