Benefits Think Dental benefits valuable part of employer wellness strategies
As companies redesign their benefits around employee needs, the links between oral and overall health has employers incorporating dental benefits into wellness strategies.
Healthcare benefits
NAIFA reinventing its role in the industry with 20/20 vision initiative
NAIFA has launched a new initiative aimed at reinventing its role as an advocate for advisers. Its five-year strategic plan, dubbed NAIFA 20/20, aims to make the association a more effective resource for an increasingly diverse membership facing some challenging regulatory burdens.
Benefits Think How to demonstrate the value of a healthy workforce
Commentary: Most employers are in the dark about what they get in return for what they spend on health benefits. As a result, they tend to make decisions about benefits on the basis of costs alone, with little regard to value.
Benefit broker productivity drops
New business for validated employee benefit producers decreased over the past three years. Organic growth for independent brokers has also slowed. However, mergers are on a record-setting pace.
An in-depth look at Montanile v. Board of Trustees
Commentary: The benefits community should pay close attention to this ERISA case and should be prepared to quickly adapt procedures according to the Supreme Courts forthcoming ruling, which is expected by June 2016.
Rising out-of-pocket costs demand greater broker involvement
Employee education is critical to health care cost management, says United Benefit Advisors Les McPhearson, who addresses rising plan costs in the companys annual health plan survey.
Benefits Think A financial wellness programs unusual benefit: Fewer sick days
Flu season is just around the corner and youve probably set up free flu shots for everyone in the office. But are you also offering financial wellness programs to shore up your employees immunity against financial stress?
Keith Kitani
Guidespark
Benefits Think 3 ways to help employees become better health care consumers
Commentary: When gas prices rise at the pump, consumers change their driving habits. They ride more strategically, putting off unnecessary outings and carefully planning out trips. Yet when health care prices rise and Americans must dig deeper into their own pockets, they put their own health at risk instead of becoming savvier consumers.
Benefits Think Enrollment incentives dont work: Just build a better plan
Commentary: Without building a better plan, continued participation will wane and the program as a whole will fall short of employer health initiatives, says adviser Tim Olson, who shares five steps that will lead employer clients to an improved plan.
How to build an effective workplace cancer-support program
Developing strategies to help employees in the workplace with cancer is complex and multi-dimensional. A one-size-fits-all approach wont work, because every employer must base strategies on the companys culture, workforce demographics and specific cancer incidence.
Supreme Court rulings to watch for in 2016
The benefits industry is awaiting several rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States expected in 2016 that could have far-reaching effects on the administration and cost of operating employee benefit plans.
SCOTUS to weigh in on health plan reimbursement case
The Supreme Court heard arguments in Montanile v. Board of Trustees of the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan and will determine if, under ERISA, a reimbursement to an employee benefit plan can be recovered if the beneficiary has already spent the funds he or she recovered from a third party.
SCOTUS to weigh in on health plan reimbursement case
The Supreme Court heard arguments in Montanile v. Board of Trustees of the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan and will determine if, under ERISA, a reimbursement to an employee benefit plan can be recovered if the beneficiary has already spent the funds he or she recovered from a third party.
Benefits Think Set up to fail:Obamacare CO-OPs had no chance from the beginning
Commentary: The reality is that the CO-OPs could not overcome the most vital aspect of our insurance infrastructure: maintaining adequate reserves, says adviser David C. Smith.
David C. Smith
Ebenconcepts
5 reasons your health plan needs a compliance assessment
The ongoing escalation of complex regulations for health insurance plans has made it extremely difficult for just about every employer to comply. More than five years after passage of the Affordable Care Act, the compliance requirements not only continue to add up, but also to shift around.
Benefits Think Why employers need health and productivity analytics
Analytics are driving benefit design to ensure compliance with ACA requirements and determine potential liability under the Cadillac tax.
Benefits Think Wellness beyond rewards: Getting to long-term habit change
Commentary: Executives are starting to acknowledge that engagement alone wont drive long-term results.
Health care transparency tools may have greater impact when not limited to price
Even when price, quality and relevant health information is available to employees, they must be prompted to get engaged with the information, which requires some heavy lifting by employers.
Reinsurance Direct removes brokers from stop-loss equation
A new company founded by two former Munich Re Stop Loss executives is selling stop-loss insurance directly to self-insured employers, aiming to eliminate brokers from the equation altogether.
Benefits Think Dependent eligibility audits: Are you covering the wrong people?
Anywhere from 4% to 8% of dependents enrolled in group employee health insurance are not eligible to be in the plan. How it happens and what you can do about it.