Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Those With Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Won't See Outrageous Spikes, But Costs Will Rise
The Fiscal Times: Here’s How Much More Your Health Insurance Will Cost Next Year
Large employers estimate that the employee share of health insurance costs next year will be $4,400, up from $4,200 this year, according to a new report from the National Business Group on Health. On average, employers will continue to cover about 70 percent of the total costs, which they project will increase by 5 percent to $14,156. (Braverman, 8/8)
Kaiser Health News: Taking A U-Turn On Benefits, Big Employers Vow To Continue Offering Health Insurance
The shrinking unemployment rate has been a healthy turn for people with job-based benefits. Eager to attract help in a tight labor market and unsure of Obamacare’s future, large employers are newly committed to maintaining coverage for workers and often their families, according to new research and interviews with analysts. (Hancock, 8/8)
Modern Healthcare: Large Employers Increasingly Leaning On Value-Based Contracts
Instead of looking to reduce demand by shifting costs to employees, large employers are increasingly hoping to constrain health insurance cost growth through value-based contracts with providers, according to a survey released Tuesday by the National Business Group on Health. High performance-networks, or narrow networks, declined in popularity from 26% to 19%, though the report added: "If health care cost trend begins to increase again, this may be one of the first areas employers go in to rein in costs." (Lee, 8/8)
