According to the 2011 survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, there was a 118 percent increase in the average family premium for covered employees of large businesses and a 103 percent increase for small business firms noted over the past decade. The survey revealed that in Tennessee, only 51 percent of businesses offer health coverage to their employees. The main reason not all businesses are providing health benefits to their workers is because the increasing cost is too much to handle.However, there are two great tips that employers can utilize to reduce their health care costs and bring down Tennessee health insurance premiums.Health Savings Accounts And Health Reimbursement Arrangements For EmployersThe first tip that employers can use is to look into Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Health Savings Accounts were first introduced to the market in 2004. To set up an HSA, you need a qualified high-deductible health plan. Individuals must have a deductible of at least $1,200 while family coverage must have a minimum deductible of $2,400. As for the cost of HSA plans, premiums have risen at a rate of one third to one half that of traditional Tennessee health insurance plans.In a study conducted by United Benefit Advisors, in 2005 alone, more than 12,000 employer-provided health insurance plans were released. The study also pointed out that the cost of all health plans combined increased an average of 9.6 percent, while only a 3.4 percent rise was seen for HSA plans.A similar survey was done by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions the following year and results show that from 2004 until 2005, the cost of Health Savings Accounts rose by an average of 2.8 percent compared to a 7.3 percent increase for all health care plans combined.Health Savings Account plans also extends its help to employees when it comes to out-of-pocket costs linked with the plans’ deductibles. Many employers are discovering that they are allowed to fund their employees’ HSA plans with the money saved on HSA plan premiums. The money your employer places in your savings account is forever yours whether you leave or lose your job. You have the option to withdraw your HSA dollars tax-free to pay for qualified health care expenses. You may even simply grow your HSA and use the funds when you retire.The second tip for employers is Health Reimbursement Arrangements. This is not relatively known, but it can help increase tax savings. When you have an HRA, employers can reimburse you for medical care costs such as dental and vision services. TN health insurance premiums can also be reimbursed. With an HRA, more health care expenses can be deducted from your annual tax income than would otherwise be allowed.You are allowed to combine a Health Reimbursement Arrangement as long as you do not use it to reimburse expenses meant for Health Savings Accounts. The deadline to establish an HRA to make the 2012 tax deductions is on December 31, 2011.

If you know anyone who is suffering from anxiety, you are aware of how much it impacts their lives. It influences every aspect of their being: from concentration to personal relationships and even their sense of self-worth.

Fortunately, there are ways to beat anxiety. Not all strategies work for everyone because different people have different triggers and responses to stressors. However, regardless of personal taste or preferences, there is something here for every reader to adopt and implement.

Change Your Thinking

A lot of the time, anxious thoughts are just the product of outdated habits or assumptions. You may be retriggering old anxieties or insecurities that aren’t as applicable to your life as they were before. You may not be aware that your anxiety is a product of insecure or pessimistic thinking.

Start by asking yourself some questions:

● What do you think will go wrong?

● What are your worst-case scenarios?

● What are your expectations?

● Are they realistic and healthy?

● What’s the biggest thing you’re worried about right now?

● Is it a legitimate cause for concern?

● What evidence do you have to support that idea?

● Are there other possible explanations?

Meditate

There are a lot of benefits associated with meditation, but one of the most understated is its ability to help with anxiety. Meditation is an excellent way to help you get back in touch with your body and what is happening inside. It can help you identify when and why you’re feeling anxious.

When you start to meditate, you’ll notice thoughts entering your mind from time to time. This is normal. The goal isn’t to kill all of your thoughts but rather to acknowledge them, accept them, and then let them go.