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Uncertainty Weighs on Group Plan Cost Expectations

Uncertainty Weighs on Group Plan Cost Expectations

U.S. employers are expecting their group health insurance costs to climb 4.4% in 2021, despite the ravages of pandemic and a likely uptick in health care usage next year, according to a new survey. The expected rate increases are on par with much of the last few years...

How to Distribute Group Health Plan Rebates to Your Staff

How to Distribute Group Health Plan Rebates to Your Staff

Group health plan insurers are paying out $689 million in rebates to plan sponsors this year, as required by the Affordable Care Act's "medical loss ratio" provision. The provision requires insurance companies that cover individuals and small businesses to spend at...

Helping Your Older Workers Transition to Medicare

Helping Your Older Workers Transition to Medicare

As health insurance costs rise and our workforce ages, fewer employers are providing retiree health insurance benefits to their older workers, and are instead asking them to sign up for Medicare. It's a delicate situation as some older workers may resent being pushed...

Getting a Head Start on Open Enrollment

Getting a Head Start on Open Enrollment

With open enrollment right around the corner, it's time to review the health plan options available to you for the next year and prepare your workplace for signing up for the 2021 policy year. The big decision for employers is finding a plan that fits not only their...

How to Distribute Group Health Plan Rebates to your Staff

How to Distribute Group Health Plan Rebates to your Staff

Group health plan insurers are paying out $689 million in rebates to plan sponsors this year, as required by the Affordable Care Act’s “medical loss ratio” provision. The provision requires insurance companies that cover individuals and small businesses to spend at...

Employees Pick Perks and Benefits Over Pay Raises

Employees Pick Perks and Benefits Over Pay Raises

Great perks and incentives packages can help attract top-notch talent, maintain employee morale and improve overall engagement and satisfaction with a company. The coronavirus pandemic has made perks and benefits even more important, particularly in light of so many...

Group Plan Affordability Levels Set for 2021

Group Plan Affordability Levels Set for 2021

The IRS has announced the new affordability requirement test percentage that group health plans must comply with to conform to the Affordable Care Act. Starting in 2021, the cost of self-only group plans offered to workers by employers that are required to comply with...

Pandemic Clouds Health Insurance Cost Predictions

Pandemic Clouds Health Insurance Cost Predictions

With large employers expecting health insurance rates to climb 5.3% in 2021, they are concerned about how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect overall health care costs in the coming years, a new survey has found. Those expectations gleaned from the survey by the...