Kicking the crap out of the benefits world, one test at a time

I kicked the crap out of my first Certified Employee Benefits Specialist exam today.  Group Health Plan Design: I OWN YOU.

I own you so much that I can tell my readers:

• It’s generally thought of as a bad thing when people who actually need insurance sign up for it; so much so that this concept is referred to as Adverse Selection.

• Your (stupid) Wellness Program only has to be HIPAA compliant if you offer incentives based on health status related factors.

• Insurance is similar to gambling, except that when gambling you actually have a chance of gaining something.

• People in these categories cost a lot more than their counterparts when it comes to dental insurance: older people, women, those in large metropolitan areas, those who make a decent salary & white collar workers.

• The Mental Health Parity Act has largely failed to accomplish it’s objectives because 87% of complying health plans evaded the spirit of the law by using day and visit limits to maintain unequal benefit levels for mental versus physical disorders.

YAY!

Group Benefits Management: You’re on notice as next in line.  I’ll be seeing you.

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