Critical Illness Insurance Provides Vital Protection to Employees
The typical family's income slips by more than $12,000 in the year after a breadwinner suffers a critical illness such as a heart attack, stroke or cancer, according to a study by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. This reduction of income isn't
More Employers Offer Menopause Benefits
A growing number of employers are adding menopause-related benefits to their health and wellness programs, recognizing both the personal and business impact of this phase of women's health. According to a 2023 Mayo Clinic report, menopause-related symptoms are responsible for an
Health Insurers Pledge to Simplify Prior Authorization
In a major announcement, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) said that more than 50 major insurers — including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna and various regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plans — have pledged to significantly streamline the prior authorization process and
Alternative Group Plan Funding Gets a Second Look
Watching their group plan premiums climb higher with each passing year, some employers start looking into alternative funding strategies in hopes they can get a better handle on their employees' health costs. While group plans are the standard, larger employers have
Why Capturing Group Health Plan Data is Crucial for Employers
Gaining access to plan claims data and expenditures can help employers identify their plan’s main cost drivers and any under- or overutilization. Employers whose plans are spending less than average can use that information as leverage if they want to
Why Voluntary Benefits Matter for Small Employers
Voluntary benefits have emerged as a key differentiator for small businesses looking to stay competitive in attracting and retaining employees. These benefits, which are offered in addition to group health insurance and 401(k) plans, allow employees to opt in to
Poor Health Insurance Literacy Hurting Your Employees, Your Bottom Line
Poor health insurance literacy among plan enrollees costs both them and plan sponsors billions of dollars each year, according to a new report by Cigna Healthcare. According to the report, Americans with poor knowledge of how their health insurance works are
‘Big Beautiful’ Tax Bill Would Make Major Changes to HSAs, ICHRAs
The "Big Beautiful" tax bill being debated in Congress has several provisions that would make major changes to rules governing individual coverage health care reimbursement arrangements and tax-advantaged health savings accounts. Many of these changes would benefit both employees and
2026 HSA Contribution, HDHP Cost-Sharing Limits
The IRS has announced slightly higher health savings account contribution limits for 2026, with the amount increasing 2.3% for individual HSA plans.
How Group ‘Gap’ Insurance Can Save Your Staff From Financial Hardship
If you are offering high-deductible health plans to your staff to reduce overall premium outlays, you know that this type of insurance has one major drawback: higher out-of-pocket expenses that some may struggle to afford if they experience a sudden