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Aetna Health Savings Account
Aetna combines PPO with health savings account
By Angela Gonzales
Aetna Inc. has combined a preferred provider organization
with an employer-funded health savings account to expand consumer choice and
decision making.
Called Aetna HealthFund, it features a savings account that can be rolled
over at the end of the year with remaining funds going toward covered services
in subsequent years. The concept of medical savings accounts is not new, but
managed care companies have not been quick to embrace them.
Golden Rule Insurance Co., a traditional indemnity insurer, has been leading
the MSA effort nationwide.
"Aetna HealthFund is the first plan of its type to be offered by a national,
full-service health benefits company," said Ronald Williams, Aetna's chief of
health operations.
Annual PPO deductibles are expected to range from $1,500 to $3,000. The
employer-funded health savings account maximums are expected to range from $500
to $1,000 or higher.
Employers also may choose to offer a flexible spending account, which the
employee can fund with pre-tax dollars, in addition to the employer-funded
savings account. The flexible accounts usually are earmarked for services
excluded from traditional coverage, such as out-of-pocket costs, deductibles and
coinsurance.
Hospital within a hospital
Scottsdale Healthcare has agreed to lease 29 beds to Select Medical Corp. at
its Osborn campus, creating a "hospital within a hospital."
Plans call for moving into the new space, formerly occupied by Osborn's
skilled nursing facility, in November.
Mechanicsburg, Pa.-based Select Medical Corp. operates 58 inpatient long-term
acute care hospitals throughout the country.
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