​Fundamentals in Health Benefits

Introduction to Group Health Plans
How health care plans are designed and administered can play a key role in attracting and retaining your employees. Having trained staff who can effectively answer health care and group benefit plan questions is essential. This course is designed to provide you with a solid introduction to the basic issues of group health medical benefits.

Overview of Prescription Drugs
For most people, taking medication is a part of daily life and prescription drug coverage provides an opportunity to obtain these drugs more affordably. This course will identify how people can gain access to prescription drug coverage, as well as define different types of drugs and how they may vary in price. It will also review how various plan features can affect cost for plan participants and how participants can purchase necessary drugs using a plan.

Self-Funded Health Plan Basics
Employers providing group health plans for their employees often choose to self-fund medical benefits instead of purchasing insurance. It is critical for plan sponsors to understand how these two approaches differ, how they are the same, and the pros and cons of each. This course will outline the basics of self-funding and provide a foundation for decision-making, design and administration.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
HSAs are designed to pay for day-to-day qualified medical expenses on a tax-favored basis before health coverage provided through a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) begins. Learn about who can own and contribute to an HSA, as well as contribution limits, distribution requirements and administration considerations. Conclude this course by comparing HSAs to other employer-sponsored health accounts.

​Workforce Wellness
A workforce wellness initiative is more than just a program. It refers to the systematic efforts of an organization to enhance the wellness of its members through education, behavioral change and cultural support. Many employers take an active role in supporting employee wellness because improved quality of life positively affects overall productivity, health and stability of the workforce. The key to long-term success is building a culture within the organization that encourages and supports health and healthy behaviors. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the history of workforce wellness and describes how to design and administer an effective wellness initiative.