Reflecting a nationwide trend, Harvard is shifting some of the increasing costs of healthcare to employees, which sparked outrage among faculty, according to The New York Times. The university partially credited the adjusted health benefits to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a law championed by many Harvard experts, the Times notes.
Health economists and policy experts at Harvard have advised lawmakers and presidents about cost-effective healthcare benefits for years. But as noted in the Times article, the same policies — when implemented for Harvard faculty for 2015 — are now causing backlash.
Harvard employees used to pay part of the insurance premium and low out-of-pocket costs for healthcare. Now, the employer-sponsored plan will require employees to pay deductibles of $250 per individual and $750 per family, in addition to copayments. A visit to the physician's office will cost $20 and employees will pay 10 percent of the cost for other healthcare services, up to $1,500 per individual and $4,500 per family, according to the report.
Some professors believe the university exaggerated the growth of healthcare costs, while others believe increased out-of-pocket costs will cause people to defer medical care until serious complications arise, according to the report.
"It seems that Harvard is trying to save money by shifting costs to sick people," Mary C. Waters, PhD, a sociology professor, told the Times. "I don't understand why a university with Harvard's incredible resources would do this. What is the crisis?"
Other professors have come to terms with the new plan.
"The changes in Harvard faculty benefits are parallel to changes that all Americans are seeing," said Meredith B. Rosenthal, PhD, a professor of health economics and policy. "Indeed, they have come to our front door much later than to others."
Nonetheless, despite changes to Harvard's benefits, professors are not getting a raw deal on health insurance. The university plan will still cover 91 percent of healthcare costs for insured employees. Silver plans, the most popular plans on the marketplace, cover 70 percent on average, according to the Times.
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