Report may help employees choose the best health benefits plan

Wednesday, 28 September 2011 16:00

News - Employee Health Benefits

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Strategies to lower cost of employee health benefits have been of interest lately to consumers and employers alike as rates continue to rise. While individuals are looking for inexpensive insurance, they also don’t want to give up the quality of care they receive.

As a result, the nonprofit group Virginia Health Information (VHI) announced the release of its Compare HMOs report, which provides users with details to determine which healthcare plan may be best suited for them.

"We believe the HMO cost and quality information VHI publishes serves as a valuable tool to help consumers choose health insurance coverage," said Doug Gray, executive director of the Virginia Association of Health Plans.

The report also indicates that average premiums on HMOs have risen from $320 per month in 2010 to $355 monthly in 2011. The number of people enrolled in this type of plan also rose 10 percent over the past year.

One effective way to lower the costs of employee health benefits is to provide workers with preventative tools and screening. Since stress has been associated with a number of illnesses, employee wellness programs aimed at reducing anxiety may make a big difference in improving staff health.