Healthcare
How to ensure your company makes the most of its benefits dollars
EBN | J.R. Clark | 09/07/2023 Record-setting inflation and general economic uncertainty are causing everyone to exercise caution, including employers. Although some experts suggest the “great resignation” has subsided, the number of Americans who quit their jobs actually accelerated in late 2022. People are leaving their jobs in search of things like better pay, more flexible work arrangements, and increased vacation time. While
Smart healthcare benefits can increase life expectancy by 12 years
Deanna Cuadra | August 3, 2023 | Employee Benefits News In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. life expectancy dropped by over two years to 76.4, the lowest it’s been in two decades. But Americans still have a shot at living longer, healthier lives than previous generations — especially if employers are willing to rethink their approach to healthcare. By 2040, the average
Connecting the dots so benefit initiatives work together
Lydia G. Jilek | July 20, 2023 Employers have focused significant time and energy over the last several years developing benefits programs for employees that support them in critical areas, but how many employees really understand them? And more importantly, how many people truly take advantage of them in the way they were intended? A thoughtfully designed benefits program will
Employees want weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Can employers afford them?
By: Stephanie Schomer | June 21, 2023 A wave of interest in trending weight loss drugs, fueled by headline-dominating celebrity slim-downs, is causing some employers to see their healthcare costs skyrocket. Now, leaders are turning to benefit providers, advisers and innovators to help them quell costs and offer alternative solutions to treat obesity and manage weight. The medications in question, including Ozempic,
What is PCORI filing?
Question: What is PCORI filing? Answer: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to study clinical effectiveness and health outcomes. To finance the institute’s work, a small annual fee—commonly called the PCORI fee—is charged on group health plans. PCORI filing is generally not required for standalone, self-funded dental or vision plans if they are considered “excepted benefits.” A plan
What is COBRA?
Question: What is COBRA? Answer: COBRA is short for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. It’s a federal law that allows certain employees and covered dependents to elect to continue their same group health coverage, at their own cost, when it would otherwise be discontinued because of a qualifying event. These qualifying events include termination or reduction in hours, death of a
More Companies Try To Lure Workers With Benefits
May 16, 2023 | Source: InvestmentNews, by Bloomberg News Over a year of rapid wage growth has U.S. companies turning to enhanced benefits to attract and retain workers. Mentions of employee benefits in job postings on ZipRecruiter soared to the highest rates on record, according to an analysis by the jobs site. A greater share of positions offered benefits like health insurance, paid time off
IRS Gives Big Boost to HSA, HDHP Limits in 2024
May 17, 2023 | Source: SHRM, Kathryn Meyer Thanks in part to persistent high inflation, employees will be able to sock away a lot more money in their health savings accounts (HSAs) next year. Annual HSA contribution limits for 2024 are increasing in one of the biggest jumps in recent years, the IRS announced May 16: The annual limit on