2008 HSA Plan Design and Contribution Limits
|
Individual |
$1,100.00 |
Minimum Deductible |
Family |
$2,200.00 |
|
Individual |
$5,600.00 |
Maximum out of Pocket |
Family |
$11,200.00 |
|
Individual |
$2,900.00 |
Maximum Contribution |
Family |
$5,800.00 |
|
|
|
55+ Catch up Conribution |
|
$900.00 |
Public supports lower premiums for healthy lifestyles
A majority of Americans support higher health insurance premiums, deductibles and copayments for people engaged in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, overeating and being sedentary, reveals a recent survey from the Wall Street Journal and Harris Interactive. The new numbers reveal a shift in attitudes among health-conscious adults towards individuals with unhealthy habits.
Roughly 53% of U.S. adults feel it's fair to ask people with unhealthy lifestyles to pay higher premiums than people with healthier lifestyles, up from 37% in 2003, while 32% consider that unfair, down from 46% in 2003. Similarly, 53% of U.S. adults agree it's fair to charge people with unhealthy lifestyles higher deductibles and copays, up from 36% in 2003, while 30% state that is unfair, down from 47% in 2003. A healthy lifestyle was described as exercising regularly, eating healthy foods and not smoking.
"As health care costs continue to rise, more consumers can see the
logic of giving employees who make healthier choices a break," says
John Shull, chief executive of Tennessee-based Gordian Health Solutions,
a disease management firm. "Most chronic illnesses are tied to lifestyle-driven
choices, such as poor diet, lack of exercise or smoking. When offered a
choice of lower health care premiums, along with the programs and health
coaching to help them succeed in living a healthier life, employees have
all the right reasons to make changes."
Employers talk, don't walk when it comes to retirement education
New research shows that while the majority of employers know that retirement education is important and they know their workers could sorely use it, only the tiniest fraction of companies actually offer it regularly.Aon Consulting's survey or more than 1,000 U.S. companies earlier this year shows that 76% say retirement education is important, but just 1% actually offer it on a regular basis. What's more, just 19% of employers think their workers fully understand how to invest. The bulk of employers, 63%, say their employees have some understanding of investment principles. The remainder think their plan participants have little or very little knowledge about how to invest.
"Companies need to ensure [their retirement information] answers the basic questions all employees ask," Crawford says. Questions such as, how much do I need? How much will I have? Am I on track? And, if I am off track, what do I need to do to get on again?
The survey also shows that 85% of employers offer 10 or more investment options in their defined contributions plans. The same percentage allows workers to borrow from their plans. Slightly more, 90%, offer participants web-based retirement planning tools, while 58% offer participants personalized advisor-based tools.
Despite recognizing the mounting challenges facing their workforces on retirement, 80% of employers surveyed foresee no modification of their plan in the near future.