[...] recent government figures show job gains, not losses. The idea is that patients who have to satisfy a $1,000 deductible before insurance coverage starts will shop around for the best deal on the MRI their doctor ordered. Overall, the federal law could raise the total cost of an employer-sponsored health plan from 1 percent to 5 percent, said Tracy Watts, a senior partner with the human resources consultant Mercer. [...] costs could rise if your coverage has to be adjusted to meet a minimum value set by the law or if your employer winds up covering more people. The overhaul also requires coverage of a list of benefits considered essential, including things like mental health treatments and pediatric dental and vision care. The law may prompt some companies to drop coverage for their part-time workers and send them to public health insurance exchanges. The 2018 tax that is motivating companies to adjust their health insurance plans also is prompting them to narrow the list of drugs they cover, said Dr. Steve Miller, chief medical officer for Express Scripts Holding Co., the nation's largest pharmacy benefits manager. [...] most people can now get flu shots or fill birth control prescriptions with no out-of-pocket costs because of an overhaul provision that makes it easier for people to get preventive care. For years, employers have tried to control medical costs by offering voluntary wellness programs that reward workers for participation. T-shirts and gym memberships progressed to discounts on employees' share of insurance premiums if workers kept their cholesterol levels low or their weight down.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 18 hours ago.
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