title: Employee contributions for dependent medical coverage: balancing cost, compensation and society.
abstract: This article explores the inception of the employee contribution concept to dependent medical coverage. The author discusses the developments that have occurred in the changing workforce as well as the effects of increasing medical costs. It considers the equity issues of unfair subsidies in medical benefit premiums for dependents. Finally, a potential solution is offered that would replace the multitiered structures available today.
authors.affiliation: William M. Mercer, Inc., Portland, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Orth
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control; D017047:Cost Sharing; D004991:Ethics, Institutional; D005190:Family; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics*; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000592:standards; D012922:Social Change; D014481:United States