Two points we made yesterday-----the goals of MOVING FORWARD ONE WORLD is a global VAT tax system which would never allow an AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATE policy. Second, when looking at global corporations as TIER 1 AND TIER 2 being the only corporate entity in town-------we do not have multiple tiers of coverage----MEDICAID, BRONZE, SILVER, GOLD, PLATINUM-------we do not have multiple tiers of health industry businesses as in FREE MARKET -----everything is CONSOLIDATED and enfolded into the same few global corporations. Affordable Care Act was sold as making US health industry competitive and free market when the goal of global banking was the OPPOSITE.
The health insurance mandate was temporarily installed simply to make a great percentage of US 99% WE THE PEOPLE think they would still access health care in what was a raging hyper-neo-liberal predatory and profiteering health policy.
The MANDATE bringing young adults and healthy people into buying health insurance would allow global health insurance corporations to offer CHEAPER PLANS and to allow PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS/CHRONIC ILLNESS to be insured.
THAT WAS NEVER THE GOAL OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
'Under the tax bill signed by President Donald Trump in December 2017, the individual mandate will be a thing of the past. According to lawyers, the repeal has led to much uncertainty for Covered California. The questions are:
YES, insurance premiums will increase considerably. This will push small businesses out of trying to insure their employees. It will push corporations to change their plans to being WELLNESS-ONLY.......which we describe often as the UNITED NATIONS WORLD BANK HEALTH CARE FOR ALL model-----
TIER 1 TIER 2 health plans are PLATINUM AND GOLD-------so, BRONZE AND SILVER will disappear. There will be a PLATINUM PLAN for the rich------a MEDICAID for all WELLNESS-ONLY for 99% WE THE PEOPLE----and senior retirement plans like MEDICARE will end. Remember, the Social Security and Medicare Trusts have been said to be depleted in early 2030s.
What Does the ACA Individual-Mandate Repeal Mean for Covered California?
Younger and healthier people may decide not to keep their health care coverage
By Toni Vranjes January 19, 2018
Now that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) individual mandate has been repealed by federal tax legislation, what's next for Covered California?
The ACA created the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health coverage or else pay a tax penalty. Covered California, the state's health care exchange, was developed under the federal ACA to provide residents with access to low-cost coverage options.
Under the tax bill signed by President Donald Trump in December 2017, the individual mandate will be a thing of the past. According to lawyers, the repeal has led to much uncertainty for Covered California. The questions are:
Covered California
The state exchange has helped dramatically reduce the uninsured population in California, according to a December 2017 press release from the exchange. Since 2014, more than 3 million people have bought health insurance through the state exchange and nearly 4 million have enrolled in the state Medi-Cal program for low-income earners, the press release stated. This has led to a reduction in the rate of the uninsured in the state from 17 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent as of last June.
"We are taking a look at the potential impacts of the tax bill and what it could mean," Covered California spokesman James Scullary told SHRM Online.
Premiums
The individual mandate is intended to spur younger and healthier people to get insurance. Without the mandate, Covered California likely will have a higher share of older and sicker enrollees—causing premiums to rise.
"Without the individual mandate, there is not the coercive effect on people who would rather not have health insurance to get health insurance," said Adam Abrahms, an attorney with Epstein Becker Green in Los Angeles.
Timothy Verrall, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Houston, said the change probably will siphon off people who currently support the system by paying money but making few claims.
It's likely that coverage will be more expensive, said Mark Grushkin, an attorney with Littler in Los Angeles.
State officials announced this summer that Covered California premiums will increase by an average of 12.5 percent in 2018. "The expectation is that it would go up higher for 2019," Abrahms said.
However, California has been taking steps to bolster the exchange. State officials have tried to prop up the system through aggressive marketing campaigns and other strategies, Abrahms noted. This could drive people to have health insurance regardless of whether it's legally required.
Insurers
Risk pool changes could drive some participating insurers out of the exchange, Abrahms said.
Covered California recognizes the threat. In its press release, the exchange stated: "Health insurance companies rely on certainty when setting their rates and may decide to exit their markets in the face of an uncertain market caused by a shrinking pool of consumers who are less healthy."
But it's still unclear whether insurers will actually do that, given the size of the California market. "It's a very large market to abandon," Grushkin said
The state's marketplace is competitive, and it hasn't experienced the same volatility as some other regions in terms of insurers withdrawing, Scullary noted.
State Tax Penalty
The state could try to pass its own tax penalty for not obtaining health coverage, said Tiffany Downs, an attorney with FordHarrison in Atlanta. That would create an individual mandate on the state level.
Downs pointed to a Massachusetts state tax penalty as an example of what states can do. According to WBUR News, the Massachusetts state tax penalty will stay in place even though the federal individual mandate has been scrapped.
There would likely be challenges to a proposed California mandate, though, and approving a state tax penalty would require a two-thirds majority in the state legislature.
Universal Health Care
The ACA individual-mandate repeal also could lead to more support for universal health care. S.B. 562 passed the state senate last June, but Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, blocked the bill, citing his opinion that the bill was "woefully incomplete." The California Nurses Association sponsored the bill, and the group has vowed to continue fighting for universal health care.
The individual-mandate repeal "increases the possibility" that a universal health care plan gets through the California Legislature, according to Abrahms.
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Here we see this very suggestion ------looks like if mandate is eliminated and premiums soar---and expanded MEDICAID is defunded----and health insurance plans are consolidated and offer only CORPORATE WELLNESS ----we may as well go with UNITED NATIONS WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION----HEALTH CARE FOR ALL.
This CA pol ABRAHMS will PRETEND this is being done for SOCIAL BENEFIT----he will PRETEND this HEALTH CARE FOR ALL will look like our US MEDICARE when it was functioning as the best in world history public health provider----but that is not what DARK AGES HEALTH CARE FOR ALL has as a goal .
Because our US 99% WE THE PEOPLE love our MEDICARE global banking 5% freemason/Greek players will use that term over and over and over as they end all of Western nations' quality public structures.
'The individual-mandate repeal "increases the possibility" that a universal health care plan gets through the California Legislature, according to Abrahms'.
Obama-era Affordable Act had a goal of CONSOLIDATING our US health industry into nothing but global corporations. All public health ---all non-profit health -----all small/regional/US domestic HEALTH institutions have been MERGED AND ACQUIRED in consolidation.
'Which insurers will remain in the exchange'?
The global health insurance corporations never JOINED this 'EXCHANGE' because the goals were never to have this 'EXCHANGE'. The health industry will have that same GLOBAL TIER 1 TIER 2 producer and supplier structure we described last week under VAT ---
One thing we notice below is these global health insurance corporations are geared to cover US EX-PATS pushed into global labor pool offering the INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION'S UNITED NATIONS WORLD BANK level of health coverage.
Best International Health Insurance Companies
Finding The Top Global Health Insurance Providers
Finding an international health insurance plan should be at the top of your list of priorities when planning your move abroad. Surprisingly, there are some excellent options from which to choose. And many of these health insurance plans are very affordable, especially when compared to health insurance plans in the US. But which international health insurance companies are the best?
Researching International Medical Insurance Companies
The best place to start is online. There are many resources to help you make your decision.
Please contact us for guidance on choosing the best international health insurance company and the right plan for your individual or group insurance needs. Use the form to the right or submit a quote request online.
What are the Best International Health Insurance Companies
Below is a comprehensive list of international insurance companies that offer the best in service, benefits, coverage, and rates. As always, review the terms of the policy carefully and discuss with an international insurance broker who can help guide you through the process.
Top Three International Health Insurers
Cigna Global Insurance was one of the first companies to offer expatriate or global medical insurance plans and they remain a leading international provider.
Free Cigna Quote / Apply. Cigna Global is an excellent option for most internationals living abroad with comprehensive coverage in almost any country.
Cigna Global Medical Insurance Plan
Plan Details
Get a Quote
Aetna International – With more than 160 years of experience in healthcare, Aetna has specialized in international health benefits insurance for more than 55 years – with a growing global footprint to reach wherever you travel. They have been recognized with such prestigious awards as “Best International Private Health Insurance Provider” and “Health Insurer of the Year.”
Free Aetna Quote / Apply. Aetna is a global brand and offers reasonable rates alongside excellent benefits and service.
Aetna Global Expat Health Cover
Plan Details
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GeoBlue Global Medical
– Designed for US citizens abroad or Internationals Residing in the USA.
GeoBlue is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and offers both short-term travel medical plans as well as long-term international health plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield is a federation of 50 independent health insurance providers in the United States. GeoBlue is a trading name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC (Worldwide Services Insurance Agency, LLC in California and New York), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
GeoBlue Quote / Apply Links
Xplorer Worldwide Medical Plan
Plan Details
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Additional Specialty International Health Insurance Companies
Premier Health, administered by PA Group, is a well recommended international provider focused on providing high-quality global coverage throughout the world. Plans offer residents full coverage in their home country (excluding the USA) and worldwide year round. Free Premier Health Quote / Apply
International Medical Group – IMG offers the widest range of products, from trip cancellation to long-term international medical plans (IMG Global Medical). For more than 20 years, IMG has provided international medical insurance, travel insurance, and affordable coverage to the international community insuring clients in more than 170 countries worldwide. Free IMG Quote / Apply
IntegraGlobal, a U.K. company that has service offices strategically placed worldwide in Europe, North America, and Asia, specializing in providing health plans to organizations and individuals with unique health protection needs, such as expatriates, marine professionals, and specialized risks. IntegraGlobal’s goal is to develop unique international health plans that offer you outstanding protection, excellent value, and hands-on unbeatable personal service
. Integra: Integra Quote / Apply Links
Allianz – One of the biggest insurance providers in the world, Allianz is a Germany company. Allianz Worldwide is the international health division of Allianz Worldwide Partners and part of the Allianz Group. The company is well known for its international reach, and for providing international health insurance for employees.
Free Quote / Apply
BUPA International health Plan – Offers over 65 years of medical expertise and dedication to health. They have a global team of advisers and health experts who, between them, speak multiple languages – and a service that exceeds expectations. These are just a few of the things that make Bupa Global different. Explore how we provide you with world-class cover and stand apart from the rest.
Free BUPA Quote / Apply
Review plans available for long term life abroad or short term travel:
Also, consider Seven Corners and HCC for Short-Term International Medical cover.
How to Compare the Best Global Medical Insurance Companies
You are in luck! We have created a simple comparison and reviews of international health insurance plans for your research. We include 3 of the best companies to keep it simple. You can compare other companies against these three to ensure they are compared on the same terms. The other considerations are the AM Best ratings of the providers. The companies listed in our comparison all have A or A- ratings from AM Best. You can do a search here: AM Best Rating Search
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Here we see what was standard across US in 2017 after health insurance exchanges were installed. There was a soaring of premiums across all tiers------Maryland saw a request for over 40% increase and gave a 33% increase. That was 2017-2018.
Congress and Trump set the stage in 2019 for those health insurance rates to AGAIN----SOAR. What we see in nation mainstream media outlets are articles saying 2019 health insurance rates are DOWN. So, just before what everyone knows will be soaring rates because of CORPORATE TAX REFORM laws installed-----we are seeing a headlines shouting about a BLIP of lower rates.
Maryland health insurance premiums going up average 33 pct. next year
By Jeff Clabaugh | @wtopclabaugh August 30, 2017 9:14 am
The Maryland Insurance Administration has approved premium rates for individual health insurance plans offered in the state beginning January 1, 2018 averaging 33 percent.
(Thinkstock)WASHINGTON — The Maryland Insurance Administration has approved premium rates for individual health insurance plans offered in the state beginning Jan. 1, 2018 averaging 33 percent.
The increase is lower than the originally filed rate increases averaging 43.1 percent.
The increases vary by insurance provider.
CareFirst Blue Choice Inc.’s HMO average increase is 34.5 percent, compared to the requested 50.4 percent increase.
The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States was granted an average rate increase of 22.6 percent, compared to the 23.4 percent rate increase requested.
Cigna will no longer offer individual plans in Maryland for 2018.
Approximately 243,000 Marylanders are enrolled in individual health plans.
The Maryland Insurance Administration also approved small group plan rate increases averaging 1.7 percent, compared to the originally filed average request of 4.2 percent. CareFirst, Kaiser, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare are offering coverage in the small group market in Maryland in 2018.
Open enrollment in Maryland runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.
The charts below detail rates requested and approved for both individual and small group plans in Maryland for 2018.
Individual plan premium increases
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'Older Americans will be hit hardest by premium increases. | Darren McCollester/Getty Images'
·
'delmarvanow.com
Maryland's Obamacare health insurance premiums to decline in 2019.........................................
bizjournals.com
Marylanders to see premiums drop 13% on average for 2019 ACA plans - Baltimore Business Journal'
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CLINTON neo-liberal Maryland GOV O'Malley installed this AFFORDABLE CARE ACT mess-----today, GOV HOGAN is pretending it is working ------OH, LOOK RATES HAVE DROPPED says HOGAN.
The States Where Health Care Premiums Will Go Up the Most in 2019
Eric Schaal |
March 11, 2018
Donald Trump’s full impact on the U.S. health care system has yet to be felt. However, the day is coming soon for millions of Americans — right at the start of 2019. That’s when several efforts, including the GOP tax plan, kick into gear and start having an impact on the marketplace.
A February 2018 report by the Urban Institute broke down some of the elements of Trump policy that will affect health care premiums. All of the following will contribute to rising costs:
Repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate
The introduction of short-term, low-coverage plans
Ending cost-sharing subsidies for the poorest Americans
While some states (including Massachusetts and New York) do not allow bare-bones plans on their marketplace, many others plan to do so. That will lead to an 18% increase, on average, in Affordable Care Act premiums for residents of 43 states. If you live in one of these places, get ready to pay up to 22% more for coverage.
Here are the 15 states where health care costs will go up the most in 2019.
15. Illinois
The state capitol building in Springfield, Illinois.
The price for the average ACA plan in Illinois would go up 19.4%| fotoguy22/iStock/Getty Images
If Trump’s proposal for short-term, cheap coverage goes into effect, ACA individual plans in Illinois will quickly rise. According to the Urban Institute, the average plan would go up 19.4%.
The analysis showed 94,000 Illinois residents would be affected. Overall, some 324,000 people in the state could end up without the minimum essential coverage.
Next: This southern state will get hit even harder.
14. Georgia
Golden Isles, Georgia
Georgia residents should brace for premium hikes. | SSI-DUKE/iStock/Getty Images
The loss of the individual mandate, combined with competition from subpar health insurance plans, would shake the Georgia market even harder. On average, residents will premiums rise 19.5%.
Considering Georgia BlueCross BlueShield proposed rate hikes of 57% in October 2017, we’re not sure how much higher costs can go in this state.
Next: In New England, the story is the same, and it gets worse for older Americans.
13. New Hampshire
New Hampshire scenery
Older Americans will be hit hardest by premium increases. | Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Up in New Hampshire, insurance markets will respond much like they will in the South and Midwest. On average, premiums would rise 19.6% if Trump’s short-term, limited plans reach the marketplace.
Of course, on the ACA exchanges, older Americans get hit the hardest. Anyone who does not yet qualify for Medicare yet must have coverage — mainly, those aged 50-64 — will feel the most burn.
Next: Residents of Mike Pence’s home state will have the “freedom” to pay about 20% more in health care premiums in 2019.
12. Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Indiana residents could be looking at higher healthcare costs in 2019. | Mayor Lloyd Winnecke/Facebook
When describing the GOP’s plan to repeal the ACA, Vice President Mike Pence spoke of a glorious time ahead for the country. “ObamaCare will be replaced with something that actually works—bringing freedom and individual responsibility back to American health care,” Pence tweeted in February 2017.
That repeal never happened, and since then Pence and the Trump administration have had to settle for piecemeal efforts to undermine the health care law. Those efforts will give Indiana residents with ACA plans the freedom to pay 19.6% more for coverage in 2019.
Next: Rural health care coverage is about to get a lot more expensive.
11. Montana
Aerial shot of Billings, Montana
In Montana, people over 50 will see the highest increase. | wellesenterprises/iStock/Getty Images
When the Trump administration moved to end subsidies for the poorest Americans in June 2017, the two major insurers in Montana raised rates 12% (Pacific Source) and 22% (Montana Health) for ACA Silver plans. It’s another example of how seemingly unrelated moves on the market impact everyone.
Introducing bare-bones plans that compete with Obamacare will raise premiums yet again in 2019. On average, Montana residents will see costs jump 19.8%, with the highest increases for people over 50.
Next: This tiny East Coast state will feel the burn, too.
10. Delaware
Delaware lighthouse
In Delaware, premiums will rise by nearly 20% in 2019. | Eva Hambach/AFP/Getty Images
Mid-Atlantic states will feel the bite of the Obamacare sabotage as well. In Delaware’s case, Urban Institute sees ACA premiums rising 19.9% in 2019.
All told, some 76,000 Delaware residents would end up without minimum essential care.
Next: West Virginia is one of nine states that will see premiums rise 20% on average.
9. West Virginia
charleston, west virginia
As many as 112,000 West Virginians could end up without minimum essential coverage. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Urban Institute expects 112,000 West Virginia residents will end up without minimum essential health care in 2019 if Trump’s plans take shape. As for those who pay for ACA plans, premiums will rise 20% on average due to the shifts in the marketplace.
As the February 2018 teacher strike proved, employee-sponsored health care in West Virginia does not offer a much better alternative.
Next: Trump’s health care tinkering will have a huge effect on Wisconsin.
8. Wisconsin
State Capitol building in Madison Wisconsin
Close to 500,000 people in Wisconsin won’t have minimum essential coverage. | csfotoimages/iStock/Getty Images
The combination of eliminating individual mandate penalty and introducing cheap, low-coverage insurance will hit Wisconsin hard. Those struggling to cover premiums at the current rate will see another 20% increase in 2019.
Altogether, Trump’s initiatives will leave 478,000 people in Wisconsin without minimum essential health care.
Next: Texas’s health care troubles will get worse in 2019.
7. Texas
Houston, Texas, USA
The price of ACA plans will increase by 20.2%. | Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images
The Lone Star State really felt the pinch when Trump ended cost-sharing subsidies for poor residents. Approximately 600,000 were affected by that move.
Texans who paid full price for their health care through the exchanges felt the biggest burn. In 2019, another round of increases will come. On average, ACA plans will see 20.2% increases.
Next: Short-term, low-cost health care will spell more bad news for Nebraskans.
6. Nebraska
'Welcome to Nebraska' sign board on a empty road
About 11% of Nebraskans will lack minimum essential coverage. | iStock/Getty Images
Urban Institute’s analysis has Nebraskans about to see ACA premiums jump 20.4% on average. Between the surge in uninsured residents and the impact of withdrawn subsidies, the marketplace can’t bear the Trump administration moves.
By mid-2019, health policy experts estimate 219,000 people in Nebraska won’t have minimum essential care. In a state of 1.9 million, that’s 11.3% of the population.
Next: This state is suing for Obamacare repeal following the GOP’s removal of the individual mandate fine.
5. Arizona
Phoenix Arizona with its downtown lit
Premiums are set to skyrocket in Arizona. | Dreamframer/iStock/Getty Images
If you thought talk of Obamacare repeal was done in 2018, think again. In the final week of February, Arizona joined 20 states (mostly in the South and Midwest) in a federal lawsuit calling for a full death for the ACA.
While state lawyers wage that war, residents will prepare to see health care premiums skyrocket in 2019. On average, ACA plan holders will pay 20.6% more for coverage.
Next: In 2019, a second New England state will feel the brunt of rising health care costs.
4. Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
ACA premiums will increase by almost 21%. | Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images
Among the states hit hardest by Trump’s health care policy, Rhode Island stands out from a pack of mostly red states. Residents paying for Obamacare plans will see 20.7% increases in their coverage.
Once again, older Rhode Islanders will see the biggest increases in the coming year. As for 2020, no one can predict how expensive the situation will get by then, but plan on another double-digit increase.
Next: This sparsely populated state is set to end up with 57,000 lacking decent coverage.
3. North Dakota
Ariel view of North Dakota
Close to one-quarter of North Dakotans won’t have minimum essential coverage in 2019. | Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Out in the Dakotas, the rural health care market won’t improve under Trump. Urban Institute expected 23.4% to end up without minimum essential coverage by next year.
With the administration’s new plans ready to hit the market, the rest of the population will pay dearly for any medical services. All told, it will run the typical North Dakota resident with an ACA plan 20.8% more in 2019.
Next: In one of America’s poorest states, health care will get even more expensive.
2. Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
ACA changes will hurt Alabama residents. | SeanPavonePhoto/iStock/Getty Images
Among those covered by the ACA in Alabama, 94% received either tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies from the federal government in 2017. Now that changes are in the works for those policies, everyone will pay more in 2019.
The average plan will see premiums jump 21.6%. Meanwhile, 767,000 Alabama residents will find themselves either uninsured or without minimum essential coverage.
Next: No one will feel the pain like South Dakota residents.
1. South Dakota
Deadwood, South Dakota
ACA premiums in South Dakota will increase nearly 22%. | vPaulTech LLC/iStock/Getty Images
While everyone will see higher health care premiums under Trump, no one will shoulder the burden like South Dakota residents. On average, folks with an ACA plan will see 21.7% higher premiums in 2019.
When the Trump administration realized repealing Obamacare would be impossible, it decided to attack the ACA from a number of alternate ways. As a result, every American who wants health insurance will end up paying more. It’s just a matter of “how much” at this point.
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SO, it wasn't the far-right wing global banking 5% freemason/Greek Clinton neo-liberals who created this mess in ending all our US quality public health structures---it's all TRUMP'S fault.
US FOREIGN ECONOMIC ZONES do not allow a SOVEREIGN economic policy to block global trade policies so we KNEW there was never any intent to have STATE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES. The insure exodus is simply the transition to GLOBAL HEALTH INSURERS ONLY----that is TIER 1 TIER 2 producer and supplier of goods and services.
Three reasons Obamacare premiums keep soaring
1. The elimination of the individual mandate in 2019
2. President Trump doing away with cost-sharing reductions
3. An insurer exodus
Who's Ready for a 15% Increase to Their Health Insurance Premium in 2019?
Is an Obamacare death spiral imminent?
Sean Williams
(TMFUltraLong)
May 26, 2018 at 11:41AM
When Donald Trump won the electoral vote 1 1/2 years ago, the American people knew change was coming. Topping President Trump's list of things to do once in office was to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is more commonly known as Obamacare. Of course, things didn't go according to plan.
With Republicans in control of the legislative branch of the government, it was widely expected that they would have no trouble repealing and replacing Obamacare. However, working with a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Republican lawmakers and the president were unable to come to an agreement on healthcare reform after countless tries in 2017. Instead, Trump and the GOP-led Congress slowly have been dismantling some of the health law's core components, leaving only a shell of former President Barack Obama's hallmark healthcare legislation.
President Trump addressing Department of Homeland Security employees. Image source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security via Flickr.
Who's ready for another double-digit premium increase?
Slowly picking apart Obamacare does have a purpose for President Trump: It likely will send the program into a "death spiral," whereby premiums rise at a rapid pace and healthy individuals drop out of the program altogether. Such a move would prompt lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to come together and create a new health plan. But in the interim, it means painfully high increases for those folks signed up with Obamacare who aren't privy to its remaining subsidies.
According to a newly released report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), premiums for benchmark plans -- i.e., the second-lowest-cost silver plan listed on ACA exchanges -- are expected to rise by 15% in 2019 and then average a 7% increase per year thereafter, through 2028. Mind you, this 15% increase comes after the Department of Health and Human Services announced in late October 2017 that benchmark plan premiums would be rising by an average of 37% in 2018.
Then again, the CBO's estimate could prove conservative for next year. Back in late January, insurer Covered California in the nation's most populous state released a report entitled, "The Roller Coaster Continues" that described what it believes will be bottom-line premium hikes of between 16% and 30% in 2019. Though these are estimates, and rate hikes often aren't finalized until September or October, when a large insurer in the fifth-largest economy in the world speaks, you listen.
Ultimately, the CBO estimates that the total number of uninsured will rise by 3 million next year, to 32 million, and the non-elderly uninsured rate will hit 13%. By 2028, some 35 million people are forecast to be without insurance if the remnants of Obamacare are kept in place.
Image source: Getty Images.
Three reasons Obamacare premiums keep soaring If we had to point a finger at the factors behind this rapid rise in healthcare premiums, three would stand out.
1. The elimination of the individual mandate in 2019
The first, which will take shape in 2019, is the elimination of the individual mandate. The individual mandate is the actionable component of Obamacare that requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a financial penalty, known as the Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP). If you choose to go uninsured and don't qualify for an exemption, your SRP would be the greater of 2.5% of modified adjusted gross income or $695 per adult.
However, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed in December, it, among other things, outlined the elimination of the individual mandate beginning in 2019. The mandate is a crucial cog of Obamacare that encouraged the enrollment of healthier individuals who would otherwise tempt fate and remain uninsured. The premiums of these healthy individuals are sorely needed by insurance companies to offset the higher costs associated with sicker individuals allowed to enroll under Obamacare.
Without this mandate, it's widely believed that some healthier individuals will remain on the sidelines since there's no longer the fear of financial penalty. Meanwhile, the patient population for remaining ACA insurers will include a higher number of sicker members relative to healthy members.
Image source: Getty Images.
2. President Trump doing away with cost-sharing reductions
Last year, Donald Trump also announced the end of cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs, which are one of the two key subsidies given to lower-income individuals and families. Cost-sharing reductions were given to people earning between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level, and they helped considerably lower the cost of doctor visits by offsetting some of the patient's responsibility for copays, coinsurance, and deductibles.
How was Trump able to axe such a critical subsidy, you ask? The answer lies with a long-standing legal case initiated by House Republicans all the way back in 2014. The House GOP, which filed suit again Sylvia Burwell, who was then the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, alleged that all funds apportioned to the ACA should be approved by Congress, but they weren't going through these traditional channels. As a result, the House GOP intimated that CSRs were illegal.
In May 2016, District of Columbia Judge Rosemary Collyer agreed with House Republicans, albeit she stayed her judgment with the expectation that the Obama administration would file an appeal, which came in shortly thereafter. This appeal had been continued on numerous occasions, even into the Trump presidency.
Trump had been using the idea of dropping the appeal as a dangling carrot to incite cooperation between Democrats and Republicans on healthcare reform, but, as noted, that didn't work. Ultimately, Trump simply dropped the appeal, which put Collyer's judgment into effect and ended cost-sharing reductions.
Though the Advanced Premium Tax Credit remains in place and continues to lower premiums for individuals and families earning under 400% of the federal poverty level, the lack of CSRs makes affording medical care a challenge for low-income individuals. At the closing of ACA enrollment for 2017, 7.05 million of the 12.2 million enrollees qualified for cost-sharing reductions.
Image source: Getty Images.
3. An insurer exodus
The third reason healthcare premiums are soaring is the lack of plan options for consumers to choose from.
Long before President Trump took office, large-scale health insurers were expressing their displeasure with Obamacare. Many had been losing money on the ACA's exchanges, despite the belief when Obamacare was initially rolled out that they'd be overwhelmingly profitable. These losses were the result of healthy individuals not being coerced by initially low Shared Responsibility Payments to enroll, which led to sicker enrollees flooding into the system and significantly pushing up expenditures for health insurers. Despite numerous efforts to improve young adult enrollment, it wasn't enough to counteract the higher costs associated with treating sicker people who, under Obamacare, couldn't be turned away by insurers.
Heading into 2018, Avalere estimated that 41% of all U.S. counties were expected to have just one insurer offering a health plan. This comes after UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), the nation's largest insurer, pulled out of 31 of 34 states in 2017. After UnitedHealth Group lost $475 million from Obamacare in 2015 and predicted $650 million in ACA losses in 2016, it was no surprise to see the nation's largest health insurer critical of the ACA.
Last year, insurers Aetna and Humana, which were denied the right to merge by federal regulators, also announced their intended departure from the ACA exchanges in 2018. Without these larger players, those few insurers that do remain gain significant pricing power and have little incentive to lower their premiums to attract new members. In other words, the bargaining power is entirely with the insurer.
If there's a bright side here, it's that most Americans receive health insurance through their employers or still qualify for the Advanced Premium Tax Credit. But for those folks who are uninsured and wanting health insurance or earn too much to qualify for subsidies, things are only expected to get worse.
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This is to where US health care coverage is going -------wellness and mental health replacing broad, quality access to any and all health care needed.
Ending the mandate and restructuring corporate taxes will increase costs for all but global TIER 1 TIER 2 medical corporations so corporations are going to use this to stop offering those quality corporate health plans.
More and more and more corporate campuses are getting these corporate wellness partners often subsidiaries of that corporation. We shout often that these 'wellness' AND 'mental health' structures tied to growing FAR-RIGHT WING AUTHORITARIAN extreme wealth extreme poverty will be REPRESSIVE. You will exercise--you will EAT RIGHT---you will BE HAPPY or you will be sent somewhere for REHABILITATION.
You know, those forced labor camps.
Many of our global banking 5% freemason/Greek players -----GROUP SPEAK AND CHATTERS have insurance by FREEMASONRY GROUPS-----GREEK GROUPS which without coincidence are GLOBAL CORPORATIONS. Global NGOs operate the same and will offer only these same corporate health plans.....
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL EQUALS WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
'inc.com'
Today's Top Workplaces Are Prioritizing Mental Health. Here Are the 5 Ways They're Doing It
Make sure you appear to BE HAPPY------far-right autocratic regimes require WORKPLACE HAPPINESS.
The Top 42 Corporate Wellness Companies That Are Transforming Workplace Health and Happiness
At SnackNation we live by the motto “Health above all else.” In fact, it’s the first – and arguably most important – of our five core values.
In our view, health is always square one. You can’t be a good boss, teammate, friend, or spouse without first taking care of yourself.
And we’re not the only ones. More and more companies are finding that healthier employees are also happier and more productive. A study by the Harvard Business Review found that for every dollar invested in wellness, companies average a return of $2.71 by way of increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, and reduced healthcare cost.
As a result, a cottage industry of corporate wellness companies have sprung up in the last few decades, offering an array of different services and approaches.
But with so many options out there, how do you decide which solution is best for your organization?
That’s where we come in. We compiled this list of the best of the best health and wellness companies, the ones with the longest national reach, the most robust programs, and a track record of success.
In no particular order, below are the top 40 corporate wellness companies who make it easy for employees to live healthier lifestyles and make working at your company even more fun.
1. Marino Wellness
With three levels of corporate health and wellness programs for different sizes of companies, Marino Wellness can cover any size or budget for corporate wellness. With options as various as annual health risk assessments and monthly massage days, this company is definitely a great choice for corporate wellness.
2. EXOS|MediFit
The powerhouse that is EXOS is definitely one of our top worksite wellness companies partially for their ability to design custom fitness centers for big corporations, but also because they also make these gyms eco-friendly. So, the gyms are good for employees and the environment!
3. Wellness Corporate Solutions
Like many of our other world class corporate wellness services, Wellness Corporate Solutions offers health fairs and health risk assessments to employees. However, Wellness Corporate Solutions also offers eight week long wellness campaigns to challenge employees to strive harder both for health and in a work environment.
4. Kinema Fitness
One of the most inspirational parts of the Kinema Fitness system is its willingness to give back. Kinema offers its fitness services to non-profit events. By giving back to the community in this way, Kinema is making the world a better place.
5. Premise Health
Premise Health does more than just cover you for your basic health needs; it also offers chiropractic and acupuncture services for its customers. That’s right—all of those years of hunching over at a desk can be corrected with a few simple appointments!
6. TotalWellness Health
Unlike many other corporate wellness vendors, TotalWellness’s goal is to improve the health of employees by lowering healthcare costs. Employers can then offer more wellness programs with the savings they generated.
7. WorkStride
Although not typically considered a corporate healthy and wellness company, WorkStride helps employers recognize and reward behaviors that already occur to improve employee wellness. This can help your company save money on more than one level.
8. Fitbit
Many people know Fitbit as the tiny wristwatch-like device that gets you to your personal fitness goals. However, Fitbit also provides companies with corporate wellness center and programs that use their products to improve employee health.
9. Provant Health
Serving over six million employees in America, Provant’s program focuses on three tenets: assessment, inspiration, and rewards/reports. These tenets make improving or customizing an employer’s program a breeze!
10. Marathon Health
Three words—onsite health centers. No more wishy washiness of wondering if your employees are truly sick and need to go home or if they are simply being hypochondriacs.Check out Marathon Health’s site here.
11. Wellsource
Wellsource is a great company for corporate wellness. Recognized as a Fit Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association and a longtime WELCOA member, Wellsource has been helping organizations and individuals understand the connection between lifestyle and risk factors for preventable disease for nearly 4 decades. Wellsource’s innovative health risk assessment and online wellness resources make getting your wellness program up and running quick and easy.
12. Virgin pulse
At the heart of Virgin’s offering is technology designed to cultivate good lifestyle habits and maximize employees’ total quality of life. Their product suite includes mobile apps, fitness trackers, and detailed analytics, as well seamless integrations with a ton of devices – even Amazon’s Alexa.
In May of 2017, the company also launched the Virgin Pulse Global Challenge. The effort brought together 300,000s employees in 185 countries to compete in a 100 day virtual journey that included physical activity, healthy eating, stress resilience, sleep quality and healthy habits. Virgin’s founder Sir Richard Branson himself even joined in on the fun.
13. American Specialty Health
Although American Speciality Health (ASH) may have been born in founder George Devries’ spare bedroom 30 years ago, today the company have one of the most robust offerings for employers and healthcare providers in the U.S. Their network includes more than 60,000 speciality healthcare practitioners who can provide what your employees need to lead healthier lives.
We like ASH for their unique mix of musculoskeletal health plan integrations, fitness and exercise services, and more general health management solutions. They also really do have something for everyone, including no-cost, low-cost, and reimbursement-based plans.
14. Welltok
Welltok is a pioneer in health optimization that provides a highly personalized and rewarding experience for employees.
The company’s main platform, Cafe Well, is an ecosystem of programs that combine a broad selection of content, community, and rewards programs to incentivizes positive health behaviors.
15 Power Wellness
With a focus mainly on fitness centers, Power Wellness brings corporate wellness back to basics.
16. Karēlia
Karelia’s approach to employee wellness is as unique as its name. Its focus is on food health, specifically lessening the meat and saturated fat intake of employees and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables.
17. MDVIP
This unique corporate wellness solution focuses on getting employees paired with doctors. Doctors in the MDVIP system manage the health improvement plans of their patients, from exercise to diet and everything in between.
18. Vitality
Vitality takes a gamified approach, incentivizing healthy behaviors through challenges, points, and rankings. They also leverage their 220 million months of global member data to drive real results.
And really, their results speak for themselves. An independently verified study found that Vitality programs have resulted in $4.7M in total medical cost savings, and have increased on the job performance by nearly 4%.
19. LifeDojo
LifeDojo’s unique name matches its 12-week approach to corporate health. Their program not only incorporates traditional elements of health; it also factors in stress, resilience, and sleeping patterns to improve overall wellness.
20. Training Amigo
Another technologically advance employee wellness solution is Training Amigo. Along with tracking how your team is performing in the program, Training Amigo also makes reporting fun through rewards-based tasks and a platform similar to a social media account.
21. Kersh Health
We like Kersh because they’ve developed a simple, effective approach over their 20 years in the biz.
They start with a low-friction biometric screening to determine where to focus. Next, they outfit program participants with KAM, their proprietary, state-of-the-art wearable accelerometer to measure daily activity. Finally, they combine these inputs to provide a “Qscore” and recommend action.
Their algorithms have been actuarially verified by one of the world’s largest insurance providers, and additional clinical offerings make for a well-rounded experience.
22. Sonic Boom Wellness
Along with mental and physical health, Sonic Boom also factors in many employees’ wallet worries. With programs on budgeting and other financial concerns, Sonic Boom goes well beyond the corporate wellness standard.
23. Corporate Fitness Works
As the name implies, Corporate Fitness Works focuses on one main goal: fitness. With a variety of programs and services to keep your employees fit and active, Corporate Fitness Works is a great choice.
24. EliteHealth
With a focus on smoking cessation, stress and time management, and nutrition and fitness, EliteHealth truly lives up to its name. It is perfect for any sized company and was even rated top 10 corporate wellness companies by worth.com.
25. Psocratic
Psocratic is all about customization. Their solutions are designed to be both custom to your business and personalized for each individual employee. Their fun, user-friendly experience recommends activities and provide growth-inspiring tools for your employees.
All of this is deployed with a layer of social connectivity, making their program fun and transparent, while inspiring some friendly competition. Psocratic is also great for orgs of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 100 companies.
The health insurance mandate was temporarily installed simply to make a great percentage of US 99% WE THE PEOPLE think they would still access health care in what was a raging hyper-neo-liberal predatory and profiteering health policy.
The MANDATE bringing young adults and healthy people into buying health insurance would allow global health insurance corporations to offer CHEAPER PLANS and to allow PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS/CHRONIC ILLNESS to be insured.
THAT WAS NEVER THE GOAL OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
'Under the tax bill signed by President Donald Trump in December 2017, the individual mandate will be a thing of the past. According to lawyers, the repeal has led to much uncertainty for Covered California. The questions are:
- By how much will premiums increase?
- Which insurers will remain in the exchange?
- Will California enact a state tax penalty for those without coverage to fill the void?
- Will the state try to replace Covered California with a universal health care system'?
YES, insurance premiums will increase considerably. This will push small businesses out of trying to insure their employees. It will push corporations to change their plans to being WELLNESS-ONLY.......which we describe often as the UNITED NATIONS WORLD BANK HEALTH CARE FOR ALL model-----
TIER 1 TIER 2 health plans are PLATINUM AND GOLD-------so, BRONZE AND SILVER will disappear. There will be a PLATINUM PLAN for the rich------a MEDICAID for all WELLNESS-ONLY for 99% WE THE PEOPLE----and senior retirement plans like MEDICARE will end. Remember, the Social Security and Medicare Trusts have been said to be depleted in early 2030s.
What Does the ACA Individual-Mandate Repeal Mean for Covered California?
Younger and healthier people may decide not to keep their health care coverage
By Toni Vranjes January 19, 2018
Now that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) individual mandate has been repealed by federal tax legislation, what's next for Covered California?
The ACA created the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health coverage or else pay a tax penalty. Covered California, the state's health care exchange, was developed under the federal ACA to provide residents with access to low-cost coverage options.
Under the tax bill signed by President Donald Trump in December 2017, the individual mandate will be a thing of the past. According to lawyers, the repeal has led to much uncertainty for Covered California. The questions are:
- By how much will premiums increase?
- Which insurers will remain in the exchange?
- Will California enact a state tax penalty for those without coverage to fill the void?
- Will the state try to replace Covered California with a universal health care system?
Covered California
The state exchange has helped dramatically reduce the uninsured population in California, according to a December 2017 press release from the exchange. Since 2014, more than 3 million people have bought health insurance through the state exchange and nearly 4 million have enrolled in the state Medi-Cal program for low-income earners, the press release stated. This has led to a reduction in the rate of the uninsured in the state from 17 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent as of last June.
"We are taking a look at the potential impacts of the tax bill and what it could mean," Covered California spokesman James Scullary told SHRM Online.
Premiums
The individual mandate is intended to spur younger and healthier people to get insurance. Without the mandate, Covered California likely will have a higher share of older and sicker enrollees—causing premiums to rise.
"Without the individual mandate, there is not the coercive effect on people who would rather not have health insurance to get health insurance," said Adam Abrahms, an attorney with Epstein Becker Green in Los Angeles.
Timothy Verrall, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Houston, said the change probably will siphon off people who currently support the system by paying money but making few claims.
It's likely that coverage will be more expensive, said Mark Grushkin, an attorney with Littler in Los Angeles.
State officials announced this summer that Covered California premiums will increase by an average of 12.5 percent in 2018. "The expectation is that it would go up higher for 2019," Abrahms said.
However, California has been taking steps to bolster the exchange. State officials have tried to prop up the system through aggressive marketing campaigns and other strategies, Abrahms noted. This could drive people to have health insurance regardless of whether it's legally required.
Insurers
Risk pool changes could drive some participating insurers out of the exchange, Abrahms said.
Covered California recognizes the threat. In its press release, the exchange stated: "Health insurance companies rely on certainty when setting their rates and may decide to exit their markets in the face of an uncertain market caused by a shrinking pool of consumers who are less healthy."
But it's still unclear whether insurers will actually do that, given the size of the California market. "It's a very large market to abandon," Grushkin said
The state's marketplace is competitive, and it hasn't experienced the same volatility as some other regions in terms of insurers withdrawing, Scullary noted.
State Tax Penalty
The state could try to pass its own tax penalty for not obtaining health coverage, said Tiffany Downs, an attorney with FordHarrison in Atlanta. That would create an individual mandate on the state level.
Downs pointed to a Massachusetts state tax penalty as an example of what states can do. According to WBUR News, the Massachusetts state tax penalty will stay in place even though the federal individual mandate has been scrapped.
There would likely be challenges to a proposed California mandate, though, and approving a state tax penalty would require a two-thirds majority in the state legislature.
Universal Health Care
The ACA individual-mandate repeal also could lead to more support for universal health care. S.B. 562 passed the state senate last June, but Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, blocked the bill, citing his opinion that the bill was "woefully incomplete." The California Nurses Association sponsored the bill, and the group has vowed to continue fighting for universal health care.
The individual-mandate repeal "increases the possibility" that a universal health care plan gets through the California Legislature, according to Abrahms.
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Here we see this very suggestion ------looks like if mandate is eliminated and premiums soar---and expanded MEDICAID is defunded----and health insurance plans are consolidated and offer only CORPORATE WELLNESS ----we may as well go with UNITED NATIONS WORLD BANK INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION----HEALTH CARE FOR ALL.
This CA pol ABRAHMS will PRETEND this is being done for SOCIAL BENEFIT----he will PRETEND this HEALTH CARE FOR ALL will look like our US MEDICARE when it was functioning as the best in world history public health provider----but that is not what DARK AGES HEALTH CARE FOR ALL has as a goal .
Because our US 99% WE THE PEOPLE love our MEDICARE global banking 5% freemason/Greek players will use that term over and over and over as they end all of Western nations' quality public structures.
'The individual-mandate repeal "increases the possibility" that a universal health care plan gets through the California Legislature, according to Abrahms'.
Obama-era Affordable Act had a goal of CONSOLIDATING our US health industry into nothing but global corporations. All public health ---all non-profit health -----all small/regional/US domestic HEALTH institutions have been MERGED AND ACQUIRED in consolidation.
'Which insurers will remain in the exchange'?
The global health insurance corporations never JOINED this 'EXCHANGE' because the goals were never to have this 'EXCHANGE'. The health industry will have that same GLOBAL TIER 1 TIER 2 producer and supplier structure we described last week under VAT ---
One thing we notice below is these global health insurance corporations are geared to cover US EX-PATS pushed into global labor pool offering the INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATION'S UNITED NATIONS WORLD BANK level of health coverage.
Best International Health Insurance Companies
Finding The Top Global Health Insurance Providers
Finding an international health insurance plan should be at the top of your list of priorities when planning your move abroad. Surprisingly, there are some excellent options from which to choose. And many of these health insurance plans are very affordable, especially when compared to health insurance plans in the US. But which international health insurance companies are the best?
Researching International Medical Insurance Companies
The best place to start is online. There are many resources to help you make your decision.
- Learn more about International Health Insurance Plans – an educated consumer is our best customer!
- Review and Compare your Options: Compare Global Health Insurance Plans
- Learn about options to cover you for one year or less: Travel Medical Plans.
Please contact us for guidance on choosing the best international health insurance company and the right plan for your individual or group insurance needs. Use the form to the right or submit a quote request online.
What are the Best International Health Insurance Companies
Below is a comprehensive list of international insurance companies that offer the best in service, benefits, coverage, and rates. As always, review the terms of the policy carefully and discuss with an international insurance broker who can help guide you through the process.
Top Three International Health Insurers
Cigna Global Insurance was one of the first companies to offer expatriate or global medical insurance plans and they remain a leading international provider.
Free Cigna Quote / Apply. Cigna Global is an excellent option for most internationals living abroad with comprehensive coverage in almost any country.
Cigna Global Medical Insurance Plan
- Access to Cigna Global’s network of trusted hospitals, clinics, and doctors
- The flexibility to tailor a plan to suit your individual needs
- The convenience and confidence of 24/7/365 customer service
Plan Details
Get a Quote
Aetna International – With more than 160 years of experience in healthcare, Aetna has specialized in international health benefits insurance for more than 55 years – with a growing global footprint to reach wherever you travel. They have been recognized with such prestigious awards as “Best International Private Health Insurance Provider” and “Health Insurer of the Year.”
Free Aetna Quote / Apply. Aetna is a global brand and offers reasonable rates alongside excellent benefits and service.
Aetna Global Expat Health Cover
- Fortune 100 company with more than 800,000 expatriate members worldwide
- Access to Annual Health Exams & Medications
- Talk to global member support 24/7/365
Plan Details
Get a Quote
GeoBlue Global Medical
– Designed for US citizens abroad or Internationals Residing in the USA.
GeoBlue is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and offers both short-term travel medical plans as well as long-term international health plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield is a federation of 50 independent health insurance providers in the United States. GeoBlue is a trading name of Worldwide Insurance Services, LLC (Worldwide Services Insurance Agency, LLC in California and New York), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
GeoBlue Quote / Apply Links
Xplorer Worldwide Medical Plan
- Customize your medical coverage to suit your needs
- Define your deductible and prescription benefits
- Choose providers either in or out of our elite network
Plan Details
Get a Quote
Additional Specialty International Health Insurance Companies
Premier Health, administered by PA Group, is a well recommended international provider focused on providing high-quality global coverage throughout the world. Plans offer residents full coverage in their home country (excluding the USA) and worldwide year round. Free Premier Health Quote / Apply
International Medical Group – IMG offers the widest range of products, from trip cancellation to long-term international medical plans (IMG Global Medical). For more than 20 years, IMG has provided international medical insurance, travel insurance, and affordable coverage to the international community insuring clients in more than 170 countries worldwide. Free IMG Quote / Apply
IntegraGlobal, a U.K. company that has service offices strategically placed worldwide in Europe, North America, and Asia, specializing in providing health plans to organizations and individuals with unique health protection needs, such as expatriates, marine professionals, and specialized risks. IntegraGlobal’s goal is to develop unique international health plans that offer you outstanding protection, excellent value, and hands-on unbeatable personal service
. Integra: Integra Quote / Apply Links
Allianz – One of the biggest insurance providers in the world, Allianz is a Germany company. Allianz Worldwide is the international health division of Allianz Worldwide Partners and part of the Allianz Group. The company is well known for its international reach, and for providing international health insurance for employees.
Free Quote / Apply
BUPA International health Plan – Offers over 65 years of medical expertise and dedication to health. They have a global team of advisers and health experts who, between them, speak multiple languages – and a service that exceeds expectations. These are just a few of the things that make Bupa Global different. Explore how we provide you with world-class cover and stand apart from the rest.
Free BUPA Quote / Apply
Review plans available for long term life abroad or short term travel:
- Review and Compare your Options: Compare Global Health Insurance Plans
- Learn about options to cover you for one year or less: Travel Medical Plans.
Also, consider Seven Corners and HCC for Short-Term International Medical cover.
How to Compare the Best Global Medical Insurance Companies
You are in luck! We have created a simple comparison and reviews of international health insurance plans for your research. We include 3 of the best companies to keep it simple. You can compare other companies against these three to ensure they are compared on the same terms. The other considerations are the AM Best ratings of the providers. The companies listed in our comparison all have A or A- ratings from AM Best. You can do a search here: AM Best Rating Search
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Here we see what was standard across US in 2017 after health insurance exchanges were installed. There was a soaring of premiums across all tiers------Maryland saw a request for over 40% increase and gave a 33% increase. That was 2017-2018.
Congress and Trump set the stage in 2019 for those health insurance rates to AGAIN----SOAR. What we see in nation mainstream media outlets are articles saying 2019 health insurance rates are DOWN. So, just before what everyone knows will be soaring rates because of CORPORATE TAX REFORM laws installed-----we are seeing a headlines shouting about a BLIP of lower rates.
Maryland health insurance premiums going up average 33 pct. next year
By Jeff Clabaugh | @wtopclabaugh August 30, 2017 9:14 am
The Maryland Insurance Administration has approved premium rates for individual health insurance plans offered in the state beginning January 1, 2018 averaging 33 percent.
(Thinkstock)WASHINGTON — The Maryland Insurance Administration has approved premium rates for individual health insurance plans offered in the state beginning Jan. 1, 2018 averaging 33 percent.
The increase is lower than the originally filed rate increases averaging 43.1 percent.
The increases vary by insurance provider.
CareFirst Blue Choice Inc.’s HMO average increase is 34.5 percent, compared to the requested 50.4 percent increase.
The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States was granted an average rate increase of 22.6 percent, compared to the 23.4 percent rate increase requested.
Cigna will no longer offer individual plans in Maryland for 2018.
Approximately 243,000 Marylanders are enrolled in individual health plans.
The Maryland Insurance Administration also approved small group plan rate increases averaging 1.7 percent, compared to the originally filed average request of 4.2 percent. CareFirst, Kaiser, Aetna and UnitedHealthcare are offering coverage in the small group market in Maryland in 2018.
Open enrollment in Maryland runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15.
The charts below detail rates requested and approved for both individual and small group plans in Maryland for 2018.
Individual plan premium increases
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'Older Americans will be hit hardest by premium increases. | Darren McCollester/Getty Images'
·
'delmarvanow.com
Maryland's Obamacare health insurance premiums to decline in 2019.........................................
bizjournals.com
Marylanders to see premiums drop 13% on average for 2019 ACA plans - Baltimore Business Journal'
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CLINTON neo-liberal Maryland GOV O'Malley installed this AFFORDABLE CARE ACT mess-----today, GOV HOGAN is pretending it is working ------OH, LOOK RATES HAVE DROPPED says HOGAN.
The States Where Health Care Premiums Will Go Up the Most in 2019
Eric Schaal |
March 11, 2018
Donald Trump’s full impact on the U.S. health care system has yet to be felt. However, the day is coming soon for millions of Americans — right at the start of 2019. That’s when several efforts, including the GOP tax plan, kick into gear and start having an impact on the marketplace.
A February 2018 report by the Urban Institute broke down some of the elements of Trump policy that will affect health care premiums. All of the following will contribute to rising costs:
Repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate
The introduction of short-term, low-coverage plans
Ending cost-sharing subsidies for the poorest Americans
While some states (including Massachusetts and New York) do not allow bare-bones plans on their marketplace, many others plan to do so. That will lead to an 18% increase, on average, in Affordable Care Act premiums for residents of 43 states. If you live in one of these places, get ready to pay up to 22% more for coverage.
Here are the 15 states where health care costs will go up the most in 2019.
15. Illinois
The state capitol building in Springfield, Illinois.
The price for the average ACA plan in Illinois would go up 19.4%| fotoguy22/iStock/Getty Images
If Trump’s proposal for short-term, cheap coverage goes into effect, ACA individual plans in Illinois will quickly rise. According to the Urban Institute, the average plan would go up 19.4%.
The analysis showed 94,000 Illinois residents would be affected. Overall, some 324,000 people in the state could end up without the minimum essential coverage.
Next: This southern state will get hit even harder.
14. Georgia
Golden Isles, Georgia
Georgia residents should brace for premium hikes. | SSI-DUKE/iStock/Getty Images
The loss of the individual mandate, combined with competition from subpar health insurance plans, would shake the Georgia market even harder. On average, residents will premiums rise 19.5%.
Considering Georgia BlueCross BlueShield proposed rate hikes of 57% in October 2017, we’re not sure how much higher costs can go in this state.
Next: In New England, the story is the same, and it gets worse for older Americans.
13. New Hampshire
New Hampshire scenery
Older Americans will be hit hardest by premium increases. | Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Up in New Hampshire, insurance markets will respond much like they will in the South and Midwest. On average, premiums would rise 19.6% if Trump’s short-term, limited plans reach the marketplace.
Of course, on the ACA exchanges, older Americans get hit the hardest. Anyone who does not yet qualify for Medicare yet must have coverage — mainly, those aged 50-64 — will feel the most burn.
Next: Residents of Mike Pence’s home state will have the “freedom” to pay about 20% more in health care premiums in 2019.
12. Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Indiana residents could be looking at higher healthcare costs in 2019. | Mayor Lloyd Winnecke/Facebook
When describing the GOP’s plan to repeal the ACA, Vice President Mike Pence spoke of a glorious time ahead for the country. “ObamaCare will be replaced with something that actually works—bringing freedom and individual responsibility back to American health care,” Pence tweeted in February 2017.
That repeal never happened, and since then Pence and the Trump administration have had to settle for piecemeal efforts to undermine the health care law. Those efforts will give Indiana residents with ACA plans the freedom to pay 19.6% more for coverage in 2019.
Next: Rural health care coverage is about to get a lot more expensive.
11. Montana
Aerial shot of Billings, Montana
In Montana, people over 50 will see the highest increase. | wellesenterprises/iStock/Getty Images
When the Trump administration moved to end subsidies for the poorest Americans in June 2017, the two major insurers in Montana raised rates 12% (Pacific Source) and 22% (Montana Health) for ACA Silver plans. It’s another example of how seemingly unrelated moves on the market impact everyone.
Introducing bare-bones plans that compete with Obamacare will raise premiums yet again in 2019. On average, Montana residents will see costs jump 19.8%, with the highest increases for people over 50.
Next: This tiny East Coast state will feel the burn, too.
10. Delaware
Delaware lighthouse
In Delaware, premiums will rise by nearly 20% in 2019. | Eva Hambach/AFP/Getty Images
Mid-Atlantic states will feel the bite of the Obamacare sabotage as well. In Delaware’s case, Urban Institute sees ACA premiums rising 19.9% in 2019.
All told, some 76,000 Delaware residents would end up without minimum essential care.
Next: West Virginia is one of nine states that will see premiums rise 20% on average.
9. West Virginia
charleston, west virginia
As many as 112,000 West Virginians could end up without minimum essential coverage. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Urban Institute expects 112,000 West Virginia residents will end up without minimum essential health care in 2019 if Trump’s plans take shape. As for those who pay for ACA plans, premiums will rise 20% on average due to the shifts in the marketplace.
As the February 2018 teacher strike proved, employee-sponsored health care in West Virginia does not offer a much better alternative.
Next: Trump’s health care tinkering will have a huge effect on Wisconsin.
8. Wisconsin
State Capitol building in Madison Wisconsin
Close to 500,000 people in Wisconsin won’t have minimum essential coverage. | csfotoimages/iStock/Getty Images
The combination of eliminating individual mandate penalty and introducing cheap, low-coverage insurance will hit Wisconsin hard. Those struggling to cover premiums at the current rate will see another 20% increase in 2019.
Altogether, Trump’s initiatives will leave 478,000 people in Wisconsin without minimum essential health care.
Next: Texas’s health care troubles will get worse in 2019.
7. Texas
Houston, Texas, USA
The price of ACA plans will increase by 20.2%. | Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images
The Lone Star State really felt the pinch when Trump ended cost-sharing subsidies for poor residents. Approximately 600,000 were affected by that move.
Texans who paid full price for their health care through the exchanges felt the biggest burn. In 2019, another round of increases will come. On average, ACA plans will see 20.2% increases.
Next: Short-term, low-cost health care will spell more bad news for Nebraskans.
6. Nebraska
'Welcome to Nebraska' sign board on a empty road
About 11% of Nebraskans will lack minimum essential coverage. | iStock/Getty Images
Urban Institute’s analysis has Nebraskans about to see ACA premiums jump 20.4% on average. Between the surge in uninsured residents and the impact of withdrawn subsidies, the marketplace can’t bear the Trump administration moves.
By mid-2019, health policy experts estimate 219,000 people in Nebraska won’t have minimum essential care. In a state of 1.9 million, that’s 11.3% of the population.
Next: This state is suing for Obamacare repeal following the GOP’s removal of the individual mandate fine.
5. Arizona
Phoenix Arizona with its downtown lit
Premiums are set to skyrocket in Arizona. | Dreamframer/iStock/Getty Images
If you thought talk of Obamacare repeal was done in 2018, think again. In the final week of February, Arizona joined 20 states (mostly in the South and Midwest) in a federal lawsuit calling for a full death for the ACA.
While state lawyers wage that war, residents will prepare to see health care premiums skyrocket in 2019. On average, ACA plan holders will pay 20.6% more for coverage.
Next: In 2019, a second New England state will feel the brunt of rising health care costs.
4. Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
ACA premiums will increase by almost 21%. | Sean Pavone/iStock/Getty Images
Among the states hit hardest by Trump’s health care policy, Rhode Island stands out from a pack of mostly red states. Residents paying for Obamacare plans will see 20.7% increases in their coverage.
Once again, older Rhode Islanders will see the biggest increases in the coming year. As for 2020, no one can predict how expensive the situation will get by then, but plan on another double-digit increase.
Next: This sparsely populated state is set to end up with 57,000 lacking decent coverage.
3. North Dakota
Ariel view of North Dakota
Close to one-quarter of North Dakotans won’t have minimum essential coverage in 2019. | Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Out in the Dakotas, the rural health care market won’t improve under Trump. Urban Institute expected 23.4% to end up without minimum essential coverage by next year.
With the administration’s new plans ready to hit the market, the rest of the population will pay dearly for any medical services. All told, it will run the typical North Dakota resident with an ACA plan 20.8% more in 2019.
Next: In one of America’s poorest states, health care will get even more expensive.
2. Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
ACA changes will hurt Alabama residents. | SeanPavonePhoto/iStock/Getty Images
Among those covered by the ACA in Alabama, 94% received either tax credits or cost-sharing subsidies from the federal government in 2017. Now that changes are in the works for those policies, everyone will pay more in 2019.
The average plan will see premiums jump 21.6%. Meanwhile, 767,000 Alabama residents will find themselves either uninsured or without minimum essential coverage.
Next: No one will feel the pain like South Dakota residents.
1. South Dakota
Deadwood, South Dakota
ACA premiums in South Dakota will increase nearly 22%. | vPaulTech LLC/iStock/Getty Images
While everyone will see higher health care premiums under Trump, no one will shoulder the burden like South Dakota residents. On average, folks with an ACA plan will see 21.7% higher premiums in 2019.
When the Trump administration realized repealing Obamacare would be impossible, it decided to attack the ACA from a number of alternate ways. As a result, every American who wants health insurance will end up paying more. It’s just a matter of “how much” at this point.
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SO, it wasn't the far-right wing global banking 5% freemason/Greek Clinton neo-liberals who created this mess in ending all our US quality public health structures---it's all TRUMP'S fault.
US FOREIGN ECONOMIC ZONES do not allow a SOVEREIGN economic policy to block global trade policies so we KNEW there was never any intent to have STATE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES. The insure exodus is simply the transition to GLOBAL HEALTH INSURERS ONLY----that is TIER 1 TIER 2 producer and supplier of goods and services.
Three reasons Obamacare premiums keep soaring
1. The elimination of the individual mandate in 2019
2. President Trump doing away with cost-sharing reductions
3. An insurer exodus
Who's Ready for a 15% Increase to Their Health Insurance Premium in 2019?
Is an Obamacare death spiral imminent?
Sean Williams
(TMFUltraLong)
May 26, 2018 at 11:41AM
When Donald Trump won the electoral vote 1 1/2 years ago, the American people knew change was coming. Topping President Trump's list of things to do once in office was to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is more commonly known as Obamacare. Of course, things didn't go according to plan.
With Republicans in control of the legislative branch of the government, it was widely expected that they would have no trouble repealing and replacing Obamacare. However, working with a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Republican lawmakers and the president were unable to come to an agreement on healthcare reform after countless tries in 2017. Instead, Trump and the GOP-led Congress slowly have been dismantling some of the health law's core components, leaving only a shell of former President Barack Obama's hallmark healthcare legislation.
President Trump addressing Department of Homeland Security employees. Image source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security via Flickr.
Who's ready for another double-digit premium increase?
Slowly picking apart Obamacare does have a purpose for President Trump: It likely will send the program into a "death spiral," whereby premiums rise at a rapid pace and healthy individuals drop out of the program altogether. Such a move would prompt lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to come together and create a new health plan. But in the interim, it means painfully high increases for those folks signed up with Obamacare who aren't privy to its remaining subsidies.
According to a newly released report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), premiums for benchmark plans -- i.e., the second-lowest-cost silver plan listed on ACA exchanges -- are expected to rise by 15% in 2019 and then average a 7% increase per year thereafter, through 2028. Mind you, this 15% increase comes after the Department of Health and Human Services announced in late October 2017 that benchmark plan premiums would be rising by an average of 37% in 2018.
Then again, the CBO's estimate could prove conservative for next year. Back in late January, insurer Covered California in the nation's most populous state released a report entitled, "The Roller Coaster Continues" that described what it believes will be bottom-line premium hikes of between 16% and 30% in 2019. Though these are estimates, and rate hikes often aren't finalized until September or October, when a large insurer in the fifth-largest economy in the world speaks, you listen.
Ultimately, the CBO estimates that the total number of uninsured will rise by 3 million next year, to 32 million, and the non-elderly uninsured rate will hit 13%. By 2028, some 35 million people are forecast to be without insurance if the remnants of Obamacare are kept in place.
Image source: Getty Images.
Three reasons Obamacare premiums keep soaring If we had to point a finger at the factors behind this rapid rise in healthcare premiums, three would stand out.
1. The elimination of the individual mandate in 2019
The first, which will take shape in 2019, is the elimination of the individual mandate. The individual mandate is the actionable component of Obamacare that requires individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a financial penalty, known as the Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP). If you choose to go uninsured and don't qualify for an exemption, your SRP would be the greater of 2.5% of modified adjusted gross income or $695 per adult.
However, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed in December, it, among other things, outlined the elimination of the individual mandate beginning in 2019. The mandate is a crucial cog of Obamacare that encouraged the enrollment of healthier individuals who would otherwise tempt fate and remain uninsured. The premiums of these healthy individuals are sorely needed by insurance companies to offset the higher costs associated with sicker individuals allowed to enroll under Obamacare.
Without this mandate, it's widely believed that some healthier individuals will remain on the sidelines since there's no longer the fear of financial penalty. Meanwhile, the patient population for remaining ACA insurers will include a higher number of sicker members relative to healthy members.
Image source: Getty Images.
2. President Trump doing away with cost-sharing reductions
Last year, Donald Trump also announced the end of cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs, which are one of the two key subsidies given to lower-income individuals and families. Cost-sharing reductions were given to people earning between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level, and they helped considerably lower the cost of doctor visits by offsetting some of the patient's responsibility for copays, coinsurance, and deductibles.
How was Trump able to axe such a critical subsidy, you ask? The answer lies with a long-standing legal case initiated by House Republicans all the way back in 2014. The House GOP, which filed suit again Sylvia Burwell, who was then the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, alleged that all funds apportioned to the ACA should be approved by Congress, but they weren't going through these traditional channels. As a result, the House GOP intimated that CSRs were illegal.
In May 2016, District of Columbia Judge Rosemary Collyer agreed with House Republicans, albeit she stayed her judgment with the expectation that the Obama administration would file an appeal, which came in shortly thereafter. This appeal had been continued on numerous occasions, even into the Trump presidency.
Trump had been using the idea of dropping the appeal as a dangling carrot to incite cooperation between Democrats and Republicans on healthcare reform, but, as noted, that didn't work. Ultimately, Trump simply dropped the appeal, which put Collyer's judgment into effect and ended cost-sharing reductions.
Though the Advanced Premium Tax Credit remains in place and continues to lower premiums for individuals and families earning under 400% of the federal poverty level, the lack of CSRs makes affording medical care a challenge for low-income individuals. At the closing of ACA enrollment for 2017, 7.05 million of the 12.2 million enrollees qualified for cost-sharing reductions.
Image source: Getty Images.
3. An insurer exodus
The third reason healthcare premiums are soaring is the lack of plan options for consumers to choose from.
Long before President Trump took office, large-scale health insurers were expressing their displeasure with Obamacare. Many had been losing money on the ACA's exchanges, despite the belief when Obamacare was initially rolled out that they'd be overwhelmingly profitable. These losses were the result of healthy individuals not being coerced by initially low Shared Responsibility Payments to enroll, which led to sicker enrollees flooding into the system and significantly pushing up expenditures for health insurers. Despite numerous efforts to improve young adult enrollment, it wasn't enough to counteract the higher costs associated with treating sicker people who, under Obamacare, couldn't be turned away by insurers.
Heading into 2018, Avalere estimated that 41% of all U.S. counties were expected to have just one insurer offering a health plan. This comes after UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), the nation's largest insurer, pulled out of 31 of 34 states in 2017. After UnitedHealth Group lost $475 million from Obamacare in 2015 and predicted $650 million in ACA losses in 2016, it was no surprise to see the nation's largest health insurer critical of the ACA.
Last year, insurers Aetna and Humana, which were denied the right to merge by federal regulators, also announced their intended departure from the ACA exchanges in 2018. Without these larger players, those few insurers that do remain gain significant pricing power and have little incentive to lower their premiums to attract new members. In other words, the bargaining power is entirely with the insurer.
If there's a bright side here, it's that most Americans receive health insurance through their employers or still qualify for the Advanced Premium Tax Credit. But for those folks who are uninsured and wanting health insurance or earn too much to qualify for subsidies, things are only expected to get worse.
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This is to where US health care coverage is going -------wellness and mental health replacing broad, quality access to any and all health care needed.
Ending the mandate and restructuring corporate taxes will increase costs for all but global TIER 1 TIER 2 medical corporations so corporations are going to use this to stop offering those quality corporate health plans.
More and more and more corporate campuses are getting these corporate wellness partners often subsidiaries of that corporation. We shout often that these 'wellness' AND 'mental health' structures tied to growing FAR-RIGHT WING AUTHORITARIAN extreme wealth extreme poverty will be REPRESSIVE. You will exercise--you will EAT RIGHT---you will BE HAPPY or you will be sent somewhere for REHABILITATION.
You know, those forced labor camps.
Many of our global banking 5% freemason/Greek players -----GROUP SPEAK AND CHATTERS have insurance by FREEMASONRY GROUPS-----GREEK GROUPS which without coincidence are GLOBAL CORPORATIONS. Global NGOs operate the same and will offer only these same corporate health plans.....
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL EQUALS WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
'inc.com'
Today's Top Workplaces Are Prioritizing Mental Health. Here Are the 5 Ways They're Doing It
Make sure you appear to BE HAPPY------far-right autocratic regimes require WORKPLACE HAPPINESS.
The Top 42 Corporate Wellness Companies That Are Transforming Workplace Health and Happiness
At SnackNation we live by the motto “Health above all else.” In fact, it’s the first – and arguably most important – of our five core values.
In our view, health is always square one. You can’t be a good boss, teammate, friend, or spouse without first taking care of yourself.
And we’re not the only ones. More and more companies are finding that healthier employees are also happier and more productive. A study by the Harvard Business Review found that for every dollar invested in wellness, companies average a return of $2.71 by way of increased productivity, decreased absenteeism, and reduced healthcare cost.
As a result, a cottage industry of corporate wellness companies have sprung up in the last few decades, offering an array of different services and approaches.
But with so many options out there, how do you decide which solution is best for your organization?
That’s where we come in. We compiled this list of the best of the best health and wellness companies, the ones with the longest national reach, the most robust programs, and a track record of success.
In no particular order, below are the top 40 corporate wellness companies who make it easy for employees to live healthier lifestyles and make working at your company even more fun.
1. Marino Wellness
With three levels of corporate health and wellness programs for different sizes of companies, Marino Wellness can cover any size or budget for corporate wellness. With options as various as annual health risk assessments and monthly massage days, this company is definitely a great choice for corporate wellness.
2. EXOS|MediFit
The powerhouse that is EXOS is definitely one of our top worksite wellness companies partially for their ability to design custom fitness centers for big corporations, but also because they also make these gyms eco-friendly. So, the gyms are good for employees and the environment!
3. Wellness Corporate Solutions
Like many of our other world class corporate wellness services, Wellness Corporate Solutions offers health fairs and health risk assessments to employees. However, Wellness Corporate Solutions also offers eight week long wellness campaigns to challenge employees to strive harder both for health and in a work environment.
4. Kinema Fitness
One of the most inspirational parts of the Kinema Fitness system is its willingness to give back. Kinema offers its fitness services to non-profit events. By giving back to the community in this way, Kinema is making the world a better place.
5. Premise Health
Premise Health does more than just cover you for your basic health needs; it also offers chiropractic and acupuncture services for its customers. That’s right—all of those years of hunching over at a desk can be corrected with a few simple appointments!
6. TotalWellness Health
Unlike many other corporate wellness vendors, TotalWellness’s goal is to improve the health of employees by lowering healthcare costs. Employers can then offer more wellness programs with the savings they generated.
7. WorkStride
Although not typically considered a corporate healthy and wellness company, WorkStride helps employers recognize and reward behaviors that already occur to improve employee wellness. This can help your company save money on more than one level.
8. Fitbit
Many people know Fitbit as the tiny wristwatch-like device that gets you to your personal fitness goals. However, Fitbit also provides companies with corporate wellness center and programs that use their products to improve employee health.
9. Provant Health
Serving over six million employees in America, Provant’s program focuses on three tenets: assessment, inspiration, and rewards/reports. These tenets make improving or customizing an employer’s program a breeze!
10. Marathon Health
Three words—onsite health centers. No more wishy washiness of wondering if your employees are truly sick and need to go home or if they are simply being hypochondriacs.Check out Marathon Health’s site here.
11. Wellsource
Wellsource is a great company for corporate wellness. Recognized as a Fit Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association and a longtime WELCOA member, Wellsource has been helping organizations and individuals understand the connection between lifestyle and risk factors for preventable disease for nearly 4 decades. Wellsource’s innovative health risk assessment and online wellness resources make getting your wellness program up and running quick and easy.
12. Virgin pulse
At the heart of Virgin’s offering is technology designed to cultivate good lifestyle habits and maximize employees’ total quality of life. Their product suite includes mobile apps, fitness trackers, and detailed analytics, as well seamless integrations with a ton of devices – even Amazon’s Alexa.
In May of 2017, the company also launched the Virgin Pulse Global Challenge. The effort brought together 300,000s employees in 185 countries to compete in a 100 day virtual journey that included physical activity, healthy eating, stress resilience, sleep quality and healthy habits. Virgin’s founder Sir Richard Branson himself even joined in on the fun.
13. American Specialty Health
Although American Speciality Health (ASH) may have been born in founder George Devries’ spare bedroom 30 years ago, today the company have one of the most robust offerings for employers and healthcare providers in the U.S. Their network includes more than 60,000 speciality healthcare practitioners who can provide what your employees need to lead healthier lives.
We like ASH for their unique mix of musculoskeletal health plan integrations, fitness and exercise services, and more general health management solutions. They also really do have something for everyone, including no-cost, low-cost, and reimbursement-based plans.
14. Welltok
Welltok is a pioneer in health optimization that provides a highly personalized and rewarding experience for employees.
The company’s main platform, Cafe Well, is an ecosystem of programs that combine a broad selection of content, community, and rewards programs to incentivizes positive health behaviors.
15 Power Wellness
With a focus mainly on fitness centers, Power Wellness brings corporate wellness back to basics.
16. Karēlia
Karelia’s approach to employee wellness is as unique as its name. Its focus is on food health, specifically lessening the meat and saturated fat intake of employees and increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables.
17. MDVIP
This unique corporate wellness solution focuses on getting employees paired with doctors. Doctors in the MDVIP system manage the health improvement plans of their patients, from exercise to diet and everything in between.
18. Vitality
Vitality takes a gamified approach, incentivizing healthy behaviors through challenges, points, and rankings. They also leverage their 220 million months of global member data to drive real results.
And really, their results speak for themselves. An independently verified study found that Vitality programs have resulted in $4.7M in total medical cost savings, and have increased on the job performance by nearly 4%.
19. LifeDojo
LifeDojo’s unique name matches its 12-week approach to corporate health. Their program not only incorporates traditional elements of health; it also factors in stress, resilience, and sleeping patterns to improve overall wellness.
20. Training Amigo
Another technologically advance employee wellness solution is Training Amigo. Along with tracking how your team is performing in the program, Training Amigo also makes reporting fun through rewards-based tasks and a platform similar to a social media account.
21. Kersh Health
We like Kersh because they’ve developed a simple, effective approach over their 20 years in the biz.
They start with a low-friction biometric screening to determine where to focus. Next, they outfit program participants with KAM, their proprietary, state-of-the-art wearable accelerometer to measure daily activity. Finally, they combine these inputs to provide a “Qscore” and recommend action.
Their algorithms have been actuarially verified by one of the world’s largest insurance providers, and additional clinical offerings make for a well-rounded experience.
22. Sonic Boom Wellness
Along with mental and physical health, Sonic Boom also factors in many employees’ wallet worries. With programs on budgeting and other financial concerns, Sonic Boom goes well beyond the corporate wellness standard.
23. Corporate Fitness Works
As the name implies, Corporate Fitness Works focuses on one main goal: fitness. With a variety of programs and services to keep your employees fit and active, Corporate Fitness Works is a great choice.
24. EliteHealth
With a focus on smoking cessation, stress and time management, and nutrition and fitness, EliteHealth truly lives up to its name. It is perfect for any sized company and was even rated top 10 corporate wellness companies by worth.com.
25. Psocratic
Psocratic is all about customization. Their solutions are designed to be both custom to your business and personalized for each individual employee. Their fun, user-friendly experience recommends activities and provide growth-inspiring tools for your employees.
All of this is deployed with a layer of social connectivity, making their program fun and transparent, while inspiring some friendly competition. Psocratic is also great for orgs of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 100 companies.
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