The state of the U.S. economy has affected employers' health care strategies and planning, as well as the ability of some employees to pay for rising health care costs.
In response, employers have taken a step back to reassess their health care planning. A look at the economy, health care industry, health care costs, and changes to 2009 employer-sponsored plan designs finds the economic downturn has affected both employers' and employees' costs and resulted in some after-the-fact changes to employer-provided health benefit programs. In addition to these efforts by employers, the incoming Obama administration has made health care reform a top priority, which could provide ways for employers and employees to better manage costs.
This Hewitt trends bulletin, linked to below, addresses:
- The U.S. Economy and the Health Care Industry;
- The Economic Impact on Employers' Health Care Benefit Programs ;
- Rising Health Care Costs for Employees; and
- Health Care Reform
