Federal regulators—specifically, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury—issued joint guidance on October 16, 2025, making it significantly easier for employers to offer fertility benefits outside of their traditional group health plans. This action was driven by an Executive Order focused on protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) access and reducing the [...]
Open enrollment is a hectic and critical period for employers that often brings a risk of compliance errors. These mistakes can confuse employees and cause missed benefits, while also exposing employers to legal risks. This article highlights five common compliance pitfalls to avoid during open enrollment: Ineffective Communication of Benefit Changes – Benefit offerings often change [...]
No doubt about it, prescriptions are expensive. While this may not be a big worry when you’re young and healthy, the costs can add up quickly if you’re diagnosed with a chronic condition or need an expensive drug. Whether you take medications regularly or for an occasional illness, it pays to know how to save [...]
Over the past several years, mental health in the United States has steadily declined. Growing concerns about this issue have increased the pressure on employers to provide stronger mental health benefits. Although many organizations have expanded their mental health offerings, utilization among employees remains low. When these resources go unused, employees who could benefit miss [...]
Health Insurance today is significantly more complex for young workers than it was just a decade ago. This complexity is driven in large part by healthcare costs that have outpaced inflation, pushing premiums, copays, and other out-of-pocket expenses to comprise substantial portions of their budgets. For many younger employees, navigating this landscape is confusing – [...]
Protecting yourself online doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A few simple habits can dramatically reduce your risk of falling victim to cybercrime. While you can never be "hackproof," you can become resilient in the online world. At the heart of online safety are four essential behaviors we at the National Cybersecurity Alliance call [...]
How to position yourself as a trusted ACA compliance advisor For brokers and benefits advisors, Q4 planning doesn’t start in October. It starts now. September marks a critical moment in the annual ACA compliance cycle, when employers begin thinking about year-end strategies, benefits renewals, and how to avoid last-minute reporting panic. That makes now the perfect [...]
When navigating the world of health insurance, you will likely encounter the term PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). A PPO plan - whether medical or dental - is about balancing the cost and convenience of care. With a PPO plan, you get the flexibility to see a wide range of doctors. You'll save money by staying [...]
PwC’s latest annual analysis forecasts that group health insurance costs will increase by 8.5% in 2026—the third straight year at this elevated trend. This sustained rise means health care expenses are now similar to those seen 15 years ago, after a brief dip post-pandemic. Researchers gathered data from actuaries at 24 major U.S. health plans, [...]
Change management is a necessity in today's workplace. Digital transformation, hybrid work and automation are forcing people to adapt, learn new things and evolve. HR professionals are uniquely positioned as both architects and ambassadors of change. Discover guidance for navigating these transformations: 1. Assess the preparedness of the workforce Whenever big change is coming, organizations must determine how ready their people are [...]
