Health & benefits podcasts review H&B-specific regulatory and other news and developments affecting Benefits Professionals. You can listen to the podcasts online or download the MP3 recordings to listen to on your computer.

Reducing unplanned absences helps control costs

How much do employee absences really cost? Michael Klachefsky reports on survey findings that show the true price employers pay for incidental, unplanned employee absences and offers some suggestions for reducing these costly absences. (4:45)

14 November 2008

Benefits designed to keep plan members healthy

One part of keeping employer health costs down is getting plan members to use preventive and "high impact" services. David Dross talks with Richard Klein about how evidence-based benefit design can encourage plan participants to take better care of themselves by reducing cost-sharing for certain medical services. (5:05)

11 November 2008

Changing times: The impact on employer-provided health benefits

Listen to our podcast with George Wagoner (Richmond), Worldwide partner, Health & benefits consulting or download it to listen to on your computer. (13:25)

3 November 2008

Health care reform makes a comeback

Health care reform is back with a vengeance in the presidential campaign this year, with both major party candidates embracing the concept. Mercer’s Kelly Traw explains similarities and differences in the policy proposals of presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. (4:15)

28 October 2008

EESA expands parity for mental health, substance abuse benefits

The recently passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) includes expanded parity requirements for mental health and substance abuse benefits. Kelly Traw looks at issues the new requirements raise for employers and their health benefit plans. (4:10)

21 October 2008

Sponsors find coverage for weight loss surgery pays off

Obesity is often accompanied by chronic health conditions such as diabetes, coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Susan Goldenson reports results of a new study that finds plan sponsors covering weight reduction surgery see savings of as much as $500 per month, and recover full costs of the surgery in two to four years.  (2:25) 

21 October 2008

CMS releases 2009 Medicare premiums and deductibles

Medicare beneficiaries are subject to various cost-sharing requirements – including monthly premiums, deductibles and daily coinsurance amounts for certain benefits – that are adjusted annually based on Medicare rules. Donna Clements explains the four parts of the Medicare program and changes in Medicare premiums and deductibles for 2009.

14 October 2008

Bailout includes retirement, health and exec pay measures

Although the main objective of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 is to remove troubled assets from the financial system and pump capital into credit markets, the law includes a host of provisions that could affect employers’ executive pay, health and retirement plans. Geoff Manville (Washington) provides details on provisions of special interest to employers. (5:16)

7 October 2008

Sculpt benefit programs to cut costs, retain talent

With the economic future uncertain, the corporate focus on cost cutting is intensifying. Gordon Clark (London) talks with Richard Klein about how companies re-examining their benefit offerings can shape reductions to maintain their competitive advantage in the talent wars. (6:56)

30 September 2008

Interest grows in cross-border health care

Global health care sourcing, also known as medical tourism, started as an individual response to high health care costs in the U.S. Amy Bergner talks with Mercer Thought Leader Dr. Arnold Milstein about the reasons employers are now looking into this option for their U.S. employees. (18:15)

23 September 2008

Health care consumerism coming of age

Health care consumerism has come a long way, but there’s still plenty of work to be done to make cost and quality information available to consumers. Sander Domaszewicz discusses the growth of information sources to help consumers make wise health care choices, and the challenge of making that information available to a broad cross-section of the public. (6:00)

16 September 2008

Onsite health clinics make a comeback

A common workplace element lost to corporate downsizing, onsite clinics have experienced a dramatic resurgence in recent years. Mercer’s Bruce Hochstadt reviews advantages these clinics offer both employers and employees and discusses key characteristics of workplaces most likely to benefit from an onsite clinic. (5:55)

26 August 2008

Helping employees kick the habit

Illnesses, decreased productivity and time lost from work to deal with health problems are just a few of the reasons employers spend approximately $3000 more per year on employees who smoke. Russ Robbins discusses the different types of programs being used to help employees kick the habit. (3:35)

12 August 2008

Incentives boost wellness participation

To hold down health care costs, more employers are engaging employees in health and wellness programs. Susan Goldenson reports findings from a 2008 survey of employers on the types of health, wellness and disease management programs offered and which incentives are most popular with employees. (2:50)
5 August 2008

ERISA and state insurance laws: who must comply?

Employers are often confused about state and federal laws governing health care plans which ones they must comply with. Amy Bergner explains which laws apply to insured and self-insured plans and why employers need to know. (3:45)
29 July 2008 

Understanding health care predictive models

Predictive models are tools used to analyze medical claims to understand claims history and predict future claims patterns. Russ Robbins explains how employers can use predictive models to better understand their health care costs, design preventative health programs and leverage savings from health insurers. (3:55)

15 July 2008

Challenges in domestic partner benefit design

Domestic partnerships, civil unions, same-sex marriages - no matter what you call them, these relationships present benefit challenges for employers. Ilse de Veer explains why understanding state and federal legal requirements and how they interact is crucial for employers offering domestic partner benefits. (7:40)

11 July 2008

Health care issues make progress on Capitol Hill

Congress could complete work on two more health care bills before adjournment for the fall elections. Geoff Manville discusses genetic nondiscrimination legislation already signed into law, accords reached this week on mental health parity and legislation to encourage adoption of health information technology that’s showing strong signs of life in both the House and Senate. (5:20)

1 July 2008

Who uses HSAs and high-deductible health plans?

The number of people covered by health savings account/high-deductible health plans more than doubled between January 2006 and January 2008. Susan Goldenson takes a look at who these plan participants are, where they live and how much employers are contributing their accounts. (3:34)

17 June 2008

New genetic nondiscrimination law affects employers’ policies, plan administration

Advances in medicine are posing new opportunities for disease prevention and, some parties fear, discrimination in the workplace. Kelly Traw outlines provisions of the recently passed Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act affecting employment policies and health and benefit plan administration. (2:15)

3 June 2008