“In 2018, per-employee net claim costs for our municipality block decreased 4.9% from 2017,” announced MedBen Vice President of Sales & Marketing Brian Fargus at the 13th Annual Municipality Roundtable on April 11. This reduced cost factors both medical and pharmacy claims.
Considering pharmacy alone, in 2018 MedBen municipality clients realized a 9.3% cost reduction in Rx claims per member. The drop coincided with the introduction of MedBen Rx, pharmacy programs that pay claims based on actual drug costs.
Fargus also highlighted the positive effect of direct-to-employer contracting on lowering plan costs: “Municipalities that used direct-to-employer contracting in 2018 saved, on average, an additional $1,500 per employee per year.” Nearly one in five health plans now contract directly with hospitals and physicians to reduce care costs.
MedBen will be conducting additional MedBen University sessions in 2019 that examine claims and utilization trends, including our annual Employer Benefits Roundtable in Newark, Ohio. Invitations for this event, which focuses on self-funded private sector businesses, have been mailed out, so keep an eye out for yours!