Healthcare benefits

Some big names in healthcare want to fix what they see as a broken system. First, they are mending fences.

Providing benefits such as dental and short-term disability is a smart way for employers to try out the insurance arrangement, which has the potential to save money and provide greater transparency.

Pharmacies in Canada, Australia, the U.K. and more can supply Rx medicine for less than half of U.S. prices.

From workplace sexual harassment to an ever-changing regulatory landscape, employers should remain vigilant and compliant in the coming year.

The regulatory environment is one of the toughest in the country and the expansion of PEOs is leading to adverse risk selection.

Pharmacies in Canada, Australia, the U.K. and more can supply Rx medicine for less than half of U.S. prices.

Employers will be relying on brokers to know the ins and outs of each benefit account as they take a larger role in their employees’ health benefit plans.

Amazon.com, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase say they plan to collaborate on a way to offer healthcare services to their U.S. employees more transparently and at a lower cost.

Cost and lack of understanding are the top reasons employers don’t provide perks to their workers.

Insurance expenses have become the country’s No.1 financial concern, providing an urgent need for transparent coverage information.

Collecting cost data and offering consumer-oriented tools to employees can help firms expose the widespread problem of variation in medical price and quality.

The problem can result in financial burdens and lost productivity for employees, but companies can provide support services and tools, including an advocacy service through the benefits plan.

Self-funding, Form 5550s and picking the right HSA vendor are some topics employers should consider in the coming year.

Companies should consider adjusting workloads and provide workers with a flexible schedule so they can go to doctors’ appointments.

Cost and lack of understanding are the top reasons employers don’t provide perks to their workers.

Human-machine balance, personalized communications and hospital indemnity are among the offerings expected to grow next year, according to MetLife.

Self-funding, Form 5550s and picking the right HSA vendor are some topics employers should consider in the coming year.

The problem can result in financial burdens and lost productivity for employees, but companies can provide support services and tools, including an advocacy service through the benefits plan.

This could include providing employees with a flexible schedule to attend doctors’ appointments and/or adjusting their workload.

From workplace sexual harassment to an ever-changing regulatory landscape, employers should remain vigilant and compliant in the coming year.