Word on Benefits

Challenges of Mental Health Parity Compliance

Cara McMullin

19 Jan 202219 Jan 2022

Mental health and substance use disorders continue to be a concern for employers. As the pandemic is about to enter its third year, many express a heightened need for mental health care. Additionally, insurers report increased claims and demand for mental health […]

Communication Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance U.S.

Telehealth: Lessons From the Pandemic

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

13 Jan 202213 Jan 2022

With the Omicron variant causing a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, access to telehealth visits is likely a benefit that many plan members are continuing to value and use. Nearly two years into a sort of forced experiment with telehealth, […]

Canada Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Mental Health U.S. Wellness Work Life Balance

Five Ways to Bring a Little Hygge to Your Workspace

Anne Patterson

11 Jan 202210 Jan 2022

The concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) has been gaining popularity across the U.S. and Canada over the past couple of years ,and I’m here for it. It’s a Danish word roughly translated into English as “coziness.” Practicing hygge help lower anxiety, depression […]

Education Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Insurance U.S.

Five Considerations When Purchasing Stop-Loss Insurance

rosep

05 Jan 202204 Mar 2022

Choosing to self-fund a group health plan has major financial implications for a plan sponsor because it is ultimately responsible for paying all legitimate medical claims that arise. As a result, many self-funded plan sponsors purchase stop-loss insurance (also called excess-loss insurance […]

Communication Defined Benefit (DB) Plans Defined Contribution (DC) Plans Employee Benefits Financial Education Retirement U.S.

Transitioning from DB to DC: What You Need to Know

Justin Held, CEBS

29 Dec 202129 Dec 2021

In my years compiling benchmarking data for the International Foundation, one of the most notable trends has been the decreasing prevalence of employer-sponsored defined benefit (DB) pension plans. In the 2011 Employee Benefits Survey, 57% of responding organizations offered a DB pension […]

Employee Benefits

2021 Benefits Year in Review

Anne Patterson

21 Dec 202121 Dec 2021

Here in the benefits world, there doesn’t seem to be a slow year. A lot happened in 2021 so my fellow podsquad members and I took a look at the top benefits stories of the past year (which has become our year-end […]

Behavioral Decision Making Communication Employee Benefits Mental Health U.S. Wellness

Addressing Traumatic Brain Injuries at Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

16 Dec 202116 Dec 2021

Awareness surrounding traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has grown over the last decade as we’ve heard stories of high-profile football players and military veterans whose lives were either cut short or forever changed by these conditions. But other […]

Communication Disease Management Employee Benefits Paid Time Off (PTO) U.S. Wellness

OSHA COVID-19 Vaccinate-or-Test Emergency Temporary Standard

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

10 Dec 202113 Jan 2022

January 13, 2022, update on legal challenges: The Sixth Circuit lifted the stay on December 17, 2021, allowing the ETS to go into effect. OSHA posted modified enforcement deadlines stating, “OSHA will not issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS before January […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care Insurance Paid Time Off (PTO) U.S. Vacation Voluntary Benefits

Your End-of-Year Benefits Checklist

Justin Held, CEBS

07 Dec 202107 Dec 2021

Another year has come to an end. As the calendar turns over, it becomes particularly important to remind workers of some important benefits, if you haven’t already. We’re making a list and checking it twice on reminders for workers and employers regarding paid […]

Challenges of Mental Health Parity Compliance

Telehealth: Lessons From the Pandemic

Five Ways to Bring a Little Hygge to Your Workspace

Five Considerations When Purchasing Stop-Loss Insurance

Transitioning from DB to DC: What You Need to Know

2021 Benefits Year in Review

Addressing Traumatic Brain Injuries at Work

Top 7 Questions Employers Are Asking About the Flu at Work

OSHA COVID-19 Vaccinate-or-Test Emergency Temporary Standard

Your End-of-Year Benefits Checklist