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34 | I NSIGH T • O c t o b e r 2 0 15 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m B y M a r y B e t h M a t z e k T here's no doubt that when it comes to choosing health care insurance plans, human resource managers and business owners can find themselves quickly confused. Not only are there seemingly endless rules and regulations in place, there are also questions about cost and who's going to pay for what. "It's a maze out there for business owners," says Chris Hanson of Appleton-based Hanson Benefits Inc., who works primarily with small businesses and individuals on figuring out the path that's right for them. "It's also very confusing since regulations change and vary depending on business size." Insurance headaches Businesses wrestle with higher costs, changing regulations at confusion is rooted in the Affordable Care Act, which extended health care to millions of Americans, but also put in place a multitude of rules and regulations that insurance companies and businesses need to follow. While the ACA opened the door to people who weren't able to purchase affordable insurance previously, it made things more challenging for businesses, Hanson says. Despite the headaches, most employers are sticking with their plans. "I've only had a couple of companies who have just thrown up their hands and said they're not going to offer insurance as a benefit anymore," she says. "Even small employers know they need to offer insurance as a way to compete for workers." omas Schultz, a senior human resources consultant with Schenck SC, hears that too. "Employers see value in offering insurance since it takes stress off employees wondering about what they're going to do," he says. Elena Kambitsi, chief sales and strategy officer for Menasha-based Network Health, says one common solution she hears from businesses is a "buy down" of benefits. at means that companies may be offering plans with a higher deductible, but are also opening Health Savings Accounts to help employees deal with the costs. "We don't know where the bottom is. Is it a $5,000 deductible? A $10,000 deductible? A lot more costs are being transferred to employees," she says. "e challenge is to come up with the best solution to provide employees with the coverage they need at an affordable cost." While some companies may toy with the idea of eliminating plans and offering employees a stipend to buy insurance on the federal exchange, Schultz says that's not a viable option. Thomas Schultz Elena Kambitsi I N S I G H T O N H E A L T H I N S U R A N C E