General wellness is becoming a top concern for Americans. Out of 169 countries, the U.S. ranks 35th for overall citizen health1. According to a 2023 Gallup survey, more Americans ate less healthy, had higher cholesterol, and received more diabetes diagnoses than before the COVID-19 pandemic2. That’s why more individuals have recently turned to general wellness programs to improve their overall health. General wellness activities and healthy foods can be expensive. If you have a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), health savings account (HSA), or healthcare flexible spending account (FSA ..read more

Running a business can involve various hidden costs, especially when you start to hire workers. Business owners and HR professionals must understand their burden rate to avoid unpleasant surprises and ensure they have the budget to support their workforce. In this article, we'll go over the details of burden rates and why they're an important consideration for any organization ..read more

The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate requires applicable large employers (ALEs)—organizations with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs)— to offer affordable health insurance that meets minimum essential coverage (MEC) and minimum value standards to at least 95% of their full-time employees. To help ALEs determine whether their health coverage is affordable for employees, the federal government created “safe harbors” to calculate the affordability of healthcare plans, including traditional group health plans and individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHR ..read more

Many companies often turn to professional employer organizations (PEOs) to handle various HR functions, such as employee benefits and insurance. This allows small organizations to focus on their core business operations while outsourcing certain administrative tasks to experts in the field. However, the relationship between PEOs and insurance can sometimes be confusing for those unfamiliar with the concept ..read more

When employees start a new job, they can feel tremendously uncertain, stressed, and nervous. One way to ease their anxieties and make them more comfortable is with a solid first impression and a welcoming environment. Extending a proper welcome to new hires isn’t just helpful for them—it’s also beneficial for your company. Taking the time to welcome them shows professionalism, boosts employee engagement, and helps retain your new hire for the long haul. A formal onboarding program is vital, but knowing how to welcome a new employee outside of onboarding can create a more positive and relaxed w ..read more

Small businesses often face challenges when providing health insurance for employees due to the high costs associated with traditional group health insurance plans. However, small businesses can consider several popular health insurance alternatives to provide their employees with access to healthcare coverage. In this article, we'll explore some popular health insurance alternatives for small businesses that can help you provide your employees with the coverage they need without breaking the bank ..read more

Having a health insurance plan is an excellent way to ensure you have access to the care you need to stay happy and healthy long-term. However, depending on where you live, your health insurance—particularly an individual policy—may be more expensive than expected. Knowing how location factors into your health plan costs can help you shop for a budget-friendly policy that will meet your medical needs. In this article, we’ll show you the least and most expensive states for individual health insurance and how a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) from your employer can help you control your o ..read more

Whether you’re an individual searching for a health plan for yourself or your family, or an employer looking for a group health insurance policy for your staff, there are many types of health plans to choose from. Two popular types of health plans for individuals and employers alike are a health maintenance organization (HMO) policy and a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan. Most people have a basic understanding of how health insurance works. However, knowing the differences between specific health plans, like an HMO and a PPO plan, is necessary to secure the right health coverage for ..read more

As more individuals and families become active healthcare consumers, knowing key healthcare terms and how they affect your health insurance costs is essential. One of the most critical terms to understand is health insurance premiums. Paying health insurance premiums is necessary to ensure your coverage is active when you need it most. This blog post will explain what a health insurance premium is, how much premiums typically cost, and how different factors and plans affect premium amounts ..read more

To navigate the healthcare industry successfully and secure the proper medical treatment, it’s important to know common terminology such as inpatient and outpatient. Knowing the difference between these terms will help you understand where to receive care and what to expect. Understanding these two types of care and how much each will cost can also give you an advantage when choosing a health plan and estimating out-of-pocket medical expenses. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the difference between inpatient and outpatient care, what factors determine each one’s costs, and what health ..read more