Employer Strategies

Under health care exchanges, many employees will be selecting benefits previously decided by an employer — providing a chance for brokers and consultants to show their true value, said a panel of experts at the Workplace Benefits Transitions conference December 5.

Buck Consultants estimates the average salary increase in 2013 will be 3%, and two-thirds of surveyed companies plan to focus on retention, not hiring.

The world’s largest computer-services provider will only match defined contributions on Dec. 15 of each year — workers who leave or are fired before that date get nothing. The move could lead to significant savings, but it’s already led to criticism.

The Department of Health and Human Services has laid out 10 categories of benefits that must be included in health insurance plans offered through an exchange.

A report published this week claims there’s no such thing as resistance to aspirin, and that expensive prescription blood thinners may be overused.

A new survey suggests funds spent on holiday office parties could be put to more popular uses – even gym memberships rated higher.

A majority of high-deductible health plan enrollees misunderstand what types of care are applied to their deductible, leading some to avoid preventive physician visits and tests unneccesarily.

The vote by the American Psychiatric Association follows a seven-year debate that split the mental health community over whether the changes will spur over-diagnosis of some autism spectrum disorders, and limit treatment for others.

With health reform moving full steam ahead, most employers will continue to offer employee coverage, but will make alterations to how they provide it, said a speaker at the Workplace Benefits Transitions conference Tuesday.

In a brush up on voluntary, Prudential's Jim Gemus explains the advantages in offering voluntary to you, your clients and their employees in this challenging business environment.