Health and Fitness
September 24, 2026
Why Healthcare Costs Will Rise Significantly in 2027
Healthcare costs, and consequently employee benefit costs, have been growing at an alarming rate in recent years, and they’re not slowing down. Mercer projects that the total health benefit cost per employee will rise 8.2% on average in 2027, after accounting for cost-cutting measures, the highest increase in 15 years. To put it in perspective,...
September 10, 2026
Open Enrollment Changes to Watch For
Open enrollment often appears unchanged from one year to the next, but you may be surprised by what is new when you enroll this cycle. Carriers adjust plan pricing, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) updates contribution limits, and employers revise their benefits offerings based on utilization and employee feedback from the prior year. As a...
August 31, 2026
2027 Open Enrollment Trends to Monitor
Open enrollment season is arriving with a different feel this year. Costs are climbing faster than they have in over a decade, employees are asking for benefits that reflect the realities of their lives rather than a one-size-fits-all package, and new technology is changing how people choose their coverage. For employers, that means open enrollment...
August 25, 2026
How to Reduce the Cost of Alternative Care
If you’ve considered acupuncture, specialized chiropractic care, functional medicine or integrative mental health counseling, you may have found that insurance coverage does not always work the same way it does for traditional medical care. Even when a provider does not accept insurance, you may still have options to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Alternative and...
August 10, 2026
8 Tips for Effective 2027 Open Enrollment Communication
Now more than ever, employees are looking to their employers for guidance on navigating their available benefits and how to stretch their dollars further. Many of today’s workers want help understanding how much money to put aside for retirement, emergency savings and health care expenses. That means employers have an opportunity to shine by effectively...
August 3, 2026
Lightning Safety For Outdoor Workers
When lightning is present, it poses a significant risk to individuals working outdoors, particularly those in open spaces, near equipment or on tall structures. The risk of lightning strikes is often underestimated by workers, even though 300 people are injured by lightning strikes in the United States every year. Follow these tips to avoid severe...
July 23, 2026
5 Midyear Employee Benefits Trends to Monitor
The middle of the year is an ideal time to evaluate benefits strategy and recalibrate plan design, vendor partnerships and cost-containment efforts to close out the year strong or prepare for the 2027 open enrollment season. As such, understanding the current state of the employee benefits market can help employers evaluate their offerings to best...
July 16, 2026
What to Know About the Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Cases of cyclosporiasis are climbing across the country this summer, and health officials are urging extra caution around food and water safety. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is tracking the outbreak in real time. As of July 13, the state has recorded almost 3,000 cases and around 50 hospitalizations, though these numbers...
July 14, 2026
How to Drive Employee Participation
Many employees do not realize how much their employer contributes to their benefits package. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, benefits account for 30.1% of total compensation in the private industry, yet low participation remains a widespread challenge for employers. Without meeting carrier participation thresholds, employers risk losing access to group coverage altogether,...