Benefits Think

By steering patients to properly designed plans with the right incentives, employers can show those efforts have the best interest of health plan members in mind.

Rising drug costs are plaguing employers and their workers. These techniques can bring relief.

Core components of an effective benefits package include meaningful health and wellness programs, work-life balance initiatives and professional development.

Updating benefits to include things like automatic enrollment and savings tools can improve employees' financial wellness.

Key strategies include seeding emergency savings to cover six months' worth of expenses with the help of a financial adviser and matching contributions.

Understanding the Letter of Medical Necessity guidelines and process can save valuable time and quicken communication with employees who need them.

FSA, HRA and HSA plan administrators must beware of companies that are misrepresenting which food and wellness expenses can be reimbursed.

Mounting pressure to manage the competing demands of school-related expenses and ensuring a family's long-term financial stability can lead to stress and anxiety.

Making it easier for employees to put money toward the things they need has payoffs for businesses as well.

Creating a work environment that makes this growing segment of the U.S. labor force feel valued and included will help lower turnover and burnish workplace culture.