In a recent Modern Healthcare editorial, writer Merrill Goozner poses the question, "Is the era of healthcare cost control ending?" With the individual mandate dead, the Independent Payment Advisory Board shuttered, and Congress in no apparently hurry… more »

A new Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement (NRHI) report highlights the wide disparity of health care costs in U.S. states, with average costs ranging from 17% above comparable populations in Colorado to 16% below in Maryland. The report notes… more »

In recent years, U.S. health care spending has slowed significantly compared to the double-digit cost spikes we saw a decade ago. But there’s still room for improvement, so MedBen uses multiple containment strategies to keep client claim costs under… more »

Among the distinctive features of the MedBen reporting package is a series of reports that examine a group's "care gap." The idea behind a care gap measurement is straightforward: Individuals who get recommended exams and follow their doctor’s advice… more »

MedBen's claims surveillance system, which screens and selects claims for specialist review, saved clients, on average, an additional 38% per selected claim in 2017... savings produced after network discounts are applied, but before claims are paid.… more »

To our customers, consultants, and brokers: Welcome to 2018! For MedBen, the coming year carries a special significance, as we will celebrate our 80th anniversary in May. As with any benchmark anniversary, it gives us a chance to look back at how we’ve… more »

MedBen Vice President of Compliance & Chief Privacy Officer Caroline Fraker will serve as Board Secretary/Treasurer of the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators (SPBA) for the 2018 year. Fraker joined the board in 2015. As… more »

With all the uncertainly in the fully-insured market nowadays, it's little wonder that the popularity of self-funding continues to grow. Today, nearly 70% of U.S. employees are covered under employer-funded plans, as more businesses are seeing for… more »

Medical plan trend has kept stable over the last few years. Even so, MedBen has consistently remained under national trend by emphasizing the highest driver of plan costs – claims. According to the 2018 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey, medical… more »

MedBen Vice President of Compliance & Chief Privacy Officer Caroline Fraker was among the session moderators at the Society of Professional Benefit Administrators (SPBA) Fall Conference on September 13-15, 2017. Fraker has served as a SPBA board… more »

MedBen cost containment technology, coupled with professional analysis, is saving a MedBen client almost $100,000 annually. Recently, MedBen's claim surveillance system flagged a claim from a hospital billing for an injectable specialty drug to treat a… more »

The health care landscape may continue to shift, but MedBen remains focused on providing clients with cost-effective, employer-directed administrative services. In our 2017 MedBen Client Report, we look at the various way we're working with employers to… more »

In September of 2007, MedBen introduced to its self-funded clients an advanced surveillance system that took claims management to a higher level. And nearly 10 years later, our clients continue to realize significant savings from this system, which… more »

The elimination of lifetime maximums on self-funded health plans has led to a spike in multi-million dollar claims... and an even greater need for the claims management solutions provided through MedBen. According to the 2017 Sun Life Stop-Loss Report,… more »

Adding vision benefits to a group health care plan sends a positive message to employees and serves as a useful retention tool, a recent survey reveals. According to the Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey (via BenefitsPRO), an overwhelming… more »

Through effective claims management and intelligent plan design, cost trend for MedBen clients in 2016 was only 3.9%. And from 2012 to 2016, client cost trend averaged just 3.5% over the five-year period. But there's more to the story. MedBen clients… more »

The MedBen stop-loss captive save clients money while reducing financial risk, says Jay Ritchie, Executive Vice President of Tokio Marine HCC. Speaking at the 2017 Employer Roundtable on May 11, Ritchie noted that the success of MedBen's captive is… more »

High cost claimants are among the leading contributors to health care spending, topping even medical inflation, pharmaceuticals and specific diseases. A study from the American Health Policy Institute and Leavitt Partners found that claimants who cost… more »

The 15th Annual MedBen Hospital Roundtable, held at the C. Arthur Morrow Conference Center in Newark, Ohio on March 23, gave attendees the chance to review hospital health plan usage trends and compare their plan costs to those of other hospital groups.… more »

Two MedBen University industry-specific roundtables are just days away... so if you've been thinking of attending, now is the time to register! On Thursday, March 23, MedBen will host the 15th Annual Hospital Roundtable, sponsored by ISU Stop-Loss.… more »