Are lower health care costs an illusion?

Article Abstract:

The spiraling costs of health care have begun to slow down due to shorter hospital stays, more health maintenance organizations, and preferred provider organizations. However, the costs of medical care may be pushed up by several factors: legislation that could require employers to provide medical care benefits to laid-off workers and families of deceased workers, the aging work force, cuts in the Medicare program, and the increasing costs of technological breakthroughs in medicine. The costs of medical care benefit programs can be constrained by modifying medical plans, by developing health benefit strategies for retirees, and by conducting periodic claim audits.

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Health incentives help clamp costs

Article Abstract:

Quaker Oats Co has devised an employee health care plan which has allowed the company to reduce its yearly increase in medical costs from 20% to an average of 5.2% without reducing employee benefits. The plan consists of: a cash-or-benefit type flexible reimbursement health expense account; a typical medical plan; an annual dividend to the employees if the plan costs are less than the set target amount; and annual economic adjustments based on the general rate of inflation. The plan is based on a $300 a year figure that is given to the employee as cash or benefits.

Human resource management, Employee benefits, Quaker Oats Co.

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Do HMOs mean lower health care costs?

Article Abstract:

Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) can sometimes allow the company to provide its workers with cheaper medical care. Several of the advantages of HMOs include enhanced coordination of health care delivery, a lower expense for administration, greater benefit coverage, and either no deductible or a small deductible. Several factors to be examined by the employer before deciding on the HMO include: the location of the HMO, the present cost, and the hours of operation on the HMO's schedule.

HEALTH SERVICES, Economic aspects, Finance, Occupational health services, Health maintenance organizations

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