Workers Question Employee Based Health Care Reform
Source: Reuters
Americans have many questions about how health reform legislation pending in Congress, and chief on their list is how will affect the U.S. employment-based health benefits system?
The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) recently asked that question of more than a dozen experts from a wide range of specialties at a day-long conference, and—not surprisingly, given the sharp disagreements that exist over health reform—got a wide range of answers.
But on one point there was general consensus: Imposing a tax on health benefits (such as the proposed tax on so-called “Cadillac” health plans) is likely to cause major cuts in health benefits and might result in structural changes in the employment-based benefits system.
Employers “will go ahead and cut benefits if that’s what it takes to avoid an additional tax,” Beth Umland, head of health and benefits research for the Mercer consulting firm, told the EBRI conference, citing a recent Mercer survey. Her comments were widely echoed, including by representatives from organized labor, management, and other groups.
Roll Back the Extras
Although it wasn’t explicitly said, Americans can probably count on employers to nix what if any benefits they now offer that cover so-called alternative medicine benefits, which may or may not include gym membership reimbursements. Many employers don’t’ even know how to answer the question What is the Alexander technique? But you can bet it, and those great Pilates workout sessions you’ve been taking at the gym won’t be covered by your plan anymore, if cuts are put into place as expected.
And a common disappointment voiced at the forum was that the initial effort in Congress to reform the delivery and cost of health care in America gradually became focused on just financing and coverage of health insurance. ”Overall, the problem of high cost isn’t being fixed by healthcare reform,” said Bruce Pyenson, principal and consulting actuary with Milliman, Inc., a New York-based consulting firm.
These and other comments were made at EBRI’s biannual policy forum held in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10, 2009, on the topic, “Employers, Workers, and the Future of Employment-Based Health Benefits.” The forum brought together a wide range of economic, benefits, management, and labor experts to share their perspectives at a time when major health reform legislation was being debated in Congress, and their presentations are summarized in the February 2010EBRI Issue Brief, online at www.ebri.org.
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My Take: As usual, more news is no news when it comes to the great health care debate in Washington. How long have we been waiting for lawmakers to take our concern seriously when it comes to providing us with affordable, quality healthcare? We don’t all need expensive hair restoration, Pilates online videos, or the classes we can’t afford anyway to learn the Alexander technique New York style. Some of us just want plain old basic coverage for doctor’s visits, the dentist and to of course cover us in the event we suffer a long-term illness or a traumatic injury.
It makes no sense to me why we can’t have affordable healthcare in the U.S. When you think about the amazing things that can now be done medically to improve our lives and to live longer ones, it’s not clear why we can’t comprise a system that will allow us all to stay healthy and take better care of ourselves. And I’m not just talking about hair loss treatments, plastic surgery or other forms of elective-style surgery. I’m referring to the simple procedures and basic care that keep us healthy and productive.
I get the argument for eliminating coverage for people who’s lifestyles may or may not be considered healthy or are found to put their employers’ at risk because of their choices outside the workplace. For smokers, I’d say give them all free one year supplies of the NJoy NPRO. They say electronic cigarettes can help wean even hard-core smokers off the hard stuff: tobacco. Think of the money to be saved by employers on healthcare coverage if all their workers kicked the habit?
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