|Articles|February 1, 2008

New guidelines influence wellness incentives

HIPAA prohibits group plans from charging higher premiums to individuals due to health status, medical history, genetic information, claims experience, receipt of care or evidence of disability. The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration recently issued guidelines that closed off a loophole that might have allowed employers to charge less healthy workers higher deductibles.


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Eric K. Singhi, M.D., on lung cancer among younger adults
Young-onset lung cancer often strikes nonsmokers, and current screening based on smoking is not likely to find it, says Singhi, an assistant professor at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. New risk-based screening, liquid biopsies, and breath tests aim earlier detection.