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Category Archives: Health Care
Medical tourism takes a domestic twist
With a shift in emphasis and practice from foreign to domestic travel, patients are happier and insurers still get substantial savings. By Elayne R. Demby May 1, 2011 Last September, Carter Express, a logistic, freight and transport firm based in … Continue reading
Milliman: Health Costs Rise 7.3%
The cost of health care for a typical family of four has increased 7.3% this year, to $19,393.
Milliman Inc., Seattle, has published that figure in its 2011 Milliman Medical Index report, which is based on the analysis of the cost of a typical preferred provider organization plan.
The rate of increase is down from 7.8% in 2010, but employees’ share of total costs has increased to about 40%, from about 37% in 2005, Milliman says.
This year, increases in the cost of hospital care accounted for a disproportionate share of the overall increase. The cost of inpatient hospital care increased 8.6%, and the cost of outpatient care increased 10%.
Milliman also looked at costs in 14 major markets.
In 6 of the 14 markets, typical health coverage costs for a family of four already exceed $20,000, Milliman says.
Phoenix had the cheapest coverage; there, the annual cost of a plan for four is about $17,300.
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Data shows uptick in HSA, HRA account balances
By Bruce Shutan May 1, 2011 A sluggish economy hasn’t slowed the nation’s health care consumerism movement, according to a recent analysis by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements covered about 21 million working … Continue reading
Posted in Employee Benefits Communication, Health Care
Tagged CDHPs, FSAs, HRAs, HSAs
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Health of U.S. workforce declining
By Andrea Davis April 14, 2011 It’s no surprise that unhealthy employees cost employers big bucks. But a new workforce wellness index shows that the unhealthy behaviors of the U.S. workforce cost employers an average of $670 per employee annually. … Continue reading
Generics Superior First-Line Antidepressant Therapy, Express Scripts Study Confirms
Depression is a major cause of disability in the U.S. and accounts for more than $83 billion in costs annually, according to the Express Scripts2009 Drug Trend Report. Experts have long advocated that using generics could reduce pharmacy costs for healthcare payers, without leading to treatment failure or increased medical costs in the short term.
In the study, patients starting generic selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and generic selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) had a discontinuation rate of 44.2 percent, compared to 46.8 percent among those on brand-name SSRIs and SNRIs. However, drug costs for those starting on generics were almost 50 percent lower. Total healthcare costs were about 20 percent lower – an average of $3,660 in patients starting on a generic compared to $4,587 for those starting on a brand-name drug.
The study has significant implications for plan sponsors looking to reduce costs while maintainin Continue reading
