Changes in Health Benefits – Sticks and Carrots Add Punch to Consumer-Driven Health Care Plans
MSNBC recently ran a story about an Indiana hospital system that will fine employees who make poor health choices (BMI over 30 will cost $10/week; smoking, cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels will cost $5/week for each), beginning in 2009. That means certain employees could pay up to $30 a week or $1,500 a year as a result. This is a variation on employers with a CDHP that allows employees to buy down the deductible for each good health choice or outcome. Such plans are now available to small businesses in many states.
For all the talk on the left about CDHC not taking off, plans like this will likely be the standard in a few years.