How ExxonMobil Employees Can Manage HealthCare Cost Increases

In the current economic landscape, ExxonMobil and other U.S. employers are anticipating a significant surge in health insurance costs in 2024, the highest in over a decade. This forecast, outlined by leading healthcare consultants including Mercer, Aon, and Willis Towers Watson, predicts an increase in employer healthcare costs by 5.4% to 8.5%. This escalation is attributed to factors such as medical inflation, a spike in demand for expensive weight-loss medications, and the growing availability of high-priced gene therapies.

A detailed survey by Mercer, a division of Marsh McLennan, revealed that over two-thirds of employers are not planning to transfer these increased costs to their employees. Instead, they aim to absorb the higher expenses or pass on a smaller portion of the rise. This approach is influenced by a desire to mitigate the financial burden on employees, who are already grappling with broader inflationary pressures. As Beth Umland, Mercer's director of health & benefits research, notes, employers recognize the value of health benefits in retaining their workforce during these challenging times.

Despite a decrease in U.S. consumer price inflation from a peak of 9.1% in June of the previous year to 3.7% in the 12 months through August, medical costs typically lag behind general inflation. This delay is due to the pre-arranged nature of contracts between insurers and hospitals regarding procedure pricing.

Benefit consultants play a crucial role in shaping insurance plans for ExxonMobil as well as other medium and large employers, with approximately two-thirds of U.S. workers receiving benefits through such plans. Major insurers like UnitedHealth, Centene, Cigna, and Elevance, which administer these employer insurance plans, have refrained from commenting on this development.

A significant component of the projected increase in healthcare costs, as per Aon's analysis, is attributed to weight-loss drugs, accounting for 1 percentage point of the 8.5% rise. The demand for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, approved for obesity treatment, and the off-label use of diabetes drugs like Novo's Ozempic and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro for weight loss, has seen a remarkable upsurge.

The approval of nearly half a dozen gene therapies in the United States, most costing over $1 million, poses another substantial cost factor for employers. Treating even a single employee with gene therapy can considerably inflate a company's healthcare expenses.

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To combat these rising costs, employers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to reduce administrative expenses. Additionally, there is heightened scrutiny over coverage for costly therapies. Employers and insurers are identifying more cost-effective hospital networks for specific procedures. As Janet Faircloth, senior vice president of Aon's health innovation team, explains, incentives are being offered to employees who choose less expensive healthcare options.

This evolving landscape highlights the complexities and challenges faced by employers in managing healthcare costs while ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of their workforce.

Reporting by Khushi Mandowara and Leroy Leo in Bengaluru; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot.

An important consideration for ExxonMobil employees is the impact of Medicare on managing these rising healthcare costs. As of 2023, Medicare does not typically cover the full cost of newer, high-priced treatments like gene therapies, which are becoming increasingly relevant. According to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) published in December 2023, individuals over 60, many of whom are nearing or have entered retirement, could face substantial out-of-pocket expenses for these advanced treatments. This factor is crucial in financial planning for healthcare, especially for those transitioning from employer-provided insurance to Medicare.

Navigating the rise in healthcare costs in 2024 is akin to steering a ship through increasingly turbulent waters. Just as a captain must contend with sudden swells and unpredictable currents, employers and ExxonMobil retirees must now maneuver through the challenges of medical inflation, the high demand for costly weight-loss medications, and the advent of expensive gene therapies. The anticipated 5.4% to 8.5% increase in healthcare costs is a wave that employers are trying to ride out, much like a seasoned sailor uses skill and strategy to keep their vessel steady. They're working to absorb some of the financial shocks themselves, to protect their crew - the employees - from the brunt of the storm. This situation calls for careful planning and foresight, much like charting a course through treacherous seas, especially for those nearing retirement who must consider how these changes affect their future healthcare plans.