A recent study by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans suggests that 32% of employers offer weight management programs while 45% cover bariatric surgery. This same survey indicates that 22% of U.S. employers are now covering certain prescription drugs for weight loss. Perhaps this increase in prescription drug coverage is due to advancements in weight loss medications, or the growing recognition that obesity is a disease that increases the risk of other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and some cancers. After all, th ..read more

Despite originally announcing that both the COVID Public Health Emergency and National Emergency would end on May 11, President Biden has signed a resolution ending the National Emergency effective as of April 10, 2023. Plan sponsors will now have less time to react to the end of the National Emergency, but this does not mean that all COVID coverage mandates or extensions have ended. What Is Ending? The end of the National Emergency brings the end of the “Outbreak Period” which gives additional time for individuals to: elect and pay for COBRA, exercise HIPAA Special Enrollment Rights to cha ..read more

When a plan participant or beneficiary has Medicare and other health insurance, such as employer group health plan insurance, retiree coverage, or Medicaid, there can often be confusion as to which insurance pays first on claims. Coordination of benefits (COB) rules, which are specified in plan documents or insurance policies, decide which insurance pays first. One plan is considered the primary payer that covers most expenses, while the secondary plan covers any remaining allowable expenses not covered by the primary plan. The COB allows health plans to provide health or prescription drug ..read more

“Organizational culture” may be an overused phrase, but culture — and the employer-employee connection culture generates — has become part of recruiting, retention, and the assembling of the right benefits package to engender long-term loyalty. How important are culture and connection within an organization? They definitely can make a major difference in candidate interest and employee satisfaction. Just consider the following; Mentioning culture in job postings increases engagement with the listing (67%). One-quarter of employees say they’ll leave an employer if they’re not happy with an or ..read more

Employee handbooks are important tools for establishing employee expectations, addressing workplace issues, and defending against potential lawsuits. Failing to update employee handbooks regularly can make employers vulnerable to legal risks and liabilities, resulting in costly fines, penalties, and attorneys’ fees. Employment laws are often complicated, and employers need to be aware of any new regulatory developments that may impact their organizations and workforce. Each new calendar year provides employers with an excellent opportunity to review and update the policies in their employee h ..read more

A growing number of employers are currently experiencing a rise in catastrophic health claims, largely due to medical and pharmaceutical advances (e.g., specialty drugs and cell and gene therapies). In the past, employers have expanded cost-sharing methods to reign in rising health expenses, such as offering high deductible health plans, but today’s employers are hesitant to shift costs onto employees amid the tight labor market. As a result, many employers with self-funded health plans are actively looking for impactful mitigation strategies. One of the most common strategies is purchasing ..read more

Regulations aside, employee benefits management hasn’t changed much in several decades, so it’s notable that employers are beginning to use traditional marketing tactics to make sure their benefits efforts hit the mark for their employees.  Case in point: HUB Workforce Persona Analysis.  It’s a smarter way to inform your benefits strategy, meeting employees where they are. If your organization isn’t taking steps to understand your population using audience segmentation, you should. (You can watch a video on Persona Analysis here.) Analysis of workforce personas enables employers t ..read more

As businesses expand beyond their borders, it can be a significant management challenge to structure an employee benefits program. There’s the risk of failing to meet regulatory requirements or offering packages that are competitive in the United States, but aren’t appealing elsewhere, or are unnecessarily expensive. In addition, acquired rights rules in most countries outside the U.S. make it difficult to rescind benefits after they’ve been offered, making it essential to get it right the first time. What’s more, multinational employers need to devote sufficient management time and due di ..read more

As companies continue to rebound from the pandemic, ongoing challenges — including staffing shortages, unpredictable demand, and rising supply costs — have businesses on the hunt for any advantage. Evaluating funding strategies for medical benefits programs may be a good place to start. With employers offering richer benefits to employees as a recruitment and retention incentive, organizations are taking a hard look at the options available. Captive insurance can be an ideal solution for medical benefits, offering mid-sized companies across most industries the opportunity to control medical ..read more

Just as HR professionals quickly adapted to changes at the height of the pandemic, they must now adapt and respond to today’s evolving expectations of organizations and employees alike. As such, savvy HR leaders and professionals will approach 2023 with human-centric strategies that holistically support and benefit workers. Organizations will benefit from putting people first and listening to what their people need.   Today we'll highlight six HR trends to follow in 2023. 1) INCREASED WAGES & RAISES There are more open jobs than people to fill them, and inflation is impacting employe ..read more