Articles

Meet the new President

Join us in Minneapolis to stay ahead of the curve on the critical benefits and workplace topics that continue to shape and define our world.

Student Loan Repayment Benefits on the Rise

All adults, regardless of age, may find themselves in a situation where they are unable to manage their lives and care for themselves because of physical limitations or cognitive decline. The Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute research provides insights into how individuals think about long-term care (LTC) and caregiving.

Virtual care delivery continues to rapidly transform the health care industry, driven by both consumer demand and advancements in technology.

Virtual care delivery continues to rapidly transform the health care industry, driven by both consumer demand and advancements in technology.

The conversation around substance use is shifting from an illness-focused to a wellness-focused approach, calling for a new strategy in employee benefits. The author explores ways employers and plan sponsors can incorporate proactive approaches and essential resources into substance use health.

Trustees need to stay informed about fund administration to perform their duties effectively. However, their broad discretion over educational expenses can lead to misuse. The authors examine the practical aspects of fiduciary responsibility to help trustees avoid these pitfalls.

By fostering inclusive workplaces where all generations can thrive, organizations can harness the economic and social benefits of a multigenerational workforce. The authors look beyond employment, encouraging a reimagining of retirement and preparation for the realities of longer lives.

Multiemployer benefit funds have an increasing need for data operations as data becomes the basis for key decisions. Following the six key steps in this article can help fund offices get off on the right foot with their data operations.

Hiring an outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) is gaining popularity among employee benefit plans, but the trend is still in the early stages. This article explores many of the pros and cons of this decision and offers best practices that plan sponsors may want to consider to maximize their OCIO experience.

Testing a health care plan’s nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) can be a confusing part of complying with mental health parity regulations. The authors describe the requirements and review common areas of noncompliance.

Emerging strategies for determining pension plan member life expectancies may promise a more precise assessment of pension liabilities than traditional mortality tables. Multifactor modeling, which incorporates multiple variables that influence mortality, is one such approach.

In its eighteenth year, the 2024 Aegis Risk Medical Stop-Loss Premium Survey measures the ongoing expense and coverage of medical stop-loss amongst employer-sponsored, self-funded health plans.

New governing council offices and members announced!

Nashville, known for its eclectic and colorful atmosphere, hosted two and a half days of valuable education sessions and networking opportunities with professionals from across North America.

High inflation may increase costs for defined benefit (DB) pension plans and potentially affect their funding status. The authors review how inflation impacts multiemployer and public DB plans and offer strategies for mitigating inflation risks.

Ensuring that claims procedures fulfill statutory requirements is an important part of minimizing legal challenges for employee benefit plans. In the second of two articles, the author describes the appeals process following an adverse benefit determination. The first article discussed the legal framework for claims procedures as well as timing and other requirements for benefit claim determinations.

Arbitrating employee benefit plan disputes can be a cheaper and more efficient alternative to litigating them in the courts, but arbitration provisions may not be a fit for every plan. Recent court decisions are among the factors to consider when evaluating whether to adopt, maintain, amend or remove an arbitration provision.

Recent legislation has relaxed the requirements for taking hardship distributions from defined contribution (DC) retirement plans, but some plan sponsors are hesitant to follow suit. Adopting a substantiation policy for these distributions can help minimize risks to the plan.