Health and wellness

Societal and insurance-based motivations are leading to fewer circumcisions, at a delayed price.

New Medicare and Medicaid funding uncertainties and potential for a political stalemate on health care reform could worsen revenue growth in U.S. not-for-profit health care sector.

Principal Financial’s annual evaluation of top companies in employee fiscal soundness has found a common link in wellness initiatives.

A new white paper suggests that wellness programs can lower health care and benefits costs if a strong communication strategy is in place.

Private retiree Medicare exchanges provide a glimpse of what public and private health insurance exchanges could look like.

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan acknowledged late last week that his proposed health care reforms rely on many of the same spending reductions for which he has criticized President Barack Obama, something that could undercut a central message of the Republican campaign.

Encouraged by Rep. Paul Ryan’s focus on fiscal responsibility, many brokers and advisers remain satisfied a week after Gov. Mitt Romney announced his vice presidential pick, saying the seven-term Wisconsin congressman brings a fresh perspective to the presidential election.

If it’s okay to charge higher premiums on employer-provided health insurance to smokers or employees who refuse to take a health-risk appraisal, then why, asks guest blogger Bruce Shutan, is it wrong for the government to help us take better care of ourselves?

Employee morale continues a slow but steady decline from 2008 levels, but the benefits enrollment season, vastly approaching, offers employers the chance to positively engage their employees, according to recent research from Unum.

As carriers ramp up to gain market share ahead of PPACA, Aetna acquires Coventary —increasing its overall share of government health plans to more than 30%, and nearly 42 million members nationwide.

Working Americans would receive a set of capped tax credits to cover their health care costs under a proposal by Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, who believes excluding employer-provided coverage from federal taxes provides an unfair advantage.

An employee-assistance expert who fears EAPs may be missing the mark on substance abuse assessments suggests a more holistic approach to worksite wellness.

Corporate America, take note: A new report sheds light on the national obesity epidemic’s regional trouble spots, as well as areas that are successfully battling bulging waistlines.

The Obama administration this week will try to encourage reluctant U.S. states to move forward with health insurance exchanges amid fears that time is running out for states to act on a reform provision meant to extend coverage to millions of low-to-moderate income uninsured Americans.

By choosing U.S. Representative Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney has added some verve to what had been a tedious presidential contest.

Employers that develop a culture of health are able to bend the cost curve, but one potentially serious impediment is an alarming national obesity epidemic that has triggered multiple co-morbidity factors that run up expenses.

Although it’s unclear when obesity is deemed “severe” enough to constitute an ADA-protected disability, it is now clear that “morbid” obesity” warrants such protection.

PPACA compliance is expected to hit employers with large part-time employee populations hardest, while some firms may need to think twice about low-paid workers qualifying for Medicaid.

More employers are linking wellness incentives to completing lifestyle modification programs or progress made toward meeting acceptable ranges for biometric measures such as blood pressure, body mass index, blood sugar and cholesterol, finds Aon Hewitt.

In a gadget-driven world that has nearly erased any boundary line between work and life, there’s an app for just about anything. The employee benefits landscape is no exception.