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<channel>
	<title>Ken Mensio, CEBS &#187; Health Care Insurance</title>
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	<description>Current Topics in Employee Benefits</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:21:51 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Benefits Barometer</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/benefits-barometer/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/benefits-barometer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:21:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[401K]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Surveys: Employee Benefits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[benchmark your benefits costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement plans and overall benefits management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=911</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A barometer measures atmospheric pressure. In the world of employee benefits, the pressures are ever-changing and ever-increasing. Whether dealing with health care reform compliance, meeting fiduciary obligations in your 401(k) plan or launching a wellness initiative, the pressures and demands of your job just keep growing. One pressure that never eases - for benefits pros and CFOs alike - is the demand for data. With that in mind, this year's Benefits Barometer offers you more than a dozen charts designed to help you benchmark your benefits costs, health plans, retirement plans and overall benefits management. Special thanks to the agencies, consulting firms and advocacy groups that contributed to this year's Benefits Barometer: <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/benefits-barometer/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>9 out of 10 business owners: no gov’t health insurance for us!</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:45:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[independent business owners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPACA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sentiment Survey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Small Business Authority]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=903</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Based on a November poll of more than 1,000 respondents, the Small Business Authority Market Sentiment Survey reveals concerns of independent business owners. Only 9% of respondents believe they will have to purchase health insurance from the government while 53% believe the cost of health care is going to increase in the next two years. <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/9-out-of-10-business-owners-no-gov%e2%80%99t-health-insurance-for-us/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Same-Sex Couples May Now Marry In New York &#8212; Impact On Employee Benefits And Other Employment Rights</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/same-sex-couples-may-now-marry-in-new-york-impact-on-employee-benefits-and-other-employment-rights/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/same-sex-couples-may-now-marry-in-new-york-impact-on-employee-benefits-and-other-employment-rights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:23:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Insured Health Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Marriage Equality Act]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=794</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Client Alert
June 30, 2011
Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed historic legislation (the Marriage Equality Act) making New York the largest (and only the sixth) state to permit the marriage of same-sex couples.[1] The Marriage Equality Act also provides same-sex married couples with the same legal rights as their opposite-sex counterparts in New York. The law becomes effective on July 24, 2011, which is 30 days after it was signed.  
The Marriage Equality Act
The Act amends New York State's Domestic Relations Law to provide that same-sex couples may obtain a marriage license in New York, and that parties to a same-sex marriage shall be treated equally to opposite-sex married couples "in all respects under the law," without any distinction. Although New York has for the past few years recognized same-sex marriages validly performed in other jurisdictions, such marriages could not be performed legally in New York, and the State only recognized the rights of same-sex married couples for limited purposes.  
Important Exemption to the Act's Requirements for Religious and Benevolent Organizations: In order "to ensure that [the Act] does not improperly intrude into matters of conscience or religious belief," the Act preserves the current rights of a member of the clergy to choose not to solemnize any marriage. It also protects the rights of a religious organization to choose who may use its facilities for a marriage ceremony and who may rent its housing accommodations. A benevolent organization is also exempt from the State's prohibitions against discrimination in public accommodation, so that it is not required to rent its halls for weddings of couples it chooses not to accommodate. The Act specifically provides that a religious or benevolent organization's refusal to provide accommodations, facilities or privileges in connection with a same-sex marriage does not create a civil claim or cause of action.  

 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/same-sex-couples-may-now-marry-in-new-york-impact-on-employee-benefits-and-other-employment-rights/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>Milliman: Health Costs Rise 7.3%</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/milliman-health-costs-rise-7-3/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/milliman-health-costs-rise-7-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 22:08:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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.
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/milliman-health-costs-rise-7-3/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>Health of U.S. workforce declining</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/health-of-u-s-workforce-declining/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/health-of-u-s-workforce-declining/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 21:48:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Insured Health Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health insurance costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[unhealthy employees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[workforce wellness index]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=732</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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. &#8230; <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/uncategorized/health-of-u-s-workforce-declining/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>Vinson Declares PPACA Unconstitutional</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/vinson-declares-ppaca-unconstitutional/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/vinson-declares-ppaca-unconstitutional/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:55:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Judge Roger Vinson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPACA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=677</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Vinson, a judge in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Fla., says in a ruling on State of Florida et al. vs. United States Department of Health and Human Services et al. (Case Number 3:2010-cv-00091-RV), that Congress has no authority under the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution to enforce the “minimum essential coverage provision” in PPACA.
The PPACA minimum coverage provision would require individuals to buy health coverage. If the provision takes effect as enacted, it will require many people with incomes above a certain level who do not get health coverage from their employers to buy a minimum level of health coverage or else pay a penalty. The provision, set to take effect in 2014, provides exceptions for individuals with religious objections to owning health coverage and for some individuals who cannot find affordable health coverage. 
 <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/vinson-declares-ppaca-unconstitutional/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>PPACA: Willis Measures Employer Gloom</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/ppaca-willis-measures-employer-gloom/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/ppaca-willis-measures-employer-gloom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:38:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Self Insured Health Plans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[affordable care act]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[About 59% of the employers that participated in the Willis-Diamond survey said they probably will continue to offer health benefits in 2014, but 12% said they are somewhat or very likely to shut down their health plans and encourage employees to buy coverage through the exchange system.

Some survey participants said they believe Affordable Care Act provisions could lead to positive changes: 26% said they expect the act to increase employee health consciousness.

Many more participants -- 88% -- said they think the act will increase

  <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/ppaca-willis-measures-employer-gloom/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>Fast facts on consumer-driven health plans</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/fast-facts-on-consumer-driven-health-plans/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/fast-facts-on-consumer-driven-health-plans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:21:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CDHPs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EBRI Issue Brief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employee Benefit Research Institute]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=501</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute sums up what is known about CDHPs and examines trends in offer rates and enrollment. It also looks at differences in premiums between CDHPs and other types of insurance, and discusses the drivers of the premium differences:

The report is in the August 2010 EBRI Issue Brief, available online at www.ebri.org.

Among the key points:

    * Offer rates: Surveys show that employers offering a CDHP increased from less than 5 percent in 2005 to between 12 percent to 15 percent by 2009. 

Growth in offer rates can be seen across all firm sizes. Recently, the percentage of small firms offering a CDHP has declined, while larger firms have continued to add a CDHP as an option.

    * Enrollment: Overall, 19.1 million, or 11 percent of individuals with private health insurance, were enrolled in a CDHP in 2009.
    * Premiums: Generally, premiums for CDHPs were lower than premiums for non-CDHPs. Growth in premiums varies both by type of plan and over time.
    * Explaining differences in premiums: A number of studies have tried to explain the differences in premiums between CDHPs and non-CDHPs. One found savings ranged from a high of 15.5 percent to a low of –4.7 percent, with average savings of 4.8 percent. 

However, the study found that most of the savings was due to younger, healthier workers choosing CDHPs and concluded that once typical risk- and benefit-adjustment factors were taken into account, CDHPs saved only 1.5 percent.

There is strong evidence that, initially, CDHP enrollees will be healthier than non-CDHP enrollees, but that over time the CDHP population has a significantly higher illness burden.

    * Impact of CDHPs on preventive services: The studies agree that use of preventive services did not change (upward or downward) as a result of the CDHP.
    * Impact of CDHPs on medication adherence: The studies found that overall use of brand name prescription drugs fell among CDHP enrollees, and, while there was some offset from increased use of generic drugs, some enrollees stopped their use of prescription drugs. CDHP enrollees increased their use of the mail-order pharmacy option. Overall use of prescription drugs among CDHP enrollees with certain chronic conditions fell, or did not increase when enrollees met their deductible. One study found that the financial incentives of the plan are not sufficient in driving behavior, and that educational outreach also matters.

  <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/fast-facts-on-consumer-driven-health-plans/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>Health Care Reform: Preventive Services Interim Final Rules Released</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/health-care-reform-preventive-services-interim-final-rules-released/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/health-care-reform-preventive-services-interim-final-rules-released/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:18:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[affordable care act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[preventive health services]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=465</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On July 14, 2010, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury released final interim rules implementing the preventive health services provisions under the Affordable Care Act. Read this alert to learn more about the new rules. <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/health-care-reform-preventive-services-interim-final-rules-released/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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		<title>Report: Costs of PPACA exceed previous estimates</title>
		<link>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/report-costs-of-ppaca-exceed-previous-estimates/#utm_source=feed&#038;utm_medium=feed&#038;utm_campaign=feed</link>
		<comments>http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/report-costs-of-ppaca-exceed-previous-estimates/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:19:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ken Mensio</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health Care Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Care Reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Costs of PPACA exceed previous estimates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[impact on employers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PPACA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/?p=460</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Two integral provisions of the health care reform legislation, “dependent eligibility” and “affordability,” will likely result in much higher health care costs for employers than previously estimated by government officials and other industry consultants, according to a new report.

The bswift Special Report on the Impact of Health Reform on Employers analyzes the 2010 benefits premium, contribution and dependent data of 242 bswift client organizations. The sample includes mid-sized and large employers with 50 to 15,000 employees representing a variety of industries, including retail, manufacturing and professional services.

“The bswift Special Report highlights the dramatic differences in impact of PPACA among employers. For some, the impact is negligible. For many others, PPACA may increase costs substantially for 2011 and may also require a complete overhaul of the organization’s health strategies in the next three years,” says bswift CEO Rich Gallun. <a href="http://www.csibenefits.us/blog/health-insurance/report-costs-of-ppaca-exceed-previous-estimates/">Continue reading <span class="meta-nav">&#8594;</span></a>]]></description>
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