Do you remember reading this column’s headline in this magazine just over two years ago? I do. Credit the headline to Denis Storey’s interview of Tracy Dieterich in the March 2009 issue. It’s available on the BenefitsPro.com in case you missed it.

It’s a classic. For years I have kept a “think about…” list, and many times it has helped think through to winning solutions This month, we’ll consider the opportunity to think about the future of the benefits business. There are no answers here, but plenty to think about. Those of you with the best answers will have a competitive edge.

1) Working seniors. It seems pretty clear that many people will continue working past age 65, and the benefit world is not very friendly to that age group (life and long term disability plans reduce benefits, have higher premiums, or both; medical plans shunt them into Medicare and Supplements thereto; AD&D and critical illness plans might terminate or reduce in value; prices for nearly every benefit plan are higher; and so on). Employers are likely to be seeking voluntary product packages that respond to the needs of this expanding market, and will need innovative advice on design of benefits.