Displaying items by tag: group health insurance broker
Monday, 30 October 2017 20:39
A Key 2017 Workplace Trend: Financial Wellness Programs
Typically when we think of employer wellness programs, we think of things like biometric screenings and health risk assessments. But recent research shows that financial worries are a top stressor in many Americans’ lives.
At first glance, the financial problems of the workforce may seem of a personal nature and not a corporate one. Employers might be wary of legal issues and privacy concerns. However there is a compelling argument for employers to include financial health in their wellness programs: employee financial woes are costing companies money.
Published in
Wellness
Tuesday, 26 September 2017 18:59
HRIS Technology: To Digital Infinity and Beyond
Habits are hard to kick and people are hesitant to change, but it’s no secret that HR functions are leaving the paper-based world and moving digital. Digital signatures, cloud computing and online benefits platforms are areas we are seeing most HR professionals gravitating towards. The major reasons we are seeing this transition from manual to digital processes is for increased efficiency, employee engagement, and bottom line cost savings.
Published in
Industry Trends
Monday, 18 September 2017 18:51
Mandatory Compliance Notice Due October 15th
Do you know if your employer prescription benefits are creditable when compared Medicare Part D benefits? Are you informing your plan participants of the plan’s status on an annual basis?
The Medicare Part D Notice is just one of the many compliance responsibilities to which most employer health plans are subject.
Published in
Compliance
Tuesday, 26 September 2017 18:41
Have you updated your CHIP notice?
The U.S. Department of Labor has released an updated Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) model notice. When was the last time you updated your required Annual Notices? Why does this matter?
Published in
Compliance
Tuesday, 29 August 2017 11:16
Making Wellness Wearables Work
Employers are constantly looking for ways to create effective, value-driven wellness programs for employees. Wearables, such as various Fitbits (Charge 2, Blaze and Alta HR) and the Garmin Vivoactive, or watches from Apple or Samsung, have become a common motivational tool for employers who are implementing wellness programs.
A recent survey conducted by Springbuk found that 35 percent of employers are currently using wearable devices.
Published in
Wellness
Thursday, 17 August 2017 11:10
Will Cost Sharing Reductions to Insurers Continue?
In a Twitter message on July 29th, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to end government payments to health insurers if Congress did not pass a new healthcare bill. Trump tweeted "If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!"
The “BAILOUTS” that President Trump is referring to is the approximately $7 billion in cost-sharing reduction subsidies the federal government pays annually to reimburse insurers who are required under the ACA to reduce deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for low-income Americans. Because of a pending lawsuit, the payments, which are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services, are currently being doled out on a month-to month basis.
Published in
Industry Trends
Tuesday, 08 August 2017 10:40
Common Misconceptions about Generic Drugs
Generic drugs are a cheaper option than brand-name drugs, and work just as well for the vast majority of people. According to the FDA, the savings reach as much as 90% when prescribing generic vs. brand-name, saving consumers up to $10 billion every year.
Despite this cost advantage, there are a lot of misconceptions that are keeping consumers at arm’s length.
Published in
Best Practices
Wednesday, 26 July 2017 11:35
Do’s and Don’ts around Opiates in the Workplace
Opiate addiction is a major issue in the U.S., most of which originates from prescription opiates, which are surprisingly easy to obtain. In fact, an estimated 207 million prescriptions for opiates were dispensed in 2013 alone. Prescription opiate abusers are far more likely to eventually develop an addiction to an illicit drug (such as heroin) addiction than a non-opiate abuser, as heroin will offer a similar high at a cheaper price.
Published in
Best Practices
Tuesday, 18 July 2017 11:23
Cybersecurity in a Post-HIPAA world
Cyber security is a topic we all see and hear about every day, whether from friends, colleagues or the news. The reality is, cybersecurity attacks are becoming more constant and aggressive with their techniques and targets, and it is our responsibility to learn how to protect our businesses from attacks.
Those who handle benefits have access to Protected Health Information (PHI), and thus must take particular precautions to protect this sensitive data.
Published in
Best Practices
Tuesday, 11 July 2017 11:14
Is YOUR Wellness Program Making a Difference?
These days, most companies have some sort of worksite wellness program, whether it’s a monthly wellness newsletter, an annual health fair, or weekly exercise challenges. At Fall River, for example, we participate in weekly Fitbit challenges, which definitely encourages us to log more steps every day!
When you think about your company’s wellness program, you may wonder how effective it is in actually improving the health of your employees.
Published in
Wellness
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