| Insurers Pledge to Maintain Current Mammogram Coverage Insurance companies say they will continue paying for annual mammograms amid widespread fears that new breast cancer screening guidelines from a federal task force could lead women to lose coverage for those tests. Date posted: 11/20/09 Source: USA TODAY [via BenefitsLink Newsletter] 11/19/09 |
| Employers See Improvement - But Not Enough - in Senate Reform Bill The Senate's health care legislation contains less onerous requirements on employers than a similar House bill, but there's still plenty to dislike, employer groups say. Date posted: 11/20/09 Source: Workforce Management [via www.workforce.com] 11/19/09 |
| Employers See Future for 401(k) Company Match Recent surveys on the future of employer matches to 401(k) plan participant contributions give some reason to be cautiously optimistic. Date posted: 11/20/09 Source: Employee Benefit Adviser 11/1/09 |
| Poll: Health Cost-Containment Measures Take Hold A new report on annual health care cost hikes says the 2009 annual increase of 5.5 percent to $8,945 was the lowest in 10 years. Date posted: 11/20/09 Source: PLANSPONSOR 11/18/09 |
| Cisco Survey Finds Good Telework Programs Can Boost Productivity A sound telecommuting strategy increases productivity, job satisfaction and work/life flexibility significantly, according to a recent survey conducted by a global Internet solutions company among its workforce. Date posted: 11/19/09 Source: Society of Human Resource Management 11/16/09 |
| Reid Unveils Senate Health Plan with Public Option, New Taxes Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) released a health care reform plan Wednesday that budget analysts said would extend coverage to millions of the uninsured and reduce the budget deficit over 10 years. Date posted: 11/19/09 Source: Reuters [via Business Insurance] 11/18/09 |
| Small Businesses Continue to Feel Pressures of Health Care Costs Across the country, businesses already strapped by the economy to turn a profit are sacrificing or scaling back employee health insurance plans because of their escalating costs. The crunch has particularly socked smaller employers, who have become a centerpiece in the debate over how to overhaul the nation's health care system. Date posted: 11/19/09 Source: Associated Press [via Yahoo! News and BenefitsLink] 11/18/09 |
| Research: Growing Obesity Problem Will Top $334 Billion Mark by 2018 If Americans continue to pack on pounds, obesity will cost the U.S. about $344 billion in medical-related expenses by 2018, eating up about 21 percent of health care spending, according to the first analysis to estimate the future medical costs of excess weight. Date posted: 11/19/09 Source: USA Today [via Benefits in the News, compiled by BenefitsLink] 11/18/09 |
| Study: Employers Focus on Health Care Cost-Shifting to Retirees Driven by a prolonged economic recession and already high health care benefit costs for active employees, large U.S. employers are continuing to shift significant health coverage costs to retirees or exiting sponsored retiree health benefit programs altogether, according to a new study. Date posted: 11/19/09 Source: Insurance Broadcasting 11/1/9/09 |
| Agency Finds Widespread Underreporting of Workplace Injuries A new government study adds to the growing body of evidence that employers and employees significantly underreport workplace injuries and illnesses. Date posted: 11/19/09 Source: Workforce Management [via www.workforce.com] 11/18/09 |
