Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management

    Report: Job Benefits Burden to Fall on Workers

    By
    Deborah Rothberg
    -
    December 29, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      2007 will bring greater expectations of responsibility and self-financing of benefits for U.S. workers, according to a report issued Dec. 28 by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a Washington-based global consulting firm.

      Among the health care benefit trends predicted in the report is an increased focus on HDHPs (high-deductible health care plans) coupled with reimbursement arrangements such as a health savings account.

      One-third of the large employers surveyed in the report said they planned to incorporate HDHPs into their 2007 packages, although few appeared to replacing their current plans entirely with HDHPs.

      More benefits information and tools will be online in 2007, the report predicts, as Web-based systems allow employees to model the best choices for them, such as picking the best provider by reviewing online report cards grading quality of care.

      Employers are expected to loosen their requirements that employees use generic drugs whenever possible in 2007, as more popular prescription drugs come off patent and their prices are reduced.

      The report asserts that there will be growth in the number of on-site clinics in the workplace that provide easy access to health care.

      “The move to consumer-oriented health care programs will continue, and it will evolve to include more than just high-deductible health plans and health savings accounts,” said Ted Nussbaum, director of group and health care consulting at Watson Wyatt, in a statement.

      “Employers will take these efforts to the next level by targeting strategies at specific segments of health care users and using data on provider quality to help employees effectively control health care costs.”

      Predictions of trends in 2007 retirement plans include an increase in companies taking another look at cash-balance plans and other hybrid models as the PPA (Pension Protection Act) and new pension accounting rules are implemented.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifClick here to read about high hopes for the job market in January.

      More companies are also expected to consider alternatives to pensions such as private equity, hedge funds, infrastructure and real estate, in reviewing their investment strategies.

      “Theres good news for pensions as the number of pension plan freezes slows and funding continues to improve,” said Alan Glickstein, senior retirement consultant at Watson Wyatt.

      “After years of regulatory uncertainty and high volatility, plan sponsors are once again offering their employees a much more predictable future. And with the new plan design and investment options available, we can expect employers to continue assessing how to best match their plans with the companys long-term goals.”

      /zimages/4/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis on IT management from CIOInsight.com.

      Deborah Rothberg
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×