A $4 prescription co-pay is an excellent way for workers to stay healthy. With the introduction of this program, we are helping our client's workers feel like they can afford their meds to stay healthy. And, workers who use their meds are typically not as likely to call in sick with an illness or an ailment.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
How generic prescriptions and physicals help keep workers healthy
If you are a human resources manager who is concerned about the health and well being of your work force, consider the use of an annual physical and generic prescriptions as an alternative. At my company, we are working with companies that help their workers get their annual physical as well as help them get medications that will keep them healthy.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Mini Meds provide an excellent alternative to non-coverage for some companies
If recent reports by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are any indication, one in five adults are working without health insurance coverage. According to the Associated Press story on the foundation report, the increase is significant because 10 years ago, only one in seven was without insurance coverage.
Lynn Blewett, director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota, which conducted the research , said he found it interesting that more and more new hires are working without health insurance coverage.
"In the last couple of years we've seen a deterioration of private health insurance," Blewett said.
Businesses in Texas can control the cost of health benefits by selecting two types of coverage for their workers. I have worked with several clients who offer a Mini-Med insurance plan for new workers. This works well for them because customers in the Mini-Med program are typically the type who leave their jobs within the first year. Once the workers have stayed with the company more than two years, they are then offered the better insurance coverage plan.
Mini Med coverages are a unique offering at my firm. And, they are not for every business. At Diversified Insurance Brokerage Service, we can advise a company the viability of a Mini Med as compared to a more traditional coverage.
Lynn Blewett, director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota, which conducted the research , said he found it interesting that more and more new hires are working without health insurance coverage.
"In the last couple of years we've seen a deterioration of private health insurance," Blewett said.
Businesses in Texas can control the cost of health benefits by selecting two types of coverage for their workers. I have worked with several clients who offer a Mini-Med insurance plan for new workers. This works well for them because customers in the Mini-Med program are typically the type who leave their jobs within the first year. Once the workers have stayed with the company more than two years, they are then offered the better insurance coverage plan.
Mini Med coverages are a unique offering at my firm. And, they are not for every business. At Diversified Insurance Brokerage Service, we can advise a company the viability of a Mini Med as compared to a more traditional coverage.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Why the Nationwide Health Information Network could help lower the costs of health benefits
With President Barack Obama announcing today that David Blumenthal will serve as his national coordinator for health information technology in the Department of Health and Human Service, the issue of an electronic medical record is coming back again.
In a Washington Technology article published today, Obama said during his announcement of appointing Blumenthal, a practicing Boston doctor and an IT health expert, that the federal government will spend $19.5 billion in economic stimulus funding for health IT professionals to begin the Nationwide Health Information Network.
For years, the health carriers had an archaic claims system that delayed payments and denied claims. That changed with the adoption of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in 1996. Now, there are only eight claims processing systems in effect.
Obama is right in that a national electronic medical record standard will help lower the cost of health care by eliminating mistakes in records. When a doctor or one of his staff misdiagnose an ailment because of allergies or other medical factors, it can impact the cost of health care for an organization. Still, the issue of privacy will rear its ugly head.
In a Washington Technology article published today, Obama said during his announcement of appointing Blumenthal, a practicing Boston doctor and an IT health expert, that the federal government will spend $19.5 billion in economic stimulus funding for health IT professionals to begin the Nationwide Health Information Network.
For years, the health carriers had an archaic claims system that delayed payments and denied claims. That changed with the adoption of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act in 1996. Now, there are only eight claims processing systems in effect.
Obama is right in that a national electronic medical record standard will help lower the cost of health care by eliminating mistakes in records. When a doctor or one of his staff misdiagnose an ailment because of allergies or other medical factors, it can impact the cost of health care for an organization. Still, the issue of privacy will rear its ugly head.
At Diversified Employee Benefits, we have been working with our customers to set up an administrative system to safeguard their employee's data because of the HIPAA regulation. We understand the importance of helping our clients keep their data protected in the event of a possible audit by the Health and Human Service Department.
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