How to Choose the Best, not just the cheapest, Benefit Plan.

Because of rising costs, affordability sometimes becomes the overriding factor in choosing a benefit program. Unfortunately, price is not a good indicator of whether a plan is right for your company. To make sure you get the most out of every dollar invested, click here to download information on enhancing your benefits buying skills.

Five keys to being a better benefits buyer

Healthy Communication Skills Mean Longer Life.

We know that healthcare literacy, the ability to obtain, process, and understand basic medical information, helps people make better healthcare decisions. Now, a study of 3,260 Medicare patients just released by JAMA’s Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrates healthcare literacy is directly related to increased longevity.

The article states that the more years of schooling an individual has, the longer he or she is expected to live. However, healthcare literacy is not all about education or even general reading ability. Of course, reading instructions on prescription bottles and understanding literature on medical conditions is vitally important. But being able to ask questions clearly, describe symptoms, and understand spoken information is just as crucial. According to the American Medical Association, nearly half of the population has difficulty understanding and using health information.

The message is clear: Don’t assume employees understand. Clear, concise, unambiguous communication is crucial—especially as plans move more and more toward consumer-directed healthcare. For an example of how Benefit Associates helps clients improve adoption, utilization, and satisfaction rates through better communication, contact Pam Bales at pbales@workingwellforyou.com. 

Cut Costs Automatically Without Cutting Quality.

Reducing benefit costs doesn’t necessarily mean employees get less. In fact, the opposite may be true. A new report by the Aberdeen Group, a market intelligence firm, shows that automating routine and administrative benefits management tasks can reduce expense while allowing more time for higher level activities such as helping employees better understand their benefits, learn to make more informed healthcare decisions, and get higher quality of communications.

According to the study, automation not only relieved some of the clerical burden on HR professionals and improved satisfaction, but it saved companies major dollars--- approximately $115 per transaction for open enrollment.