Cost-Containment

Doctors in the United States spend almost four times more on health insurance administrative costs than their neighbors up north, according to new data.

Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage in 2011 increased to $15,073, a 9 percent jump from 2010, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust 2011 Employer Health Benefits Survey.

As employers have tightened budgets in this economy, they are shutting down entire functions or departments in favor of cheaper outsourcing. The long-term unemployed were victims of budget problems, not talent problems.

Many people are first attracted to consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) that feature a health savings account (HSA) simply because the monthly premium is lower than that of the more traditional plan with co-pays. However, if they stop at the premium savings, they are really missing the best part of this...

A new study by Harris Interactive and reported in Reuters Monday lamented the fact that too many people make benefits decisions that just dont benefit them.

For the fourth consecutive year, the HR Policy Association Pharmaceutical Coalition has certified Prescription Solutions by OptumRx, a pharmaceutical benefits manager, as part of HR Policys Transparency in Pharmaceutical Purchasing Solutions program.

As the economy remains poor, the cost of health care remains growing concern to consumers, according to Deloitte's 2011 Survey of Health Care Consumers.

David Stern wants progress in the NBA's collective bargaining talks by Labor Day. He may get his wish.