The health care cost spiral is slowing- finally. Prior to 2008, the increase averaged at least 8% a year- for two decades! Over the past 5 years (up to 2014), total healthcare costs have growing by less than 3% annually. That trend is up for grabs through, as the last year’s(2015) increase seems to 5.5%- but the current year’s increase will be a little less at 4.8%. Except, these numbers still don’t tell the whole story….
Tag Archives: healthcare
The COOPs. Part 3. The end?
Well, I didn’t think this explanation of health care coops would go on this long. But, it turns out there’s a lot to setting up new insurance companies. (Yes, I should recall how much it took to set up our liability insurance coop, as I described here.)
The COOPs. No, not the MIT/Harvard one, either.
So, yesterday, I talked about how corporations are using PPACA (Obamacare) as a wedge with which they can obtain information to which they really are not entitled. And, as a means to lower their health care costs, via an avenue that is impermissible. One that the regulators have begun to address.
Continue reading The COOPs. No, not the MIT/Harvard one, either.
Corporate Overreach?
I have a few posts in the queue about the Affordable Care Act and how it’s been faring. In particular, how the actions of those that detest the act have made things more intolerable. But, today, I will be discussing how companies have been subverting the act for their own purposes.
Is there a Cadillac Tax in your future?
For years, I’ve been working with my clients to provide special benefits; the kind that make starting and running an entrepreneurial business worthwhile. One section where I’ve been helping them is healthcare; to provide medical and dental reimbursement plans and flexible savings account plans (FSA).
Hey, business owner- this affects you!
There is a penalty that can be imposed as of 1 July 2015 to small business employers who reimburse employees for premiums paid for individual health insurance policies under Obamacare (PPACA). Yes, that means if you don’t offer insurance because your state does not offer plans for small employers and the various insurance companies charge rates that are outrageous, you can still be penalized. But, there are ways to fix this. Read on…
The first of many? Or just a stretch too far?
I have written (here’s one from more than 2 years ago) about this sort of issue before. While I have mixed emotions, I don’t want insurance companies to purchase (or otherwise acquire) physician practices. I am not sure I want hospitals systems to acquire docs, either, but it seems that the courts are coming around to my point of view, too.
Continue reading The first of many? Or just a stretch too far?
Oregon leads the way- again. Or, is that still?
In the late 2000s- long before Obamacare- Oregon began considering how it could best manage the health care costs for its poorer citizens. This program eventually became known as the Oregon Health Care Experiment.
Continue reading Oregon leads the way- again. Or, is that still?
Whoops, there goes another kilowatt dam!
Well, there goes that idea. Oh, not mine. But, a lot of mid-sized entities had the bright idea to provide their employees with tax-free cash to purchase their own insurance on the PPACA Health Exchanges (Obamacare). Now, they won’t be doing that…
Rates on the rise?
Surprise! Your health insurance rates are going to go up. Why? Insurance for the insurance companies…