The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has created new challenges for families and employers, and has sparked much discussion about a more formal Family and Medical Leave policy. On the upcoming Colorado November ballot is Proposition 118, which introduces a Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program for eligible employees with benefits that would begin in 2024. 

2021 is right around the corner, and employers with calendar year plans are deciding on their benefit changes for 2021. Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) can be a great option for reducing healthcare costs while keeping employees’ benefit level the same or better. They can also help you to create greater consumerism within your plan as well as offer a way to take a small step towards self-funding your plan. A fantastic recent article (weekly wrap-up) from our national partner Alera will help you get familiar with HRAs, point out some compliance aspects to be aware of, and highlight some important factors to consider when deciding if it’s the right move for your company.

The ever-growing prescription drug industry has long been ripe for innovation and disruption. At the same time, members struggle to manage the many prescriptions they may need to take at the same time.  As the cost of many prescription medications continues to be very high, Americans are increasingly looking outside traditional pharmacies for purchasing alternatives. One of these newer alternatives is PillPack, which was purchased in May 2018 by Amazon, and may actually help members improve their medication compliance, a key metric in improving health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty for many employers who worry that expensive Coronavirus testing and treatment could lead to a spike in premiums in 2021. But is it a foregone conclusion that we’ll see large renewals, or a myth?

Clients for whom Fall River is the health insurance broker were recently given free access to our new HR support tool, AleraHR. For those of you who have used ThinkHR before, AleraHR is our white-labeled version of that system.  AleraHR is a very robust HR and compliance system that offers many valuable and time-saving modules related to just about any HR topic you can think of! Best of all, you can submit questions by email or phone and get answers fast from certified HR professionals you can rely on.