Benefits, with Purpose!

With inflation being top of mind, empowering employees to make the most of the triple-tax-savings opportunity their HSA provides is crucial. In this episode, our experts unpack the financial benefits of HSAs and the different ways employers can educate employees on how to save their hard-earned dollars.

Moreso than ever, health and retirement benefits are key reasons employees join or stay with employers. In this tight labor market, how employers communicate the value of their benefits offering can give them a competitive advantage. In this episode, our experts discuss creative and outside-the-box strategies employers can use to communicate, connect and engage with employees.

With the pandemic and higher living costs, financial wellbeing is a matter that employers are prioritizing to reduce the impacts on employees. In this episode, our benefits delivery experts discuss outcome-focused communication strategies for employers so they can help their employees enrolled in high deductible health plans (HDHP) take full advantage of their health savings accounts (HSA).

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, employers have been faced with the challenge of ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. In September of 2021, President Biden announced the COVID-19 action plan, Path Out of the Pandemic, which requires employers with more than 100 employees to ensure workers are vaccinated or tested weekly. What does this mean for employers and their workforce? Our experts discuss the questions you're thinking about, our latest research from nearly 1,000 employers and the administration and compliance concerns to be aware of.

Research shows year over year employees are increasingly opening HSA accounts. However in 2020, about 20% of accounts were unfunded—meaning employees were not enjoying any of the tax benefits the HSA provides. Why is this employee benefit so often underutilized? Our experts tackle the issue of engagement and talk strategy and practical tips so employers can take action and help their employees maximize the spending and saving value available to them from these accounts.

HSAs are often a misunderstood benefit by employees, especially when it comes to how these accounts can help save for retirement. Our experts discuss the reality of health care costs in retirement, and how an HSA in addition to a 401(k) can be a highly effective strategy in planning for the future.

This second episode on COBRA subsidies focuses on Department of Labor guidance and model notices. Our experts review administration challenges and compliance strategies for implementing the subsidies and coordinating subsidies with the one-year extensions under previous emergency rules.

On March 11, 2021 President Biden signed the latest COVID-19 relief bill which includes a 100% COBRA subsidy for those who lost coverage due to involuntary termination or reduction in hours. Our experts unpack the many questions that come along with this update and the administrative challenges for employers in implementing these subsidies.

Co-fiduciary arrangements within defined benefit pension plan administration has become an increasing trend for employers. Why? Our experts explain how outsourcing these responsibilities and liabilities to a third-party brings significant value, providing risk mitigation, enhanced compliance results, and more.

Health care accounts such as HSAs and FSAs bring value to employees if the correct actions are taken. Our experts discuss the importance of plan year deadlines and how employers can help employees navigate this important time.

An interpretation of the many legislative changes impacting medical benefits accounts (CARES, HEALS and HEROS Acts) and what employers need to know.

With so many benefit decisions to make, the right technology can help employers meet their employees individual needs at the time in their lives when they need guidance. Does the human factor still play a part?