Consumer Driven Health Care

Douglas B. Hamm has been appointed vice president, individual sales for Assurity Life Insurance Company. Prior to joining Assurity Life, he served as a division manager with Financial Freedom.

o 40 percent of employers provide gyms/fitness center discounts. o 38 percent of employers provide gifts and prizes. o 27 percent of employers offer a reduction in employee contributions to medical plans. o 17 percent of empl

Wellness programs are increasing among large employers, according to MetLife. The company's Sixth Annual Employee Benefits Trends Study found 57 percent of large employers offer a wellness program, up from 49 percent in 2006. Small employers still

Most Americans with health insurance -- roughly 55 percent -- reported an increase over the past year, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. And while the real news there is probably why that number is so low despite all

What does wellness look like? Is it a busy executive trying to lower his or her cholesterol and shed a few pounds? A working mom joining a gym to keep up with her active lifestyle? In our industry, wellness used to be viewed as a luxury item