Some companies are taking health reform — and savings — into their own hands. Maybe you can, too.
According to a just-released survey by the National Business Group on Health and Towers Watson, your peers plan to take some money-saving, and some radical, steps this year:
Savings Strategy #1: Charge more to cover spouses
This step just may prompt more hubbies and wives to use their own employers’ plans.
The more moderate option: Conduct an eligibility audit. Most companies find they have folks on their plan who don’t belong there. Removing ’em will bring costs down.
Savings Strategy #2: Offer financial rewards or penalties based on the results of specific lab tests
Work to control cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure and be rewarded; don’t and pay the price – literally.
The more moderate option: Simply offering the steps that improve those test results, like smoking quit lines and Weight Watchers meetings, can help.
Savings Strategy #3: Exclude overweight employees from the most desirable health plans
No one wants to be on the outside looking in — this may spur at least some folks to do what it takes to get to the best offering.
The more moderate option: Everyone can use every plan, but overweight folks pay a tiered fee based on body mass index, refundable when they get the number down.
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Tags: eligibility audit, health plans, healthcare reform