Healthcare

In the candid words of Dr. Becky Hoover, interim director of human resources with the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, "mediation works."

When I was a consultant and would present a client with a higher than expected medical renewal - which unfortunately was more the norm than not - one of the first things an employer would do was to consider lowering, or forgoing altogether, its contribution to employees' dental benefits.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that may not show symptoms, and most importantly, no two types of the disease are the same. So, employers may find it difficult to effectively engage and accommodate employees with MS. However, with a comprehensive case management program that also focuses on specialty pharmacy and simple accommodations, employers can foster a welcoming workplace atmosphere while saving on insurance and pharmacy costs.

This is the second article in our Open Enrollment Boot Camp series, in which we are featuring readers' advice for improving this perennial event. The first article focused on OE communications, and is available on our website at ebn.benefitnews.com. Here, we present some of the advice we received from brokers and providers on increasing enrollment in and satisfaction with voluntary benefits.

The flowers are blooming. The mad rush of lost ID cards and questions about new benefits has faded into distant memory. That means that it's time to start planning for next year! Your insurance carriers are calling you to schedule a lengthy meeting to review your annual data from the prior year and attempting sell you additional products and offerings.

Last October, President Obama signed into law the Plain Writing Act, which calls for communications from the federal government that are clear, concise and well-organized. An associate professor of English recently talked to EBN about how employers can incorporate plain language principles into their benefits communications.

Health insurance exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act may pose a threat to COBRA.

Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials audited the popular burrito chain, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., which fired hundreds of illegal workers as a result. Using Chipotle as a cautionary tale, employers cannot turn a blind eye to illegal workers, as Chipotle allegedly did - one woman claims she gave the company two false social security numbers when applying for positions within the company.

The adoption of guaranteed living benefits fell in the first quarter of 2011 to their lowest rate since the third quarter of 2008—and improved confidence in the stock market may be the reason.

Medco Health Solutions Inc. will lose a major pharmacy benefit contract to CVS Caremark Corp. starting next year, sending Medco shares down almost 11% and CVS up nearly 4% Friday.