Benefits Think

Many wellness models are based on mythology. Myths like all plans should have disease management, or everyone needs to work on heart disease prevention. How to get past the noise and on to effective interventions? Look closely at your own group – its people, its illnesses, and its work environment.

Commentary: Columnist Mel Schlesinger contends that most brokers aren't actually selling the non-medical insurance products that could help clients and their employees. Simply including them in a proposal is not enough, he says.

Commentary: Columnist Craig Davidson questions whether this was a true resignation or was she a "sacrificial lamb?"

Commentary: Sebelius was in an “unwinnable position," according to the former head of sales and marketing at Covered California, Michael Lujan. The former insurance agent writes that more engagement with the benefits industry would have behooved the troubled health secretary.

Commentary: Required minimum distributions can be tricky. Columnist John Ludwig has tips for advising employees on this topic.

Everyone who has pursued a traditional employee weight loss program knows that results can be unpredictable. Usually, enough employees succeed in losing weight to give the program value. The problem is they often gain it back. While programs are going in the right direction, clearly there is room for improvement.

Commentary: A written business plan is important to thrive in the changing benefits landscape, says columnist Jack Kwicien. Here are some of the uses for such a document.

Wondering whether your plan design is still market competitive? Leading-edge 401(k) and 403(b) plans have the following plan design features in common.

Commentary: Research shows that the financial services industry remains the least trusted business, according to blogger Jerry Kalish. However, people trust business overall to innovate and change, more than the government. Here’s how you can start to build trust back.

Commentary: While voluntary sales continue to rise, billing for these products is turning into a mess, says blogger Tinker Kelly. The concept of self-billing, explained here, can fix this.