Making Your Voluntary Benefits Program a Success
Both employers and employees have much to gain from a solid voluntary benefits program. For employees, being able to enroll in an insurance product through a workplace voluntary benefits program offers them the advantage of group pricing, the convenience of paying
Insurers Make Changes to Prior Approvals Ahead of Rulemaking
After the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed new rules aimed at streamlining the prior approval process for most health plans in the U.S., a number of the country's largest insurers announced their own steps to improve the process. UnitedHealthcare
Judge Deals Blow to Preventative Care Coverage under ACA
A recent decision by a federal judge in Texas to issue an injunction on a pivotal part of the Affordable Care Act requiring insurers to offer certain types of free preventative care, has raised concerns that some health plans will
Moves Afoot to Improve Prior Authorization Times, Efficiency
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed new rules aimed at streamlining the prior approval process for most health plans in the U.S. Under the proposal, starting in 2026, insurers would be required to render a decision within seven
Wellness Programs Grow in Wake of Pandemic
Employers have often long struggled to boost participation in their wellness programs, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that as people started looking for ways to better care for themselves both physically and emotionally. The pandemic added fuel to the country's mental
Employers ‘Unwavering’ in Providing Group Health Benefits: Research
Large employers are unwavering in their plans to continue offering group health plans to their workers instead of funding individual reimbursement accounts that would allow them to shop for plans on government-run exchanges, according to new research. The poll of 26
Bill Would Pave Way for Stand-Alone Telehealth Coverage
A bipartisan group of House legislators in February reintroduced legislation from 2022 that would pave the way for employer-sponsored, stand-alone telehealth benefits plans. The bill is important as the current law allowing health insurers to cover telehealth benefits sunsets at the
Most Employees Spend Little Time Choosing Their Health Plan
A new study has found that individuals enrolled in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) are more engaged than their traditional plan counterparts during open enrollment, spending more time on choosing plans and using employer-provided tools to help them make their choices. Despite
Virtual-First Health Care Plans Flooding the Market
In the continuing quest to reduce health care costs and make care more accessible, a new type of health plan has been taking shape: The virtual-first health plan. These rapidly evolving plans integrate virtual care delivery models into a comprehensive health
Why Your Staff Needs Short- and Long-Term Disability Coverage
No one plans on becoming disabled and missing work, but it can happen. An illness or an accident could cause one of your employees to be unable to work for months, or even years. While their health insurance will cover their