Health Care

Inclusive Family-Forming Benefits: Surrogacy Reimbursement Programs

Jenny Gartman, CEBS
 

Fertility and family-forming benefits are top of mind for many organizations, whether it’s to stay competitive in attracting and retaining key talent or match benefits to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals. Surrogacy reimbursement programs are one such benefit that may particularly […]

Workplace Benefits Valedictorians: The Graduating Class of 2023 Wants These Benefits

Tim Hennessy
 

When it comes to employee benefits, tried-and-true offerings like employer-paid health insurance and matching retirement savings plan contributions have remained at the head of the class among soon-to-be U.S. and Canadian college graduates over the years. According to a survey from The […]

The Rise of Gender-Affirmation Health Care Benefits

Anne Patterson
 

Gender-affirmation health care benefit offerings have been on the rise over the past seven years, according to survey data from the International Foundation. Up from 12 percent in 2016, 30 percent of U.S. employers now offer the benefit. I spoke with Julie […]

In a Benefits Plan Far, Far Away

Julie Stich, CEBS
 

Over the past several years, May 4 has skyrocketed in popularity as Star Wars Day—as in, “May the Fourth be with you.” In honor of May the Fourth, we thought it would be fun to continue the rebellion against convention by using Star […]

ACA Preventive Services Requirements Struck Down: Braidwood Management v. Becerra Explainer

Jenny Gartman, CEBS
 

As a result of ongoing litigation, the Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury (the departments) cannot enforce some Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive care requirements, but the departments strongly encourage plan sponsors to keep coverage without […]

The State of Multiemployer Health Plans: Ten Takeaways

Justin Held, CEBS
 

The median cost of benefits for multiemployer health plans increased 4.7% from 2017 to 2018, reaching $11,642 per participant per year (PPPY), according to a new International Foundation report. The consistent increases in costs over the ten-year period required increases in employer […]

It’s Coming—The End of the COVID-19 Emergencies

Amanda Wilke
 

After nearly three years, the time has finally come. The Biden administration announced that both the COVID-19 national emergency (NE) and the public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11, 2023. Now it’s time for employers to prepare to unwind the […]

Rethinking Gender: How Benefit Plans, Sponsors and Trustees Can—And Must—Adapt

Alyssa Hodder
 

How does the move toward greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) impact benefits plans? It’s a game changer, but there are still hurdles that the group insurance industry needs to overcome. A panel at the International Foundation’s Canadian Health and Wellness Innovations […]