News/Blog

A new analysis from PwC’s Health Research Institute (HRI) finds that recent federal health care transparency initiatives could have a significant impact on health care consumers, providers, and payers. What were the two regulatory changes? Transparency: Requires hospitals to publicly post standard charges for all terms and services, which includes the total bill without discounts , any discounted prices…

Are you constantly seeing healthcare claims increase? Jake Doman, MSRI, CEBS takes over our consultant corner to discuss the increases. Employee health is often the root cause of healthcare program increases. By focusing on simple strategies around education, communication, and directing care to the appropriate centers will stabilize costs over the long-term.

Making COVID-19 vaccination part of your workplace wellness program may offer benefits to you and your employees. To aid in keeping their workplace healthy, employers can consider offering free, on-site COVID-19 vaccinations at work locations. This HR Insights article provides an overview of guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for workplace vaccination programs….

It’s no secret: medical insurance is the biggest focus for both employers and employees while all of the other benefits become almost an afterthought. It goes without saying – health insurance costs are spiraling out of control and should be the primary focus of a benefits package… but we don’t want to ignore the others…

If you’ve ever received a surprise medical bill, you’re not alone. According to a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago, over half of American adults have been surprised by a bill that they had assumed would be covered by their medical insurance. Moreover, only 1 in 5 of these surprise bills were…

The Donald Trump administration recently made a decision on healthcare that could effectively change how small groups offer medical insurance to their employees forever. On June 19th, 2018, the Trump administration ruled in favor of expanding access to Association Health Plans for healthy individuals. So what exactly is an Association Health Plan?   Association Health Plans (AHP) encourage healthy…

Depending on which source is referenced, healthcare expenses have been increasing anywhere from 6-12% on average year over year.  We see employers getting hit with an unexpected 20% plus renewal that sets that company back for the upcoming year.  Surely, employers are unable to continue and absorb these costs.  Instead, these costs have been passed…

On average, there are two dependents for every subscriber on a medical plan. When self-funded employers allow employee’s dependents on their medical plans, they accept the risk that comes with the dependent’s claims. For fully insured groups, carriers will often investigate the legitimacy of a dependent when that dependent files a major claim – and…

When it’s two in the morning and your child is sick, it’s natural to think of a trip to the emergency room as the only way to receive immediate care. But a $300 copay for the ER doesn’t have to be your only option – with the utilization of telemedicine, it can become your last…

The new necessity in employee benefits is workplace wellness. Eighty-three percent of our employer partners believe wellness programs are absolutely necessary to attract and retain employees. Amidst an economy with record highs of employment, every perk an employer can offer solidifies the relationship with top talent – queue corporate wellness programs. Companies in various industries…