Healthcare in the workplace is something Utah business owners are struggling to provide and it's
something Utah workers are afraid to lose.
At Richter 7, a local advertising and public relations firm, creativity is the heart of the business. The last
thing executive vice president Peggy Lander wants are employees distracted by things like health
insurance. But this fall, Lander found herself staring at significant increases to keep the benefits up.
To provide medical insurance, Richter 7 decided to switch to a plan with much higher deductibles, and a
Health Savings Account benefit. The option cuts employers costs significantly, and gives employees
financial flexibility.
It's the kind of idea the Salt Lake Chamber wants to give other small-to-medium Utah businesses through
a website link called the Employer's Toolbox. This website gives options on how to deal with wellness,
costs and solutions. Industry insiders like Steve Neeleman helped develop it through a special Salt Lake
Chamber task force.
Rich McKeown, also on the task force, points out there are many options on the site in an ever-changing
healthcare environment. Using HSA's provides tax advantages, is consumer focused, and saves money.
McKeown says, "This is not a panacea. This is an incremental step to provide information to employers as
they contemplate new health insurance options." KSL
