The Hartford Group says its most recent survey indicates that more than 80% of workers would sign up for personalized voluntary disability coverage, given the option. The Hartford says it has a new offering to meet just that need.

Spending on hospital visits, medications and other care grew 3.9% to $2.7 trillion in 2011, matching the slowest growth in 52 years of recordkeeping, according to federal data released this week. Before the 2007 recession, growth was close to 8%.

Health-care spending in the U.S. grew at less than half the pre-recession level for the third straight year, as employers shifted more costs to strapped workers and state governments limited payouts for the poor.

Most employees believe that their employer offers them the best health plan they could, and that they might be at a loss to ensure the same on their own, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

Prescription medications for age-related conditions such as hair loss and mental alertness have been steadily increasing in cost, says benefit manager Express Scripts, surpassed only both those for diabetes and high cholesterol.

Recent Yale study concludes that fructose, as opposed to glucose, has a minimal effect on telling the brain that it’s full, and may contribute the nation’s obesity epidemic.

The biggest U.S. medical insurer is learning to sell health insurance to consumers the way other companies sell shoes, office supplies or iPhones — through a storefront — as PPACA’s sweeping reforms take place.

Brokers may need to be concerned about how a proposed change by the NAIC to the current stop-loss model could essentially trap their clients and remove their options for affordable care – effectively forcing them into state exchanges and eliminating the role of the broker, writes EBA Blogger Sam Fleet.

Globally, those who are slightly overweight and obese have the lowest risks, according to a new U.S. government report, but critics say the study doesn’t take enough other factors, such as disease or nutrition.

After reading research from the Investment Company Institute concluding that defined contribution plans don't "reduce retirement preparedness," EBN Editor Kelley Butler channeled a "Saturday Night Live" skit to offer her perspective.

Experts from Mercer offer up a priority list for benefits providers in 2013. The first one: Prepping for 2014.

The House of Representatives voted late Tuesday night on a Senate-backed plan to avoid the “fiscal cliff” of automatic spending cuts and tax increases. However, 77% of U.S. households will face higher tax rates this year because the deal allowed the payroll tax cut to expire.

United Benefit Advisors recently released the results of its 2012 Health Plan Survey. Since it’s the largest and most comprehensive health plan benchmarking survey in the industry, the results are always interesting, says the company's CEO.

Workplace difficulties faced by the hearing impaired highlight the need for corresponding benefit coverage

Exchange choices mean broker value opportunity

IFEBP research confirms majority will offer insurance coverage in 2014

Insurance Reform

Looking at the Department of Labor’s 408b2 rules six months later.

With PPACA implementation in full swing, NAHU, NAIFA, IIABA, CIAB talk exclusively with EBA on 2012 and looking toward 2013.

EBA Contributor Barry Cohn is being kept busy with questions about MLR reimbursements, with clients wondering what to do or asking how much they would be receiving.