NewsRoom

Put your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Employers that contribute to their employees' health savings accounts achieve higher rates of employee participation with the accounts than those that don't.

Company contributions to HSAs have a dramatic effect on employee adoption of the accounts, boosting penetration rates to over 90%, according to Definity Health and Exante Bank. read more

Employees Respond to Wellness Benefits and Stay on the Job

Workplace wellness programs contribute to harder working employees and employees who want to remain in their current job longer, according to results of survey on employee attitudes toward health benefits by the Principal Financial Group.

Employees not only ask for wellness benefits but take advantage of employer offerings found the results from the Principal's Well-Being IndexSM. As employer wellness programs evolve, employees who are offered these programs are responding by participating at work read more

109th Congress ends with tax extensions, enhanced HSAs

The final day of the 109th Congress was long and active as lawmakers scrambled to pass a series of tax breaks and a massive international trade bill. The Senate cleared the massive tax package around 4 a.m. on Dec. 9 before final adjournment; the House had finished work on the bill and had adjourned about an hour before.

The final flurry of activity, which began early on Dec. 8, left many political analysts poring over the tax and trade bills... read more

Wal-Mart to launch cheaper health plan

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Monday it is launching a plan to lower health-insurance premiums for workers, allowing some to buy coverage for as little as $11 per month.

The world's largest retailer has been under criticism for not offering health coverage to enough workers and for high costs to employees... read more

Bush Promotes Health Savings Accounts

President Bush laid out a plan yesterday for reducing the nation's spiraling health care costs, proposing tax credits to encourage expansion of health savings accounts and calling for allowing small businesses to pool together for health coverage across state lines.

Speaking before an audience that included Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Bush said market forces hold the key to moderating the cost of health insurance... read more

Fact Sheet: Health Savings Accounts: Affordable and Accessible Health Care

Today, President Bush Discussed His Agenda To Make Health Care More Affordable And Accessible By Expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The President discussed how HSAs are giving Americans more control over their health care costs and decisions and are helping businesses make health care more affordable and accessible for employees.

Health Savings Accounts: The Basics

What Are HSAs? Established by the Medicare reform bill President Bush signed into law in December 2003, HSAs allow Americans to save tax-free dollars to pay for near-term medical expenses... read more

Health Savings Accounts shot in arm

America spent more than $1.9 trillion on health care in 2004 -- about 16 percent of our nation's gross domestic product and nearly double what most industrialized countries spend. Health care spending has been growing at more than twice the rate of inflation. And many households -- more than 40 million Americans -- have absolutely no health insurance.

No financial crisis in America has the potential to so completely undermine our economy. Our future depends on finding a solution... read more