Jobless claims at 4.43 million in labor rout’s fifth week
The five-week total for unemployment claims reached 26.5 million in the steepest downturn for the U.S. labor market since the Great Depression.
Economy
The coronavirus will make the digital divide even worse
25 million Americans do not have high-speed internet access, and as many as 14 million have no internet access at all.
Employers need to address how inequality affects health
The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions says the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for employers to fight social disparities.
The $90 trillion question is how to get people back to work
The juggling act for policy makers will be to reopen without triggering a second wave of infections that leads to a fresh round of lockdowns and yet more economic damage.
Ways clients can use their tax refund toward retirement: Tax Strategy Scan
For starters, they can use the windfall to pay off debt, shore up their HSAs and build a cash reserve.
Using self-funded health plans to cut costs for company health plans
Employers in three metropolitan areas will have access to the cost-saving health plan.
Apple, Google bring coronavirus contact-tracing to billions of smartphones
The technology is designed to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus by telling users they should quarantine or isolate themselves after contact with an infected individual.
Acquisition simplifies quoting and modeling for self-funded health plans
The tech platform helps producers understand a group’s risk, customize coverage and secure competitive stop loss to match plan designs.
CVS Caremark limits the purchase of essential medication to avoid stockpiling
Drugs used to treat chronic conditions are being tried on coronavirus patients; CVS wants to ensure there’s enough to go around.
Apple tests its secrecy somewhere new: employee homes
The shift from office culture to remote work has been challenging for the hardware-focused company with a passion for secrecy.
U.S. employment plummets, ahead of surge in layoffs
The jobless rate jumped to 4.4% — the highest since 2017 — from a half-century low of 3.5%, and is expected to surge above 10% in the coming months.
Coronavirus fallout is ‘big wake-up call’ for small businesses
As more U.S. states order widespread shutdowns, small companies provide a test case for the bigger challenges in store.
New stimulus package extends unemployment, supports small businesses
Unemployment insurance will cover more workers and be extended to four months, bolstered by $600 weekly.
Businesses are cashing in on the surge of remote workers
Almost overnight, the pandemic has created a booming work-from-home economy as tens of millions of Americans are thrust into setting up home offices on the fly.
Benefits plans are adapting to the demands of a diverse workplace
Employers need to go beyond traditional healthcare to attract and retain top talent, a new report finds.
Advisers should step up when it comes to employee healthcare education
“We need to build health plans that incentivize employees to make better healthcare choices based on quality,” Jim Blachek, CEO of Dynamic Benefit Solutions, says.
Advisers must break away from talking about health insurance
To convince employer clients and prospects of the merits of DPC, advisers must present it in a way that offers a solution to control the total cost of care.
Benefits Think How small businesses can leverage benefits as a recruiting tool
Health care and financial benefit offerings are an opportunity to standout and remain competitive.
Mark Carroll
Trinity Hospice
First Choice prioritizes accessibility through telehealth benefits
The company’s new telemedicine offerings put primary care and behavioral health services at members’ fingertips.
Adviser starts his own firm in a quest for better benefits
Rising Star Alex Dampf left his job at a traditional benefits brokerage firm to start his own business and find new ways to manage benefits.
