It s not a risk many employers will take in a tight labor market. A strong economy discourages defcom. Even double-digit cost increases are insufficient to drive change while the economy thrives and talent is scarce. Let the bottom weaken. Liability and lawsuits.
Legal liability counts too.
Changes in federal legislation that allow managed care members to sue their health plans and possibly the employers who selected them for healthcare decisions that produced undesired outcomes could send employers racing into the arms of change. Carlson Companies of Minneapolis, MN, a global leader in the travel, hospitality and marketing sectors whose branches employ about 188,000 employees worldwide, has successfully initiated a precursor to defcon in the Twin Cities area that may be the next model for national change. Care systems are self-contained provider units, including a hospital, clinics, primary care physicians and specialists with no provider overlap among systems from which a patient receives healthcare. Senior Director of Employee Benefits Charles Montreuil says Carlson contributes about 80 percent of the low-cost group coverage category. Each year, that amount is available to 4,100 eligible Carlson employees in Minneapolis who can spend it, along with their own contribution, on any of the nearly 30 care systems available.