The WSJ story (behind a paywall) continues: "Corporate leaders say they can't lower health-care costs without changing workers' habits, and they cite the findings of behavioral economists showing that people respond more effectively to potential losses, such as penalties, than expected gains, such as rewards. With corporate spending on health care expected to reach an average of $12,136 per employee this year, according to a study by the consulting firm Towers Watson, penalties may soon be the new norm."
I now pay $900 a month for health insurance, which I buy on the direct market because I'm self-employed. That's a policy covering only me, and it includes a $1,500 annual deductible.
ReplyDeleteThe cost of that policy has climbed $100 a month for several years now.
Jim, you should put self-employed in quotes. That quarterly revenue of less than $1,000 isn't getting it done.
DeleteYou're making an incorrect assumption.
DeleteThen astonish us with the truth.
DeleteA lot of people I work with bitch and moan every year when our insurance goes up. I tell them to do some research and find out what it would cost if they had to pay for themselves. Most simply do not believe me when I tell them a figure like yours.
ReplyDeleteI'm not alone. Other people who are also self-employed and can't buy medical coverage at group rates say they pay close to what I'm paying.
DeleteAs expensive as Gannett's health care premiums may seem, employees pay only around 40% of the actual cost, based on what I learned the last time I looked at the company's medical expenditures.
Gannett is self-insured, which means it pays for all medical claims beyond the monthly premiums paid by current and former employees. In 2008, when it employed about 42,000 workers, the company paid out $172.2 million in benefits, up from $166.5 million in 2007, the report says. However, it only collected $70 million in employee premiums vs. $64.8 million in 2007.
Well, that whole "worker habits" in the WSJ is not a truism; it is unsubstantiated crap. Common sense would indicate that the majority of workers do not have the level of bad habits necessary to justify the "take it or leave it" mindset and systematic exploitation of American health insurance companies, the laughing stock of the industrialized world. Indeed one would think that the majority of workers take care of themselves as best they can what with all the stress.
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ReplyDeleteInterestingly, Gannett went the opposite direction for 2013. In 2012, it imposed penalties (higher premiums) if we didn't get a physical have body mass/blood sugar testing and ignored an online health questionnaire. For 2013, the company is offering "rewards" in the form of deposits to a health spending account, a certain amount for each "healthy action" completed.
ReplyDeleteJim doesn't like going the opposite direction. He likes addressing a problem head-on.
DeleteIf you want me to be healthy, reward me for actions I take now-going to the gym, running, cycling, swimming, etc. Putting "reward money" in an account I can't use in the real world makes no sense. Cut me a check toward my gym membership or toward better fitness equipment- fitness equipment, bike, decent running shows etc) is a more tangible means of support than putting funny money in an account which I'm sure will be limited to spending on certain approved vendors. And United Healthcare has already made a joke of the "healthy actions" penalizing co-workers for things like to having a persons height on a form. Apparently even Gracia was a victim of this and mentioned it in response to a question at the last town hall meeting. Health care provider, fix yourself!
ReplyDelete9:48's suggestion is creative and a very sensible, positive approach. So, sadly, that explains why it'll never happen at Gannett.
DeleteOh please. I have seen in-house gyms around Gannett land for years. You know how many people used the free service, maybe 1% of the staff. You talk a good game but in the end you actually ahve to get off your pontificating behind an exercise. Guys like you love to write crap like this but I'd wager your waist line is a larger number than your waist line!
DeleteWell, 8:56, at least at my location (not saying every) few people had the TIME to avail themselves to the gym -- a gym that at any rate was always a sty, reflecting the lack of consideration the few users who did have the time (the ones who worked least) had for their coworkers.
DeleteI myself came in on my own time on a rare weekend off to use the in-house gym but I soon gave that up because it was just gross.
Secondly, the original poster did not refer to gyms alone but to other healthy activities. I totally agree with him/her.
But I can see by your use of phrases like "guys like you" and "write crap like this" that your ability to disagree with someone maturely is somewhat restricted.
McClatchy is also self-insured. About seven or eight years ago they did an audit and found out it wasn't employees or even their children who were costing the most. It was spouses. Ever since, if someone is covering a spouse, they have to fill out paperwork claiming the spouse can't get their own insurance.
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