Health Insurance Industry Issues and Legislation

Employers expect their healthcare costs will continue to rise steadily in the foreseeable future. Smart employers are employing a variety of initiatives to manage those costs while at the same time making benefits more affordable for their employees. Initiatives they are using include everything from budget boosting to contribution banding.

Long COVID patients are costing employers heavily both in terms of medical spending and lost work time. A recent study determined that long Covid patients cost employers almost $9,500 more than non-long COVID patients within the first 6 months of diagnosis. Additionally, these patients are 3.6 times as likely to miss work for medical reasons as plan members without symptoms.