[quote=briansd1][quote=AK]Yeah, I guess it’ll drive up costs for employers and policyholders.
[/quote]

Not necessarily. Employers can simply ask for more employee contribution to make up for the cost.

I always felt that married employees with kids were getting unfair benefits. They are getting benefits that cost more than for single employees. Employees with multiple kids are getting more benefits.

I think that employer health care contribution should be the same amount for single or married employees. Anything over and above an amount should be picked up by the employee.

If an employee doesn’t need/use health benefits, he/she should get a commensurate increase in salary, net of taxes benefits.[/quote]

Um, Brian, most health plans from companies do provide a surcharge for families versus singles..

Usually:
1. Single
2. Single + Spouse(no other insurance plan available)
3. Single + Spouse(other insurance plan available)
4. Single + Family (spouse and kid(s), no other insurance plan available)
5. Single + Family (source and kid(s), other insurance plan available)

1-5 are not the same cost for people. Especially #2 and #3 and #4 and #5. The rationale is if the other spouse has her own insurance from her own company, than there should be extra costs to choose to have this insurance plan be her primary versus hers.

The exception to this are Qualcomm employees, who have no insurance premiums to pay. The company is self-insured.(United Healthcare is hired only to administer the self insurance). It’s also nice, since QC folks won’t have to pay for the health insurance surcharges, I think…