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There's a LOT to know about insurance. So, whether you've got a specific question or just want the 411 on what we do, click around on the articles below.
Health Care Costs Projected to Grow 7% in 2024
Health care costs are expected to grow 7% in 2024 due to rising pharmaceutical expenses driven by specialty drugs and insurers increasing rates in response to inflation, according to an annual report from professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This trend is higher than 2022’s and 2023’s projected medical cost rates, which were 5.5% and 6%, respectively.
Report: Employers Failing to Improve Health Care Literacy
Fewer employees are confident that they understand how their health care plans work in 2023 than last year, according to the 2023 Healthcare Literacy Report by benefit solutions provider Optavise. Notably, this confidence is linked to satisfaction; 90% of employees who said they were extremely confident they understood their plan reported plan satisfaction, compared to just 13%-14% of employees who weren’t confident at all.
The Benefits of Direct Primary Care for Employers
Having a primary care physician is one of the most important things an individual can do for their health, as it helps ensure they receive regular check-ups, aids in preventive care and allows for intervention before more intensive treatment is required. However, according to a recent study by nonprofit organization Kaiser Family Foundation, 17% of women and 28% of men in the United States don’t have a primary care physician.
Record Number of Americans Delayed Medical Care in 2022 Due to Cost
The annual Gallup poll found that a record number of Americans postponed medical care last year. In the survey, 38% of respondents said they or a family member postponed care in 2022, compared to 26% in 2021. The 2022 percentage is the highest figure since Gallup began tracking Americans’ postponed medical care in 2001.
President Biden Discusses Employee Benefits and the Workplace in State of the Union Address
On Tuesday, Feb. 7, President Joe Biden delivered the 2023 State of the Union (SOTU) address. The SOTU address is an annual speech the president delivers near the beginning of each year, outlining how the country is doing and identifying future initiatives the current administration wants to pursue.