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Rachel Emma Silverman of the Wall Street Journal examines the rise of high deductible health plans (HDHPs), and how in 2017 84% of large employers plan to offer an HDHP to employees (35% will only offer an HDHP as an option). The average deductible of an employee only plan is now approximately $1500.

Hank Gardner wrote this article for STAT, discussing recent research about the correlation between healthcare cost increases and slow wage growth, and how employers can carry out “their own do-it-yourself, market-based health care reform.”

Suzy K. Johnson recently wrote for Benefits News about the need for Chief Financial Officers and Human Resources managers to collaborate to create long-term strategic healthcare benefits plans.

Jack Craver writes for Benefits Pro about the increase of self-insuring healthcare benefits among small and mid-size businesses.

In the wake of news around increases in household incomes (5.2%) and the slow growth of employer healthcare premiums, Leah Binder writes for Forbes about how more employers are looking for ways to support and streamline healthcare costs.

Amanda Eisenberg writes for Employee Benefits News about the increasing importance of a good benefits package to people seeking employment.

Drew Altman writes on increasing deductible costs, “which are transforming the nature of health insurance from more comprehensive coverage to skimpier insurance with higher out-of-pocket costs.” 

Bob Herman writes for Modern Healthcare about the consequences of shifting more out-of-pocket healthcare expenses to employees.

As the cost of providing employees with healthcare benefits rises (at an average of $500 per employee this year), many employers are choosing to push those costs onto employees in order to maintain budgets.

Be sure your organization is staying up-to-date on the most recent changes to the Affordable Care Act. HR360 has just announced changes to Pay or Play for 2016, out-of-pocket maximums for 2018, and Forms 1094-B and 1095-B instructions.