“Businesses have faced skyrocketing health care costs for several years now, but they are just starting to understand the impact of the Affordable Care Act,”

-Rich McKeown, president and CEO of Leavitt Partners and the chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Health System Reform Task Force.

19992000

20012002

20032004

20052006

20072008

20092010

20112012

$0$2,000$4,000$6,000$8,000

$10,000$12,000$14,000$16,000$18,000

Average Annual Premiums for Covered Workers with Families, 1999-2012

Small FirmsLarge Firms

171% Increase from

1999-2012Small & Large

Firms

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation. 2012 Employer Health Benefits Survey

Major Provisions of Health Care Reform Effective In 2014

• Individual Requirement for Health Insurance (Mandate)• Health Insurance Exchanges• Guaranteed Availability of Health Insurance

– Pre-Existing Conditions Covered– Allows rating variation based only on age, geographic area, family composition, and

tobacco use

• Employer Requirements– Larger employers will have to pay a penalty if they don't provide comprehensive,

affordable coverage to their employees.

Employer’s Toolbox:Practical Steps for Businesses to Control Health Care Costs

Health and Wellness• Workplace Clinics and Biometric Screenings• Self Care• Corporate Health Culture (Wellness Plans)

– Fitness– Nutrition– Obesity– Tobacco-free workplace

“By creating workplace clinics, the company along with its employees have reduced healthcare costs and saved money. Even more impactful however, has been the general improvement of everyone’s health. ”

– Dallin Johns, HR Services Manager

Purchasing Insurance• Defined Contribution Model– Utah Health Exchange

• Self-funded Health Plans

“As a small business owner, our healthcare costs had been increasing significantly each year. We had researched ways to save costs and did not find any good options until we came across the Utah Health Exchange. “ - Rick Walker, The Avenues Courtyard

Information & Transparency • Clinical Health Information

Exchange (cHIE)• UtahHealthScape.org

“Because individuals must affirmatively declare their participation level in the cHIE, Zions Bank has made the decision to educate our employees about the benefits of participation in the cHIE. It’s a small step, but it can save money.” - George Myers, Senior Vice President, HR Director, Zions Bank

Consumer Solutions• Health Savings Accounts & Health

Plans• Health Reimbursement Accounts• Pharmacy Benefit Manager

“Our employees made a seamless transition to the HSA model and they are very enthusiastic about building savings. My employees are also more savvy consumers of health care today than before they were empowered to make their own healthcare decisions.”

- Don Adams, president and CEO, Bear River Mutual

Boiling it all down“The Employer’s Toolbox gives me a look at what other businesses have been able to do to contain their costs. Every solution isn’t for every business, but even implementing some of the steps can help.”

-Ray Pickup, chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors and president

and CEO of Workers Compensation Fund.

Contact• Michael Merrill, Public Policy Coordinator mmerrill@slchamber.com

• Find the Employer’s Tool Box at our website www.slchamber.com