Employee Benefits
July 21, 2025
Survey Finds One-third of Employers to Expand Voluntary Benefits by 2027
A recent survey from Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firm, found that nearly one-third of employers are expected to expand voluntary benefit offerings by 2027. The survey demonstrates the significance of voluntary benefits in modern benefits packages, with over two-thirds (70%) saying they are driven to offer these perks to ensure...
July 8, 2025
5 Strategies to Bolster Occupational Safety in an Aging Workforce
As the workforce ages, employers must adapt to ensure the safety and productivity of their older employees. Many baby boomers are delaying retirement or reentering the workforce, so the number of employees aged 55 and older is rising. While these workers bring valuable experience and engagement to their roles, they also face unique safety challenges...
July 1, 2025
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds ACA’s Mandate for Free Preventive Care
On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a key component of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate (Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, Inc.). The Court’s decision requires health plans and health insurance issuers to continue covering, without cost sharing, the full range of recommended preventive care services. ACA’s Preventive Care Mandate The...
June 17, 2025
U.S. Prescription Drug Spending Rose 10.2% in 2024
A new report from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists revealed that prescription drug spending in the United States reached nearly $806 billion in 2024, up 10.2% from 2023. The increase was largely driven by the demand for weight loss medications, including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs. GLP-1 medications are prescribed for diabetes and obesity and...
May 20, 2025
Supporting Employees During Mental Health Awareness Month and Beyond
Employee mental health has become a workplace topic of increased focus and awareness in recent years. An employee’s mental health includes how they think, feel and act, and their emotional and social well-being. While mental health includes mental illness, these two concepts aren’t interchangeable. For example, an employee can go through a period of poor...
May 13, 2025
New Executive Order Aims to Reduce Drug Costs by Aligning with Global Prices
On May 12, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) that aims to bring the prices Americans pay for prescription drugs in line with those paid by similar nations. According to a White House fact sheet, the prices Americans pay for brand-name drugs are more than three times the price other nations pay....
April 17, 2025
One-quarter of Federal Spending in FY 2024 Was on Health Care
A KFF analysis found that $1 of every $4 in the federal fiscal year (FY) 2024 (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) was used to pay for health programs and services. The government spent $1.9 trillion (27%) on health care programs and services, while other large spending categories included Social Security (21%), national defense (13%) and interest payments...
April 11, 2025
Mental Health Care Benefits Strategies
In today’s work environment, employees are increasingly grappling with common mental health challenges such as burnout, stress and anxiety, as well as other diagnosable mental health disorders and conditions. These issues not only affect personal well-being but also impact workplace productivity and morale. While creating a healthy workplace culture, equipping managers to support workers and...
April 8, 2025
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on ACA’s Mandate for Free Preventive Care
On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a pivotal legal dispute regarding the constitutionality of a key component of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) preventive care mandate. The Court’s decision in this case, Kennedy v. Braidwood Management Inc., will impact the requirement for health plans and health insurance issuers...
April 1, 2025
The Critical Role of Employee Feedback in Developing Benefits Packages
In today’s competitive labor market, offering the right benefits package can make all the difference in attracting and retaining top talent. While employers often focus on benchmarking against industry standards or following trends, one of the most effective tools for building meaningful benefits programs is something much closer to home: employee feedback. Why Employee Feedback...