Employee benefits

The ACA’s waivers for small businesses are ending in 2017, so it’s time for companies to look more closely at their benefit programs, according to adviser Sue Wakamoto-Lee.

Self-funding is the first step to reducing health plan costs without sacrificing quality, but plan sponsors can go even further by unbundling services, according to AdminaHealth’s Arthur Jonokuchi.

in response to employers offering more wellness programs containing financial incentives, the EEOC has issued new guidance.

Employers need to be prepared to handle mental health accommodations for employees, while also being ADA-compliant, says employment attorney Ben Hase.

Advisers must stay ahead of emerging trends or risk exposing clients to additional costs, says Hodges-Mace’s Eric Helman.

Women, in particular, are lagging in earnings and in the amount of income they’re saving for retirement, according to research from T. Rowe Price.

Large employers unsure of the cost savings they’d see by moving employees to an online marketplace, but health sites are still evolving, according to Pacific Resources.

Retirement plan sponsors should spend as much time developing an education policy statement as they do an investment policy statement, according to Invesco’s Jeffrey Hemker.

The more engaged and proactive an employer is with its benefit communications, the more likely workers are to stay, which reduces recruiting and training costs.

Employers host a variety of valuable employee data such as age range, marital status and more; they should take advantage of the insight it can provide, says Thompson Online Benefits’ Brenden Mielke.

A program’s structure can determine which laws apply and federal agencies and courts are not always in agreement as to what is required for compliance.

Employers need to be prepared to handle mental health accommodations for employees, while also being ADA-compliant, says employment attorney Ben Hase.

A reduction in employer contributions and rising prescription drug costs are drivers of growth in healthcare costs, according to new data from consulting and actuarial firm Milliman.

Employers need to understand when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act applies and ensure that app developers they do business with are compliant, says lawyer Stefano Quintini.

Women, in particular, are lagging in earnings and in the amount of income they’re saving for retirement, according to research from T. Rowe Price.

It’s a logical move for the brokerage and consulting firm and a strong step in the process of mainstreaming voluntary, says columnist Nelson Griswold.

Four often-missed signs of depression that can have a hidden impact on workplace productivity and overall staff morale.

Employers host a variety of valuable employee data such as age range, marital status, number of dependants and more, yet many are not able to take advantage of the insight it can provide, says Brenden Mielke of Thomsons Online Benefits.

Dozens of brokers and consultants weigh in on the practice, and Hodges-Mace’s Eric Helman explains the fallacies behind this siloed approach.

Withing’s Cedric Huthings and other experts share insights on how technology is changing the benefits landscape — and why employers must embrace the transition.