Employee benefits

Without taking a more aggressive approach to improving patient safety, any reform efforts, including the initiatives generated by the Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act and multiple private sector projects, will be severely compromised.

The pilot put together by Ford, the Detroit-based UAW and union trust originates from the four-year contract struck between the automaker and union in 2011 and emulates a similar program used by Boeing Co. Workers and retirees will be invited to the program by their doctor and will be assigned a personal care nurse at no additional cost to the patient.

Five action steps recommended at pension summit.

Both genders trying to play catch-up on savings. Analysis also shows significant differences in attitudes across age bands.

The Supreme Court’s decision striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act is being hailed as a huge victory for same-sex couples, but the ruling makes benefits administration for employers even more complicated than before.

A new report suggests young and low-wage workers will face the greatest challenges in terms of health care eligibility and cost. Among employees under age 30, only half participated in their employer’s health benefits program in 2013, compared to 70% of employees age 40 and older, according to the 2013 ADP Annual Health Benefits Report.

Enrollment in private health insurance exchanges will likely match the public exchanges by 2017, when about 18% of Americans are expected to purchase their plans through the HIX model, according to Accenture research.

The rising cost of health care is a top concern among employees, with 80% of those surveyed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch saying they’ve experienced an increase in health care costs during the last two years and, among those, 56% are saving less for retirement as a result.

Lack of plan sponsorship at work cited.

Five reasons plan sponsors seek to keep QDIA selections current.

Darden helps employees realize the American Dream with employee development built in to the company culture.

Nearly half of employers are considering making changes to their total rewards program as a result of the Affordable Care Act, yet most do not anticipate making changes that could negatively affect employees.

In wellness programs, disincentives may have a place but experts caution to tread carefully when using this tactic.

Dow Chemical’s work-life balance philosophy empowers managers and employees.

According to a recent study, children whose mothers work during their early years do as well at school as those with stay-at-home moms. But what about working dads?

Workers are willing to exchange money for being happy on the job, according to a work-life survey conducted by Philips.

A benefits microsite can be a way to break through communications clutter and focus on a singular message.

Billtrust strives for an open, fun culture that encourages questions, suggestions and challenges to the status quo.

On the surface, the Affordable Care Act makes the concept of self-funding very attractive. Self-funding offers employers the ability to develop a systemic process to managing health risks and the opportunity to control costs surrounding their members. There are, however, five areas typically overlooked by plan sponsors when they're considering self-funding.

The nation’s largest pension fund and health insurer WellPoint Inc. cut medical costs 19% by capping the price of some surgeries, in the latest sign payers are taking a tougher line against rising hospital claims.