Expert Opinion

Improve employee well-being with a new focus: Return on Health

Jake Cleer | June 17, 2018

Employers need to be aware of how an employee’s well-being impacts the workplace, and what they can do to achieve a high ROH.

Market Insights

Corporate wellness market to double in value by 2026

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | June 12, 2018

Programs in North America and Europe will likely see the biggest gains due to high health care expenditures and the availability of a wide range of providers.

Expert Opinion

4 ways to foster employees' mental health in the workplace

Michael Serbinis | June 12, 2018

By thinking broadly about your mental health benefit offerings, you can better provide value and meet the needs of your employees.

Disrupting the voluntary benefits market

BenefitsPRO editors | June 06, 2018

In his BenefitsPRO Broker Expo presentation, voluntary expert Eric Silverman outlines what advisers need to do to move beyond a status-quo enhanced benefits strategy.

News

Humana adds dental plan aimed at coverage continuation market

Allison Bell | June 05, 2018

Consumers who had dental insurance before can get immediate coverage for basic and major services.

Commentary

Small businesses can be big business

Marty Traynor | June 05, 2018

Why has the small-group market been so overlooked by benefit professionals?

Expert Opinion

Consumers need more education on disability insurance--Millennials in particular

Greg Poulakos | June 04, 2018

Disability Insurance Awareness Month is ending. The need for awareness lasts all year round.

Expert Opinion

Don't forget about employees' financial well-being

Brian Hamilton | June 01, 2018

How does your company make sure it’s not just checking the box but rather effectively addressing the physical, emotional and financial needs of the people on its teams?

Expert Opinion

The value of total compensation statements

Jessica Foust | May 30, 2018

It's up to employers to step in and remind employees of the full value of their compensation packages.

Research

Millennials driving employer adoption of benefits tech

Joel Kranc | May 25, 2018

A new survey from Guardian Life shows that employers want to provide benefits in a way that best suits their changing workforce.

Research

Personalized support from employers enhances employee retention

Marlene Satter | May 24, 2018

Workers who feel that their employer-provided benefits have a positive impact on their lives are more than 40 percent more likely to declare themselves loyal to the company.

5 way brokers can maximize voluntary benefits portfolios

Denise Szott | May 22, 2018

To meet increasing demands and save themselves time and effort in expanding a voluntary portfolio, brokers should follow these five guidelines.

Research

Employees who participate in wellness programs are healthier, at least

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | May 21, 2018

More than half of people with access to wellness programs say the initiatives have made a positive impact on their health.

Infographic

Infographic: How insurance helps sick pets

Shawn Moynihan | May 18, 2018

Despite common ailments, only about 1 percent of North American cats and dogs are covered by pet insurance.

Research

10 top causes of disability claims

BenefitsPRO Editors | May 17, 2018

Disability insurance is a critical part of a benefits portfolio for any employer looking to offer a competitive package and help offset the rising costs of health care.

Analysis

2018 voluntary survey: The fight for employers' business grows fiercer

Gil Lowerre and Bonnie Brazzell | May 17, 2018

Brokers are selling more voluntary today than they have in the past. Here's how to stay competitive.

Commentary

Disability insurance: Why it’s not just for your clients’ employees

Janet Buzil | May 17, 2018

No one plans on becoming disabled, but if it does happen, disability insurance helps—a lot.

Analysis

Overcoming 3 barriers to mental health care access

Emily Payne | May 15, 2018

Overlooking employees' mental health can cost employers 2.5 times more in medical claims, not to mention the dramatic decrease in productivity.

Expert Opinion

Don't forget about the employee

Gil Lowerre and Bonnie Brazzell | May 12, 2018

By neglecting the employee perspective when selling voluntary benefits, you may be leaving credibility and revenue potential on the table.

Research

Are HSAs worth the effort for TPAs?

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | May 11, 2018

Despite the growing popularity of HSAs, third-party administrators remain cautious, unsure whether the endeavor can be profitable.

Expert Opinion

5 selling points of telehealth

Arif Razvi and Joey Truscelli | May 10, 2018

As telehealth programs become more evolved, a growing number of businesses are taking advantage of them.

Research

This is how employees feel about their benefit packages

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | May 09, 2018

Employees are tired of paying more for health insurance, but they wouldn't mind chipping in for better retirement benefits.

Expert Opinion

We can do better

Marty Traynor | May 08, 2018

Why is medical insurance seen by most as an “I’ve got to have it” benefit, while disability income protection is viewed as a “why do I need it” benefit?

Expert Opinion

6 tips to sell clients on disability insurance during DIAM

Greg Breter | May 08, 2018

The best way to celebrate Disability Insurance Awareness Month is to keep more of your clients and their employees safeguarded against financial fragility.

Research

Student loan benefits more popular with workers than employers

Marlene Satter | May 07, 2018

While a student loan benefit is the most-requested financial benefit, it’s only third on the priority list for HR professionals.

Expert Opinion

4 important aspects of a proactive disability insurance program

Jung Ryu | May 07, 2018

By adopting a holistic approach, employers can offer more creative accommodations and coordinate other program benefits to ensure an employee gets the assistance they need.

Research

Employers are upping the ante on employee wellness programs

Marlene Satter | May 03, 2018

Not only are companies planning to expand existing programs, but they’re increasing incentives to entice workers to buy into such programs.

Expert Opinion

Why companies should consider investing their tax savings in an employer-paid legal plan

Dennis Healy | May 03, 2018

In response to the tax cuts, some companies gave employee bonuses, some increased wages, and others invested in benefits.

Slideshow

5 most common and 5 most expensive pet insurance claims

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | May 02, 2018

The pet health insurance industry posted another record year in 2017, with the total number of pets insured in the U.S. and Canada reaching over 2 million.

Career Moves

Benefits industry newsmakers: Voluntary Disruption, Healthjoy, NAPA

Caroline Marwitz | May 01, 2018

Learn about the latest employee benefits industry newsmakers and why they're noteworthy.

Live Coverage

Young brokers get to the heart of the issues facing today’s industry

Emily Payne | April 27, 2018

Will brokers have a job in 10 years? If these young leaders have anything to say about it, they will.

News

What Anthem, Centene and Cigna are up to this week

Allison Bell | April 26, 2018

A look at some of what the companies have said this week, drawn from earnings releases and earnings conference call recordings.

Be coachable: how brokers can stay out of their own way

Eric Silverman | April 25, 2018

Trust the experts to know how to overcome objections and close the sale.

News

IRS provides details on family leave tax credit, but guidance still lacking

Jack Craver | April 25, 2018

The tax credit allows employers to claim a credit for a certain percentage of their employees’ wages, but there is a long list of qualifications attached.

Expert Opinion

5 ways employers can help improve employees’ financial literacy and wellness

Peter Waitzman | April 19, 2018

Employers are increasingly attempting to help improve employees’ financial literacy in new and different ways.

Research

3 areas where employee benefits are out of whack

Marlene Satter | April 17, 2018

Companies aren’t exactly throwing themselves into providing the kind of personalized benefits that could mean the most to employees.

Expert Opinion

With age comes wisdom… and larger workers’ comp claims

Jose Pagan | April 17, 2018

The aging working population is growing and so are workers’ comp claims and the issues affecting them.

Expert Opinion

6 factors to consider when looking for a voluntary-benefits outsourcing firm

Peter Marcia | April 16, 2018

Partnering with an outsourcing firm enables employers to combine a voluntary benefit strategy with a holistic approach that aligns with the company’s benefit objectives.

Research

Financial wellness tools: big with employees, not so much with employers

Marlene Satter | April 16, 2018

Workers are looking for more commitment to their personal success by employers and a human connection that takes their personal identity into account on the job.

Best Practices

What we can learn from the travel, entertainment and transportation industries

Vinay Gidwaney | April 14, 2018

At this year's BenefitsPRO Broker Expo, Vinay Gidwaney will be discussing how the insurance industry will be affected by the same disruption that has revolutionized the travel and entertainment industries.

News

U.S. companies digging deeper to find and keep workers

Marlene Satter | April 13, 2018

U.S. businesses are lowering educational requirements for some groups of workers, as well as increasing telework.

Research

Job-hopping continues, despite the risks

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | April 12, 2018

Younger workers are still more likely to job hop, and workers with a college degree or higher see the most benefit in changing jobs every few years.

Expert Opinion

Brokers have the power to demand change in voluntary benefits delivery

Gil Lowerre and Bonnie Brazzell | April 12, 2018

If brokers demand changes and improvements today, they are more likely to get their way.

Analysis

What are the biggest challenges of benefits engagement?

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | April 12, 2018

“The more the merrier” does not always apply when it comes to benefits, especially if it results in confusion and low employee engagement.

News

Employers' interest in identity theft protection on the rise

Katie Kuehner-Hebert | April 12, 2018

57 percent of benefit advisors are receiving regular requests from their clients for benefits that provide identity theft protection for their workers.

Market Insights

Employers delving deeper into voluntary benefits

Marlene Satter | April 11, 2018

Voluntary benefits are becoming more entrenched as part of a company's core employee benefit strategy.

Dental: The voluntary benefit that’s not voluntary

David Polen | April 10, 2018

It’s not an option: employees demand quality dental insurance.

Expert Opinion

How to help clients use family caregiver benefits

Sophia Horsman | April 10, 2018

Here are critical things to know about how disability insurance policies can do more.

Market Insights

9 voluntary solutions for today's diverse workforce

Nicholas Park | April 10, 2018

From baby boomers to Generation Z, today's employers need to offer a range of voluntary benefits that appeal to many different types of employees.

Quick Takes

Behavioral enrollment, part 3: Fascinating stories

Marty Traynor | April 06, 2018

If you’re fascinated by an idea, you will not only respond favorably (buy it), you will also continue to favor it (own it) and potentially become an advocate (sell it).