News/Blog

The Donald Trump administration recently made a decision on healthcare that could effectively change how small groups offer medical insurance to their employees forever. On June 19th, 2018, the Trump administration ruled in favor of expanding access to Association Health Plans for healthy individuals. So what exactly is an Association Health Plan?   Association Health Plans (AHP) encourage healthy…

Depending on which source is referenced, healthcare expenses have been increasing anywhere from 6-12% on average year over year.  We see employers getting hit with an unexpected 20% plus renewal that sets that company back for the upcoming year.  Surely, employers are unable to continue and absorb these costs.  Instead, these costs have been passed…

On average, there are two dependents for every subscriber on a medical plan. When self-funded employers allow employee’s dependents on their medical plans, they accept the risk that comes with the dependent’s claims. For fully insured groups, carriers will often investigate the legitimacy of a dependent when that dependent files a major claim – and…

When it’s two in the morning and your child is sick, it’s natural to think of a trip to the emergency room as the only way to receive immediate care. But a $300 copay for the ER doesn’t have to be your only option – with the utilization of telemedicine, it can become your last…

The new necessity in employee benefits is workplace wellness. Eighty-three percent of our employer partners believe wellness programs are absolutely necessary to attract and retain employees. Amidst an economy with record highs of employment, every perk an employer can offer solidifies the relationship with top talent – queue corporate wellness programs. Companies in various industries…

With the cost of healthcare rising about 8.5% each year, employers must embrace creative solutions – or face extinction. By introducing risk management solutions, it helps employers not only protect their bottom line, but also anticipate the consequences of cost shifting to employees. Direct Primary Care (DPC) is a new, innovative solution that helps empower…

Pharmaceutical related costs make up a third of all health care costs. Naturally, many employers are now looking for creative solutions to help curb these costs and gain transparency to identify savings. Axion has developed partnerships with companies that can provide a solution for this: Pharmacy Carve Out Programs. A pharmacy carve out program is…

Surgery costs represent the single largest component of United States health care spending at approximately $700 billion, or 31% of the total annual health care spend.  Much of this cost is passed on to self-funded employers who continue to see their health care spend, especially spend related to surgery, skyrocket.   Beginning in 2018, Axion…

Has your strategy for communicating benefits to your employees evolved in the past several years? If the answer is no, you are missing an important aspect of your overall benefits strategy.   Axion is impacting mid-market employers by implementing a market-driven approach to communications. What is this approach?   In the past, benefits communications were…

What is your risk tolerance? Many would argue they are either risk-seeking or risk-averse – you’re either all in or you’re not, 0 or 100% tolerant. When it comes to the traditional models of employer healthcare insurance, funding arrangements are the same: you’re either fully insured or self-funded. When you’re self-funded, you take on more…