Employee Benefits

  • HSAs Made Easy: Learn the Essentials & Protect Your Savings from Mistakes

    HSAs Made Easy: Learn the Essentials & Protect Your Savings from Mistakes

    Health savings accounts (HSAs) have become a vital part of many employers’ benefits packages, offering employees a powerful tool to manage healthcare expenses while benefiting from tax advantages. However, managing HSAs goes beyond just facilitating contributions. It also involves understanding and addressing mistakes with distributions that employees might encounter. This article delves into the basics…

  • Form 5500: What You Need To Know

    Form 5500: What You Need To Know

    Attention Employers: Don’t Miss Your Form 5500 Deadline! Here’s a simplified breakdown of what you need to know about filing your employee benefit plan report: Who Needs to File? Employers subject to ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) with employee benefit plans, unless exempt. What to File? Form 5500 (annual report) for each employee benefit…

  • Empowering Baby Boomers: Building a Competitive Benefits Package

    Empowering Baby Boomers: Building a Competitive Benefits Package

    A Baby Boomer is someone born between 1946 and 1964. This generation is currently between 58 and 78 years old (in 2024).  They tend to have a strong, loyal work ethic and excel at face-to-face communication and building relationships with colleagues.  Boomers have a wealth of experience accumulated over long careers. They value jobs that…

  • Benefits Check-up: 6 Compliance Issues Affecting Your Clients’ Health

    Benefits Check-up: 6 Compliance Issues Affecting Your Clients’ Health

    A health plan is more than a product or service; it’s a relationship. All productive and healthy relationships—especially in the benefits space—rely on trust. When an employer extends trust in a broker or insurance carrier to purchase something as critical as healthcare—for people as critical as their workers and families—we’re obligated to raise all factors…

  • Benefits 101: What Is Hospital Indemnity Insurance?

    Benefits 101: What Is Hospital Indemnity Insurance?

    No matter whether it is anticipated or unexpected, a hospital stay is expensive.  According to HealthCare.gov, the average 3-day hospital stay in the United States costs around $30,000.  Health insurance will cover some of the costs if you are admitted to the hospital, but you may have other out-of-pocket costs.  Hospital Indemnity Insurance can help…

  • 8 Unique Employee Perks That Don’t Require a Big Budget

    8 Unique Employee Perks That Don’t Require a Big Budget

    Free and low-cost employee benefits are perks that don’t cost you much financially. These perks are often simple to provide and help enhance an existing employee benefits package. Including non-traditional benefits in a job offer shows employees your values; they’re a promise to both current and potential employees that you’ll support them and treat them…

  • Top Benefit Trends for 2024

    Top Benefit Trends for 2024

    The challenges that influenced the benefits landscape in 2023 persist—perhaps even more so. Rising costs, due to inflation and increasing health care prices, will continue to present challenges this new year.  But employers who understand the benefits landscape for 2024 can mold their approach for the upcoming year. A new year means revisiting your existing…

  • Year-Round Benefits Education

    Year-Round Benefits Education

    For most organizations, employee benefits communication kicks into high gear during open enrollment season. During this time, there is a surge in emails, educational webinars, fliers throughout the office, and a barrage of forms demanding signatures. Post open enrollment, however, employees often receive minimal information about their benefits. While sporadic email updates or new laminated…

  • Revealed – Survey Responses about Employee Wellness and Benefits

    Revealed – Survey Responses about Employee Wellness and Benefits

    The connection between employee wellness and the benefits of the job might seem obvious. But the conversation should be more nuanced than merely a discussion about health insurance, access to mental healthcare like employee assistance programs (EAPs), and well-being apps to reach zen. Indeed, Human Resources professionals must reconsider their definition of benefits. It must extend to all the pros of…

  • Benefits 101: Premiums, Deductibles, Copays, and Out-of-Pocket Maximums

    Benefits 101: Premiums, Deductibles, Copays, and Out-of-Pocket Maximums

    Not understanding benefits terminology is near the top of the list of ways that open enrollment and benefits selection can stress you out.  Open enrollment is coming quickly and soon you will be talking about benefit options. The world of benefits and insurance can be confusing. In-network, out-of-network, deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance? What? Let us…