Increasing Health Care Costs?

While it’s certainly nothing new, the rising cost of health care continues to take a toll on businesses and the U.S. economy. In 2005, health expenditures represented 16% of the Gross Domestic Product, and health care spending is expected to reach $4 trillion + and 20% of the GDP by 2015. These escalating costs mean employers must seek new options for funding benefits and look for ways to help employees pay for uncovered out-of-pocket medical expenses. In one study, more than half of the employees surveyed reported increased medical expenses during the previous 12 months. Of these additional expenses, 52% was due to increased out-of-pocket expenses. Flexibility and choices in employee benefits are a must if employers want to meet the needs of today’s diverse workforce. No longer is there a “typical” employee to whom employers can target benefits. Traditional family-oriented benefits were previously the norm, but now almost half the nation’s employees are unmarried and this percentage is likely to grow. In addition, there is a rising number of couples without children.

Medicare supplemental health insurance provides you with additional health insurance benefits that are not available through Medicare Part A or Part B. Some Medicare supplemental plans, also referred to as Medigap insurance, will provide you with prescription coverage and preventative health care. Medicare supplemental health insurance plans can also cover your Medicare Part A deductible, extra days of hospital care, your Medicare co-payment amounts, skilled nursing and foreign travel emergency care.

Believe it or not, Voluntary Supplemental Insurance Benefits have been offered in the United States since about 1939. Long before ducks began quacking on your television set, a few insurance companies have been offering employers special plans to augment their Major Medical plans.