title: Spousal surcharge programs--an overview.
abstract: Spousal surcharge programs help employers whose goal is to provide "above-average" health benefit plans by limiting the potential "financial leakage" liabilities from covering the spouses of employees who are eligible for other health care coverage. Spousal surcharge programs are just one alternative available to help employers manage the rising cost of providing health care coverage to dependents. This article explores the prevalence, plan design, financial implications, administrative and other considerations in implementing a spousal surcharge program.
authors.affiliation: Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Hudson A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D017047:Cost Sharing; D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D018454:Spouses; D014481:United States