Just received the rate for the next year’s health premium.  A warping increase of 40%.  The cost of health care is the biggest drag on small businesses’ ability to pay higher wages and expanding.  Health care costs are so unpredictable that a business needs to grow just to cover the increasing expense.  The key to addressing this uncontrollable cost is to create government run large group insurance plans.  I hear Congress is thinking about something in this area.  Let’s make this the next agenda item.

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Tufts set a deadline of February as the date it will stop accepting insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.  It is their way to force the insurer to pay higher rates for their services.  Who is playing fair???

Just last month it was reported that Blue Cross Blue Shield was paying another health care group a much higher premium.

The higher prices do not mean better service, just higher premiums that you must pay.

Reduce the effects of health care costs by selecting affordable health care and not letting the sellers of services use repetition to infer better care and the need to pay higher prices.  Dealing upfront with costs reduces medical debt.  Be an educated consumer and check out these web sites.

ACCESS PROJECT link:

Patient Advocate Foundation link: 

Foundation for Health Coverage Education link: 

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Consumers and businesses make decisions every day that are based on the intake of information,  the processing of the information and when necessary a comparison is made.  The decision making process results in the management of a nonprofit making choices.  The decision making process is similar for a consumer making choices, with the exception that their pricing power is limited as an individual.

The lack of public information in pricing by health care providers and insurers creates a secret system for getting the best service for the best price.  The clarity of definitions of those services that are required to perform a service would make a setting price and publishing those prices much easier for comparison by all.

The fact that individual organizations complain that their rate includes other services not provided by their competitors rate can easily be resolved by having the additional services listed and the note included in the rate.  If the additional service is mandatory that should be clear, since a CHOICE NOT TO RECEIVE THE SERVICE  is not optional.

The competitiveness of the market place requires rates and information.  Until such time as Congress passes legislation to mandate the publication of the information, pricing will always increase.

Congress needs to take advantage of the fact that Medicare and Medicaid are huge purchasers of health care and have defined every procedure, service or item and have been able to price for their level of reimbursement.   If a new service, procedure or item needs pricing, there is a procedure.

Therefore, the publication of rates and information already has the baseline for the lowest price.  Congress should mandate that all entities need to publicly post on line to a federally supported system their pricing.  This federal supported system will automatically load the Medicaid and Medicare rate information.  This will allow the businesses and insurer a stronger tool to create affordable health.

Recently I was able to review some public rate information in the Boston Globe.  The result is that I am seriously looking into a great hospital in Cambridge Massachusetts called Mt. Auburn Hospital.  Their outcomes are equal to the larger more expensive hospitals in my area.  With my deductible and flexible spending plan I will be able to afford more health care for my family by utilizing them.

It pays to compare.   If your looking as a nonprofit organization to stretch those health care employee benefit dollars be proactive in sharing the information with your employees.  An educated consumer is a smarter consumer.

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A means to lower health care costs is to create a focus on preventative services.  There is sufficient strength in the nonprofit sector to work together to promote health care services which are more affordable.

Mobile health care, on site clinics, and scheduling practitioners to go to the work place has shown to save money for health plans in the long run.  Expectation is to reduce overall health care spending by focusing on preventing illness.  Thus, an additional outcome of less illnesses is the increase in productivity.

1. Preventative services should be free
2. Treatment services should carry a co-pay
3. Savings due to services should result in lower premiums.
4. Services should augment primary care provider.

I would suggest nonprofits join and invest in an effort to create a cooperative that is supported by a per employee fee for its members to deliver a base health service to an organization’s employees.  Health care costs are a budget item that organizations need to be in more control of instead of depending on the health care industry to contain costs.

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The Internet has become a leading form of communication.  It will only become even a bigger communication tool when government mandates a free service standard to create open access.

Protecting children from bullying on the Internet has become a crisis for parents.  Human Resource can easier disperse information to its employees to provide helpful tools.   If you have an Employee Assistance Program have this type of communication included in their services.

Below are a few resources to assist organizations to help their community and employees

Stop Cyberbullying:  Defines it, prevention suggestions and legal definitions

Web Site Link:   or Contact:  E-mail: parry@aftab.com or Telephone: 201-463-8663

ConnectSafely.0rg:  Site for forums to take place among teens, parents and experts. You can go to the web site link and send a message or go to a forum and link in and participate.

Cyberbully.org is a site for research, guidance and outreach services on Internet use.  Check out this link.

Help promote the appropriate use of the Internet.

Caucasian

African American

Asian

Hispanic

Indian

Together there is nothing that a diverse group can not over come or accomplish. 

Photos by Lumaxart

I am a Christian

I am a Hindu

I am a Muslim

I am a Baptist

I am a Buddhist

I am a Catholic

I am Evangelical

I am Gay

I am who I am from within. 

Diversity means being open to all regardless of what you can not see.   Fear and not understanding is the fuel that feeds the flame of hate and intolerance.  Diversity training is great way to reduce the fear and unknown. 

Photos by mujitra and dulhana

Thinking of putting a 401(k) in place but don’t know where to start?

Here’s five easy questions (and the answers you should hear) you can ask any provider to find out what 401(k) is right for you:

1.    How much does your 401(k) product cost? Please include fees that come out of participant account as well as the upfront fee I need to pay.

Beware of hidden fees! Many providers don’t disclose annual fees that are calculated on the amount of money you have in a plan.

2.    Do you sell your own investments? If so, what do I need to do to get access to other mutual funds?

It’s your responsibility to provide a range of investments to your employees. Make sure the provider you choose offers different fund types as well as different brands of funds so your employees are properly diversified.

3.    Does your service give me everything I need for a 401(k) plan?

Look for a “bundled” solution. A 401(k) plan generally consists of two parts: making sure your plan is in compliance with the Department of Labor’s guidelines (includes tax filing, compliance testing, etc.) and also the recordkeeping of your employees’ contributions, taking the correct amount out of paychecks, etc. The provider you select should be a one-stop shop that includes both of these features in its service.

4.    How long does it take to set up a plan and what are the steps to do that?

Setting up a 401(k) plan, should take no more than an hour, and maybe a half-hour a month to keep it going. Look for an efficient provider that can provide you with electronic versions of everything. You will save yourself time, as well as some trees!

5.    What type of education will you provide my employees with?

Putting a 401(k) plan in place isn’t enough. You will need to let your employees know it is there and educate them on the benefits. Your 401(k) provider should provide this education and support you in this endeavor.

This article comes to you from The Online 401(k), a provider of 401(k)s for small businesses. For more information or a free consultation on your 401(k) plan, contact John Wasiejko at jwasiejko@theonline401k.com or call us at 415.477.8800 xt 828.

Photo’s in order by DOT. ; Murilo; _ES and dmax3270.

Taking control of your destiny is better than waiting for devine intervention to get you thorough retirement.  I have not heard of any God promising cash to live on. The other aspect of future savings is to not use retirement for emergencies.  Saving for retirement should not involve an internal debate for anyone.   Do not allow a logical delaying choice which place ones future at risk.

Here is a suggestion from On Line 401K:

Sometimes we all need a little boost or push—even when it comes to things that benefit us and are in the best interest of our financial future. Automatic enrollment requires employees to opt out, rather than opt into a 401(k) plan. It compels them to at least reflect on retirement, even if they choose not to participate.

If the contributor chooses not to select an investment strategy, funds are automatically allocated into an appropriate investment, such as a target date mutual fund where the investment platform adjusts accordingly to the target
retirement age for each employee.

What are the benefits of automatic enrollment?

*Increases your employees’ participation
Statistics show that automatic enrollment in a 401(k) plan greatly increases the percentage of participation.

*Encourages saving without thinking
For many, signing up for a 401(k) plan is intimidating – automatic enrollment allows them to save without going through those steps.

If you’re on the fence about putting a retirement plan in place because you’re not sure if your employees will participate, consider automatic enrollment!

This article comes to you from The Online 401(k), a provider of 401(k)s for small businesses. For more information or a free consultation on your 401(k) plan, contact John Wasiejko at jwasiejko@theonline401k.com or call us at 415.477.8800 xt 828.

 Photo by dawnzy58    Photo by Ross Mayfield

• Keeping upon friendships
• Making new friends
• Succumbing to pressure from friends
• Succumbing to pressure from family
• Motivation to accomplish something
• Impulsive
• Hanging out with family
• Being bored
• Being alone
• A good night of sleep

The list could go on and on.  The human species has evolved into a complex social animal.  On one level, interaction has become a built in need and on the other level a need to be distant. 

Regardless of what any of us believe there are two factors important to have.  A balance of sleep and relaxation.  Most individuals will provide excuses for why either of these needs suffer.  

Therefore, if your an employer I challenge your organization to have a better understanding of whether your organization and its needs are healthy to its employees.  Does the way the organization functions adequately support the employees opportunity to obtain the sleep and relaxation they need? 

Knowing the audience called employees only make an employer stronger.