Articles - Grid

2025 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 Officers and Members Announced!

For the 400-plus benefits professionals who gathered in Minneapolis, the Symposium delivered the industry’s version of a hat trick of success. Those wins came in the form of gaining new knowledge, embracing innovative thinking and inspiration sparked by one another.

Employers that move beyond compliance to invest in inclusion, particularly through neurodiversity-friendly workplaces and benefits, gain a competitive edge by unlocking diverse cognitive strengths, boosting innovation, productivity and employee satisfaction. The author examines initiatives and problem-solving approaches that organizations can adopt to create a neuro-friendly workplace.

The trustee’s role in administering the plan and protecting the trust is essential to recovering delinquent contributions. The author describes the importance of early-detection safeguards, outlines best practices for collection and enforcement, and explains how trustees can fulfill their fiduciary duty to the fund and its beneficiaries.

Mental health affects everyone, and organizations can reduce stress, prevent burnout and boost engagement through targeted initiatives. The author outlines strategies that improve both business outcomes and employee well-being.

Considering issues such as worker fitness levels, preferences, cultures and abilities can help employers design more inclusive and effective employee fitness programs.

Federal regulations implemented over the last four years require a greater degree of price transparency from hospitals, insurers and health plans. Providing participants with easy-to-use shopping tools and incentives to use them are among the strategies that may help plan sponsors leverage transparency to lower health plan costs.

Employee leave has been one of the most complex areas of human resources and employee benefits for decades. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be an effective tool for leave management, but employers must navigate legal and regulatory issues.

The patchwork of dissimilar state and local laws makes it challenging to design a uniform, employer-paid parental leave policy. Issues to consider include leave stacking, antidiscrimination laws, job protection and reinstatement rights.

With dollar amounts climbing into the millions, catastrophic claims can present a threat to health plan budgets. Management strategies, such as reinsurance, independent clinical and financial oversight, quality of care initiatives and pharmacy programs, may help soften the blow.

Work–Life Balance, Talent Attraction and Retention Top Reasons to Offer Flexible Work Arrangements

Plan sponsors should consider what motivates their specific workforces and whether changes might help attract and retain employees when deciding which optional provisions to adopt.

Many employee benefits are provided through a combination of government-sponsored programs and private plans. This article explores the different types of benefits and the interaction between government programs and private plans.

The culmination of the financial and accounting activities for a benefit plan year is preparing and presenting audited financial statements to the board of trustees. Use of these statements requires an understanding of what makes up the figures reported in them and how these numbers were derived.

Promoting a workplace culture that embraces body diversity supports the broader goals of group benefits. The author explores how organizations, by supporting mental health services and implementing thoughtful policies, can help plan members stay engaged in their health journey, reducing costs and improving plan stability.

As the integration of artificial intelligence becomes increasingly widespread, its potential to transform workplaces is growing, along with the risks. The author examines key legal considerations for employers and benefits professionals navigating this evolving technology.

For many midlife women, the most demanding stage of their careers overlaps with increasing household responsibilities, caregiving duties and a health transition that remains widely unsupported in both clinical care and workplace benefits. Just as mental health transformed the benefits landscape a decade ago, the companies that lead on this issue will shape the future of work—and outperform those that don’t.

Employee benefit plan trustees and administrators could view a Department of Labor (DOL) audit as an opportunity to demonstrate adherence to fiduciary standards. This article identifies key steps in preparing for a compliance audit.

Health plans often struggle to successfully navigate the independent dispute resolution (IDR) process established by the No Surprises Act. What is the root of the issue, and how can plan sponsors and fiduciaries respond?