GivingThanks.jpg
Unrecognizable businessman using laptop with digital business interface. Technology and innovation concept. 3D Rendering
peshkova - stock.adobe.com
Sure, it’s not always smooth sailing for employee benefits — after all, they can be costly, confusing and difficult to administer. But there are a lot of good things, too.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s consider the positive aspects of employee benefits. From perks that help employees get better medical care and help them pay off student loans to rising balances in health savings accounts, here are 12 benefit trends to be grateful for.
28. Corporate recruiter.jpg
Beautiful female manager listening to businessman at workplace
AIMSTOCK/Getty Images
Empathetic and hard-working corporate employee benefit professionals who never tire of explaining to employees the differences between various medical plan offerings.
hsa.jpg
Health savings accounts with their triple tax benefit: Contributions are either pretax or tax-deductible, typically grow tax-free and can be withdrawn without incurring taxes when used toward qualified medical expenses.
6. Encourage.jpg
Three colleagues meeting with using laptop
Tom Merton/Getty Images
Employee assistance programs that help employees through hard times — and help hard-working benefit professionals recover from open enrollment season.
2. Online education.jpg
sturti/Getty Images
Online enrollment systems that provide ease of enrollment, data transmittal and records for all employee choices.
p19jjsdgsuut91399hgh1q131alua.jpg
The arrival of medical and dental insurance cards that reassure all employees that they really are enrolled in the plans.
7. HSA payments.jpg
Close up photo of a stethoscope on top of a stack of United States cash.
doug4537/Getty Images
Seeing rising balances in health savings accounts. According to research this month from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 95% of HSAs with individual or employer contributions in 2017 ended the year with funds to roll over for future expenses. The average balance at the end of 2017 was $2,764, up from $1,873 at the beginning of the year.
Doctor.Office.Bloomberg.jpg
Caring medical providers and pharmacists who remind participants that they must use the current insurance cards to access their benefits.
401k-401(k)-retirement
The increase in 401(k) maximum contributions for 2019: The IRS said it is increasing the pre-tax contribution limits for employees who participate in a 401(k), 403(b) and most 457 plans to $19,000 from $18,500. For participants ages 50 and over, the additional 401(k) catch-up contribution limit, which is set by law, will stay at $6,000 for 2019. Read more here.
p19daq0ua115lv5uros1b591issb.jpg
The increase in the maximum contribution amounts permitted to go into a health savings account. The 2019 annual HSA contribution limit for individuals with single medical coverage is $3,500, an increase of $50 from 2018. For HSAs linked to family coverage, the 2019 contribution limit will rise by $100, to $7,000, above the family cap set for 2018.
College.Student.jpg
Latin descent girl waits in line during college graduation ceremony. She looks at camera with a big smile as she wears a black cap and gown.
fstop123/Getty Images
The creation of products that address the varied needs of employees — from medical plans to student loan repayment programs to pet insurance.
5. Wellness.jpg
Wellness champions who encourage their colleagues to join the wellness program (and help them get healthier in the process!).
2. HDHP.jpg
More employees requesting HDHP/HSA plans. Health savings accounts are rising in popularity as more employers turn to high-deductible health plans as a means of saving themselves and their employees’ money on healthcare.
MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS