Employee Benefits

March 4, 2024

Redefining Safety for Workers’ Comp Excellence

In the dynamic landscape of modern industries, one constant remains: the imperative to foster a safe work environment for every employee. This isn’t merely an ethical mandate; it’s a strategic business decision with profound financial implications. A commitment to cultivating a robust safety culture not only minimizes the risk of workplace injuries, it also significantly curtails...

February 8, 2024

Health Care Industry Trends to Watch in 2024

In recent years, the health care industry has been navigating a landscape fraught with volatility. Shifting market demands, supply chain struggles and medical inflation issues have driven many key challenges. In 2024, several additional trends could impact the health care sector. These include labor shortages propelled by demographic shifts and changing skills requirements; technological advancements...

January 31, 2024

Celebrate American Heart Month With These Healthy Lifestyle Tips

In 1963, the United States designated February as “American Heart Month.” Since then, the medical community has banded together during this annual campaign to raise awareness about heart disease and cardiovascular conditions and provide advice to help Americans reduce their risk of these health issues. How to Keep a Healthy Heart Heart attacks and strokes...

January 17, 2024

Mitigating Mental Health-Related EPLI Claims

During the past few years, mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder have been driving more Americans with Disabilities Act charges, according to data from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In 2022, around 11% of ADA charges were related to anxiety disorders. This is up from 7.6% five years earlier. PTSD-related charges...

January 12, 2024

Driving Down Health Cost Spend in 2024

As business leaders begin budgeting and strategizing for 2024, many are faced with balancing two items when it comes to benefits: ensuring low costs and prioritizing employees’ requests to offer better health benefits. With benefits slated as the second largest people expense for businesses, next to payroll, and health care costs across the nation estimated...

December 18, 2023

 4 Key Trends Driving Employer Health Care Costs in 2024

Amid ongoing inflation pressures, employees and employers alike can expect their health care costs to increase in 2024. Global professional services firm Aon reported that health care costs for employers will grow by 8.5% in 2024 (to more than $15,000 per employee), nearly double 2023’s figure. Here are four key trends driving employer health care...

December 5, 2023

High Health Care Costs Are Impacting Americans’ Physical and Mental Health

More than half of consumers feel stressed when paying their medical bills, and more than 9 in 10 say these payments have impacted their physical and mental health, according to a study from health care payment processing company PayMedix. Unaffordable medical bills, higher deductible health plans and confusing bills have increased physical and mental health...

November 29, 2023

Report Reveals Employers Plan to Offer Compelling Benefits Options in 2024

Recent findings from Mercer’s Health and Benefits Strategies for 2024 Survey Report revealed that employers are seeking compelling benefits options to improve affordability, increase flexibility and fill perceived gaps in 2024. According to Mercer, 1 in 4 of more than 700 surveyed employers had made enhancements to their benefits programs in the past two years....

November 1, 2023

More Individuals Downgrading Insurance Plans Due to Rising Health Care Costs

The most recent Nationwide Retirement Institute Health Care Costs in Retirement survey found that many Americans are not confident in their ability to pay health care costs as they age. According to the survey, over half of respondents said they’d be unable to pay off an unexpected $5,000 health care expense, and a similar number...

October 30, 2023

Report Finds Health Care Spending Expected to Exceed Overall Economic Growth

A recent report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) predicted that the average growth in national health expenditures would outpace average gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 2022 to 2031, at 5.4% and 4.6%, respectively. Per person spending is also expected to increase to an annual rate of 4.8% from 2022 to...