Benefits Think Let’s build behavioral health on usage, not headcount
Brokers can incentivize vendor performance by tying portions of their fees to measurable standards such as response times and match-acceptance rates.
Wellness
GLP-1s push health plan costs to 15-year high
Rising use of the weight-loss drug is fueling the fastest health plan cost growth in a decade and a half, forcing employers to rethink coverage strategies and cost management.
Most retirees wish they had saved earlier. Here’s what they regret most
A new TIAA study finds many retired workers wish they had saved sooner, planned for healthcare costs, and prepared for career disruptions that delayed or reshaped retirement.
GLP-1 drug use surges, along with coverage costs for employers
As more Americans turn to GLP-1 medications for weight loss, employers are weighing the benefits of coverage against rising healthcare expenses and long-term costs.
Organizations’ approach to chronic pain care needs to change
Employees managing these conditions lead to high overtime, an average of 10 missed a year and rising stress and depression levels.
Companies are betting on free food to lure workers back in office
New research shows companies are ramping up spending on workplace meals, with employees citing food perks as a key factor in staying and showing up.
This platform is training employees to be mental health responders
Project 55 is helping organizations empower their workforce with mental health education and resources.
Is personal security the new must-have benefit?
Leaders could have a much more proactive role in protecting their workforce with personal security platforms and benefits.
Pets at work? How benefit teams can prep to accommodate service animals
Federal and state disability legislations support pets at the office, from dogs and cats to horses and monkeys.
Retirement confidence slips as costs and debt weigh on workers
Americans' retirement confidence falls as inflation, debt, housing and health costs rise, survey finds, with growing Social Security worries.
Employer health plans leave many workers skipping needed care due to costs
Paytient study finds many insured employees delay care due to cost pressures, highlighting challenges for employers and benefit plan design.
How employees are spending their HSA dollars, from Amazon to GLP-1s
Lively's HSA Spend Report shows consumers are increasingly using accounts for online wellness, mental health, and weight-loss products.
As Ozempic costs fall, demand for weight-loss drugs is set to surge
Novo Nordisk will cut prices for Ozempic and Wegovy by up to 50% next year, prompting employers to plan for rising use and manage benefits costs.
Screen time surges for desk workers, straining eyes and productivity
Desk workers are spending nearly 100 hours a week on screens, a new survey finds, with most saying eye strain is affecting their work performance.
Benefits Think Why claims data underestimates mental health risk
Traditional claims reporting often splits depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and attention disorders into silos, minimizing the aggregate impact.
Ray Fabius, M.D.
HealthNEXT
Benefits Think 6 ways to combat ‘quiet cracking’ in the workplace
Employers can detect and reverse employee disengagement through people and workplace strategies rooted in empathetic listening.
In-office clinics are an emerging health and wellness benefit trend
Addressing employee health and rising costs require out-of-the box wellness strategies.
Employees cite finances as leading barrier to workplace well-being
U.S. workers say financial strain is the biggest obstacle to resiliency, outranking burnout and economic uncertainty, a new survey finds.
GLP-1s could be another tool in combating substance use disorder in the workplace
Early studies suggest GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic may reduce cravings for alcohol and other addictive substances.
Benefits Think Stop loosely using the word fiduciary
The opportunity ahead is about building the same kind of thoughtful, documented, process-driven governance in health care that transformed retirement plans.
Jamie Greenleaf
Fiduciary In A Box