Author: Megro

As many analysts projected, premiums continue to rise, forcing many employers to manage this expanding price tag by shifting costs to their employees. As UBA reported in its breaking news, this cost shifting took the form of higher deductibles, out-of-…

Employers breathed a sign of relief when the looming Cadillac Tax was delayed. But are you subject to other fees and penalties under the ACA? ACA has introduced a multitude of new fees that employers must pay, in addition to penalties for non-compliance with employer shared responsibility rules. These dollar amounts change annually, as does the percentage amount used to calculate affordability in relation to the ACA. UBA’s new ACA Advisor, “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Fees, Penalties” gives a quick reference summary of the key 2015 and 2016 fees and penalties associated with the ACA.

As wellness programs continue to flourish particularly among large employers, a discovery is being made about one of the most important health conditions — hypertension. Hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) is a medical issue where the pressure of the blood in a person’s cardiovascular system is constantly elevated. According to the Mayo Clinic, a person can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. Yet even without symptoms, damage to arteries, blood vessels, and even the heart continues until serious health issues, including a heart attack and stroke, happen.

According to the 2015 UBA Health Plan Survey, fewer employers are offering bonuses to waive coverage, but for those that do, the bonus amount is on the rise. Only 2.9% of employers offered a bonus to employees to waive medical coverage in 2015, an 17.1…