Jumbo Employer to Assess Penalties

From Mercer and Buck Consulting experts:

Almost half of jumbo employers offer financial incentives to employees who complete a health risk assessment. The average incentive is $150. Some employers intend to take that idea a step further and limit the number of coverage options available to employees who opt not to complete an assessment, Domaszewicz said. Others could make risk assessments a condition of having coverage, added Jorge Font, a principal at Buck Consultants who leads the health and productivity consulting practice in the Houston office. Font also spoke at the webinar.

Another growing trend among some large employers is to require that members contact a health coach before non-emergency surgeries. Non-compliance could result in surcharges or substantially higher deductibles. Employers that opt to implement such strategies will need help from their health plan to communicate and administer them, the speakers agreed.