Employee Benefits Report – October 2018
New Rule Increases Small Groups Insurance Buying Power
If you own a small company, you know the frustration of not having the same buying power as large groups when purchasing health benefit coverage.
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The New Frontier of Student Loan Repayment Benefits
Student loan debt is soaring. The Federal Reserve reports that more than 44 million people owe $1.5 trillion in student loans. Loan amounts average $37,172, although some go as high as $100,000 or more.
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ERISA Q&A: What You Need to Know
If you currently offer, or are planning to offer your employees retirement benefits, make sure you’re familiar with ERISA rules and regulations.
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Getting the Most Out of an HSA
Employers are increasingly relying on high-deductible health benefit plans to reduce premium costs.
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Employee Benefits Report – September 2018
Navigating DOL 401(k) Audit Red Flags
Think there’s no way your retirement plan might be audited? Think again.
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Enforcement of the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions Now in Full Force
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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) now is enforcing the Affordable Care Act’s Employer Shared Responsibility provisions (ESRP) for health care benefits for 2015 and 2016. The IRS also has announced the affordability percentage for tax year 2019.
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The Nonprofit Dilemma — How to Provide Good Health Care Benefits
Health care benefits are a good way to attract and keep top talent. Here’s what you can and cannot do when offering benefits.
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Wave of the Future: Value-Based Care
The practice of insurers paying fee for services to physicians and hospitals is going the way of the dinosaurs. Look for value-based care to replace the current payment model.
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Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Fall 2018
Getting Ahead of the Curve: Planning Now for Social Security Deficiencies
If you’re like most people, Social Security will provide 40 percent of your income during retirement. Unfortunately, without changes, the federal government may not have enough money in 16 years to fully fund the program.
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The State of Medicare: 2018 and 2026
Medicare, like the federal government’s Social Security program, is on track to eventually run out of funds to pay the entire amount of claims made.
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Insurance That Goes Beyond Health Benefit Coverage
Health Insurance will not always protect you from financial devastation if you suffer from a critical illness.
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Too Much Blue Light? Filtering Lenses May be the Answer
Do you spend a lot of time working on a computer or looking at your smartphone? If so, are your eyes bothering you? Are you having difficulty sleeping?
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Employee Benefits Report – July 2018
Is Your Company’s Retirement Plan Safe from Hacking?
Many employees rely heavily on the money they put into their employer-sponsored 401(k) account to pay for their retirement. The last thing they want is for the money to be stolen by cyber thieves.
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Answering Your Employee’s Questions About Enrolling in Medicare
Working past age 65 is no longer uncommon. According to the U.S. Jobs report, almost 19 percent of people 65 or older worked at least part-time in the second quarter of 2017.
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What You Need to Know About Group Life Insurance
Employer sponsored life insurance is the way most Americans receive coverage. There are important decisions to make when offering coverage to employees.
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HSAs — Good for More Than Just Paying Medical Expenses
Your employees can enjoy the benefit of paying their long-term-care insurance premiums tax free — if you offer a Health Savings Account (HSA).
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Employee Benefits Report – June 2018
Could Paid Family Medical Leave Be in Your Company’s Future?
Although the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires some employers to provide unpaid leave to workers for family or medical reasons, several states now mandate employers to provide paid leave.
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ACA Compliance Issues for 2018
Even though the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is in its eighth year, many employers are not especially confident they know how to stay in compliance with the controversial health care reform law.
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What’s The Best Health Care Account for Your Employees?
Help your employees achieve more control over their health care decisions and expenses by providing them with a savings account for medical expenses.
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New Disability Insurance Regulations Designed to Provide Safeguards for Policy Holders
New regulations will affect employers and plan administrators who offer short-term and long-term disability plans.
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Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Summer 2018
Life Insurance for any Age — Especially During Retirement
There are many reasons why life insurance can make sense in retirement.
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Annuity Sales to Pick-Up in 2018
Rule changes in 2017 caused a decline in annuity sales. Still, annuities remain popular with investors for a number of reasons.
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Insurance Terminology 101 — What You Don’t Know Could Cost You
Health insurance protects you from financial ruin should you have a serious health issue and makes it more likely you’ll seek treatment when you’re ill.
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Convert a Roth IRA Once? Yes. Twice? No.
With the passage of the tax reform bill late last year, you can no longer undo Roth IRA conversions.
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Employee Benefits Report – April 2018
Don’t Let a Flu Epidemic Take Your Business Down
A particularly virulent influenza strain, H3N2, was responsible for a record number of illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths this winter.
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Tuition Assistance for a Better Future
Tuition assistance not only benefits your employees, it helps your company.
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Making a 401(k) Plan a Reality for Your Employees
A 401(k) retirement plan is one of the most desirable and valuable benefits you can provide your employees. Having an employee retirement plan shows you care about their future and helps employees create a nest egg for a comfortable retirement.
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A Partnership with an Eye To Better Health Care
Three successful American companies decided to see if the status quo of rising health care costs and decreasing patient satisfaction can be improved.
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Employee Benefits Report – March 2018
Stepping into Lower Drug Costs
Step therapy can save money but some say there can be a downside.
One way to keep your health benefit plan’s overall costs lower is to encourage employees to choose generic drugs whenever possible. The U. S. healthcare system saved $1.68 trillion from 2005 to 2014 by using generic drugs, according to the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.
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Ten Reasons to Motivate Employees to Use Their Employee Health Benefit Portal
It’s not enough to give your employees the right health plan if they don’t understand it. An online employee portal or self-service site can help — if employees are motivated to use it.
Kicking it Up a Notch — Retirement Contribution Limits Increased
That’s just one of the many changes to retirement plans for 2018.
This year employees can contribute $500 more to their federally legislated retirement funds. The federal government raised contribution limits to $18,500 for 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan. The adjustment was made to keep up with the cost of living. Participants age 50 or older, by the end of 2018, may make additional catch-up contributions of $6,000, meaning older savers may defer up to $24,500 into their retirement plan.
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Ways to Proactively Combat Mental Health Issues in the Workplace
Do you have employees who are depressed, anxious or addicted to alcohol or drugs? If so, do you know what to do?
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Spring 2018
Watch for Health Insurance Premium Increases
Reinstating the Health Insurance Act and repealing the individual mandate to purchase insurance could both contribute to a rise in premiums.
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Haven’t Saved Enough for Retirement? Here’s a Few Ideas
If you aren’t on course to save $1 million by the time you retire, you’ll have to get creative. The Motley Fool, a multimedia financial-services company, says that’s the amount of money a couple will need to live comfortably after they retire.
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Life Insurance: When Free isn’t Enough
Employer sponsored life insurance may not meet all your needs.
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How Life Insurance Companies Get to the Truth
Life insurance companies need honest answers to questions about your health to determine appropriate premiums and coverage levels. Some applicants are tempted to leave out or misstate information they don’t see as important — or think will adversely affect their benefits.
Employee Benefits Report -January 2018
Pharmacogenomics: Better Health and Cost Savings
Drugs are formulated for normal physiology. Physicians with knowledge of a person’s unique genetic makeup can better determine which drugs will be most effective. Read on for details.
Short- or Long-Term? Which Disability Policy is Best for Your Employees?
Long-term disability coverage offers employees better financial security. Yet most workers choose short-term coverage
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The Benefits of Offering Supplemental Life Insurance
Supplemental insurance allows employees to customize their coverage to meet their individual needs. Read on for details.
Voluntary Benefits Now Almost Mandatory
>More employers are turning to voluntary benefits as a cost-effective way to help employees protect their financial assets. Employees, too, are looking for more robust benefit packages.
Employee Benefits Report -December 2017
Changes to 401(k) Plans Under Consideration
Congress is debating possible changes to the 401(k) retirement plans employers offer their employees. Some of the ideas being discussed by Senators and Representatives would favor employees, some would benefit the federal government. Read on for details.
Vision Insurance Trends to Incorporate in Your Benefit Plans
Employees increasingly rank vision insurance as one of the most important benefits. Here’s how to get the right plan for your employees:
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Proposed Changes to Group Health Insurance for Small Employers
The president and congress continue proposing changes to healthcare laws and the country continues to debate what the effects of those proposals will be. Read on for details.
Getting the Most Out of Disability Benefits
You spend valuable time and money to offering benefits to your employees. So imagine how frustrating it would be for you and your employees if they were unable to enjoy the benefits they deserve.
Life & Health Insurance Advisor – Winter 2017
Financially Sound Ways to Give to Minors
There are many options for helping a child secure his or her financial future.
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Is Short-Term Medical Insurance a Good Fit for Your Situation?
If you missed open enrollment or have certain “life events” short-term insurance can keep you covered.
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Take Steps to Improve Your Financial Retirement
Most baby boomers have less than half the assets they expect to need in retirement
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Will Your Health Insurance Cover Your Trip Overseas?
The day has come! You’re headed overseas for the trip of your lifetime. But what happens if you get sick on the trip? Really sick?
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