| Many economists have suggested and | | | | be required to increase their |
| recent economic data indicates that the | | | | contribution amount. A vast majority of |
| economy is steadily moving in the right | | | | employees understand the current strain |
| direction. A combination of several | | | | facing employers. Employees are |
| factors has no doubt had a negative | | | | particularly aware of the difficulties |
| impact on the economy over the last | | | | faced by medium and small business |
| several years.The recent state of the | | | | owners.If you find that plan changes are |
| economy, combined with the increasing | | | | inevitable, several aspects are very |
| cost of healthcare, has made it | | | | important to pay attention to when |
| difficult for all size employers to | | | | modifying your group health insurance |
| continue to offer the same level of | | | | coverage. Modify the parts of your plan |
| employee benefits. In the case of | | | | that provide a savings while having the |
| health insurance, future plan | | | | least impact on your employees. Make |
| modifications may be necessary over the | | | | sure the changes are fair to both the |
| next few years.After much consideration, | | | | employer and employee. Develop and |
| these modifications may take the form of | | | | execute a strategy that clearly |
| increasing deductibles, out of pocket | | | | communicates the plan changes as well as |
| maximums, office visit copays, and | | | | the reasons for the changes. |
| prescription copays. Employees may also | | | | |