Legislative Wrap-Up: Three Health Benefits Bills Employers Should Know About
Health insurance is back on the legislative agenda in Washington, with several proposals that could reshape how employers provide coverage to their workers. Three bills gaining traction in the House aim to overhaul parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expand
The Holidays Have Their Own Workplace Perils
On-the-job accidents may increase during the holidays as distractions in the workplace increase and decorations can pose safety issues. Normal routines and schedules are disrupted, and your staff — like everyone else — are also rushing around to crowded and chaotic
ACA Group Health Plan Affordability Level Up Sharply
The IRS has significantly increased the group health plan affordability threshold — which is used to determine if an employer's lowest-premium health plan complies with the Affordable Care Act rules — for plan years starting in 2025. The threshold for next
Protect Your Workers’ Eyesight with Proper Design, Vision Benefits
One of the by-products of the digital revolution – with most people staring many hours each day at tablets, smart phones and computers – is eye strain. According to The Vision Council, the average U.S. adult spends more than two hours
Employers Expect Higher Premiums, Little to No Cost-Shifting
Employers who were surveyed for a new report expected that group health insurance premiums would increase 5.4% this year and at a faster clip in 2024 as inflation hits medical costs. Employers said they are looking to manage growing group benefit
New Anti-Obesity Drugs Put Employers in a Quandary
A surge in demand for pricey, new and highly effective anti-obesity medications could put a financial strain on employers who sponsor their employees' health plans. Employers have long offered coverage for certain weight loss tools, such as bariatric surgery if employees
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
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
Centers of Excellence Save Money, but Have More Benefits Too
As health insurance and health care costs continue rising, more employers and health plans are turning to centers of excellence to manage patients with chronic conditions. Centers of excellence are unique operations that focus on containing costs and delivering quality and
As Health Care Costs Bite, Here’s How You Can Help Your Workers
Recent studies have highlighted an alarming trend in American health care: More and more people are struggling with medical bills and many are delaying care due to high costs. The most recent poll by Gallup found that 38% of those surveyed