| It began with phasing company funded retirements out | | | | down version generally offers coverage for routine |
| and phasing 401ks in. Now the new trend in corporate | | | | and preventive services with little to no co-payments. |
| America is for employees to purchase their own | | | | Medical visits may be limited to four to five annually, |
| health insurance benefits. In fact, there are some | | | | and benefits may be capped at as little as $2,000 a |
| businesses in Dallas and Houston that have begun | | | | year. If medical services, such as surgery and |
| replacing employer paid healthcare benefits with | | | | hospitalization are involved, they most probably aren't |
| "voluntary" individual coverage. | | | | covered or they also have low benefit caps. |
| Because of the increasing financial burden placed on | | | | While limited-benefit plans are an affordable alternative |
| businesses, from large to medium to small, experts are | | | | to not having health insurance, many people are critical |
| predicting that eventually Texans will have to buy | | | | of these plans because there is a risk of catastrophic |
| many of the health benefits they currently get at little | | | | hospital bills when medical care goes beyond the |
| or no cost through their employer. | | | | policy's offerings. Industry experts recommend this plan |
| In the meantime, it's hard to beat the typical cost of an | | | | only if comprehensive coverage is unaffordable or |
| employee's share of healthcare benefits offered by | | | | can't be obtained through a spouse, parent or another |
| employers. So consumer advocate experts | | | | source. |
| recommend that employees consider the pros and | | | | Other benefits attracting some attention are insurance |
| cons of employer benefits versus individual health | | | | policies that pay cash benefits for specific conditions, |
| coverage. Many experts are advising a move to | | | | such as cancer, heart disease and stroke. These |
| Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, where qualified | | | | policies pay a one-time benefit upon first-time diagnosis |
| high-deductible health insurance policies cover large | | | | if, for example, a worker is diagnosed with skin cancer. |
| medical bills and an investment account is used to | | | | Such a policy pays limited cash benefits for treatments |
| withdraw money tax-free for medical care.. | | | | and nursing care. Consumer groups, as well as financial |
| Another area of voluntary health benefits that's quickly | | | | advisors, recommend not buying these policies to |
| growing is a downsized version of a health plan called | | | | replace a comprehensive medical or disability plan |
| limited-benefit medical insurance. This kind of individual | | | | because of their specificity. These types of policies |
| health insurance is typically offered to part-time or | | | | also have long waiting periods and a variety of |
| temporary workers who aren't eligible for a company's | | | | exclusions for pre-existing conditions. |
| comprehensive group medical benefits. This stripped | | | | |