Current Insights & Best Practices - California Group Benefits

California Group Benefits


Market Update - Rates are skyrocketing with all clients experiencing large premium increases, most recently 20% + for 2010 renewals. Most groups have increased deductibles on their coverage.


United States Health Reform - The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has issued new guidelines to interpret the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act put into law by the President on March 23, 2010.


Health Savings Accounts & Health Reimbursement Accounts - Employer groups have been moving in large numbers to these plans for the last 3-4 years, with increasing deductibles. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) allow employers and employees to contribute pre-tax towards their individual or family deductible, and if the contributions are not used they remain the property of the employee. Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) allow employers to fund only actual employee deductible expenses, with no contributions directly to employees.


Kaiser - Rated very high in quality of care, a network of captive doctors, and low price.


Non-Kaiser - Many overlapping networks of doctors are available, with varying quality of care, and contracted networks including both medical practice groups and individual doctors. United Healthcare, Blue Shield, HealthNet and Blue Cross are among the largest and lowest priced non-Kaiser networks.