MetLife’s 2025 U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study reveals notable drops in holistic health (-5%), productivity (-5%) and engagement (-7%) across the workforce and finds the majority of employees cite financial concerns, including rising medical costs (77%) and economic uncertainty (68%), as their primary source of stress.
The latest news, regulation and trends in health and employee benefits.
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The American Council of Life Insurers released a report that highlights how private insurance products can save billions in federal spending by reducing dependence on Social Security and Medicaid. For Social Security retirement income, delaying benefits–often enabled by life insurance and annuities–yields a net present value savings of $11 billion…
Chapman was among nearly a dozen people who spoke Wednesday to an Illinois House budget committee that oversees spending for human services, including Medicaid, the public health insurance program that covers about 3.4 million lower-income people in Illinois. In Illinois, the federal government pays approximately 51% of the cost of covering those…
Mar. 17— Mara Nissley has a rare disorder that causes her brain to swell as if she has a tumor. Citing rising costs, health insurers in the Philadelphia region and around the country are dropping or restricting coverage for some medications in this newer class of drugs, known as GLP-1 agonists. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a number of these drugs…
Mr. Settle joins RCCB as Senior Counsel to expand and enhance its healthcare transactional and regulatory practice within the Corporate& Business Group, further strengthening the firm's ability to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape. With four decades of experience, Mr. Settle has held senior and chief counsel roles at leading health insurance…
When I was growing up, I was taught that only lazy people asked for "handouts" from the government in hard times. But I've learned public assistance isn't a handout at all— it's a service our tax dollars pay for. We purchase these promises in good times so we have something for rainy days.
She obtained health coverage through a state program that provides taxpayer-funded insurance to immigrants like her who are in the country without legal permission as well as green card holders who haven’ t been in the U.S. long enough to qualify for Medicaid, the traditional health care program for the poor. But in just a few months, Francisca and more than…
The Newsom administration just informed the Legislature that it needs to borrow $3.4 billion to pay unexpectedly high costs for Medi-Cal, the state’ s safety-net health insurance program for low-income residents that is now open to all undocumented immigrants. As of Jan. 1, 2024, everyone in California who is in the country illegally is entitled to“ full-scope”…
The Newsom administration just informed the Legislature that it needs to borrow $3.4 billion to pay unexpectedly high costs for Medi-Cal, the state’ s safety-net health insurance program for low-income residents that is now open to all undocumented immigrants. As of Jan. 1, 2024, everyone in California who is in the country illegally is entitled to“ full-scope”…
DES MOINES— About a quarter of Iowans would no longer pay co-pays and deductibles for supplemental and diagnostic breast exams under legislation that unanimously passed the Iowa House and advanced Wednesday in the Iowa Senate. Insurers contend it would lead to increased health care costs, citing a fiscal analysis estimating a $443,000 to $1.4 million…
The California health care program that covers almost 15 million people is costing more money than Gov. Roughly 1.6 million immigrants without legal status are enrolled in Medi-Cal, according to state data. The program is a lifeline to people who traditionally have not had access to health insurance, and California is one of six states that offer coverage to…
New York State is on the brink of a disastrous decision that will harm thousands of children with autism. For years, Medicaid did not cover ABA therapy in New York, depriving low-income families of a crucial service that was available to those with private health insurance. In 2021, New York finally corrected this inequity by extending Medicaid coverage to ABA…
At the same time, lawmakers across the country and in Connecticut are looking to legislation as a way to regulate it, especially in the health care field. Saud Anwar, D- South Windsor, aims to amend the state's code to prohibit health insurance carriers from using AI to determine patient care "to safeguard patient access to testing, medications and procedures."
Two years ago, protests around a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors in Kentucky rocked the state Capitol. On Thursday, the Senate passed it in a 28-6 vote with overwhelming Republican support. The impact is more sweeping than what was this year’ s marquee bill limiting gender-affirming care; Senate Bill 2, which bars gender-affirming care for the…
1293 South Main Street- Akron, Ohio 44301. 2024 was a year of transformation at Myers Industries. Aaron has significant experience leading global industrial businesses, having previously spent eight years in a variety of senior leadership roles at Valmont Industries Inc., a leading manufacturer and global provider of equipment and technology solutions for…
EBRI asks what companies are doing to ensure employee financial wellness
EBRI’s studies show that 94% of companies say they have a responsibility to make sure employees are financially secure. Are they delivering?
SPRINGFIELD— Illinois lawmakers are growing concerned with the use of artificial intelligence in health care. Bob Morgan, D- Deerfield, is sponsoring two bills that would place restrictions on the use of AI in online therapy services as well as AI use in decision-making processes that determine a person's health insurance coverage. One of Morgan's sponsored…
TROY— Residents gathered at the Troy Elementary School for town meeting Wednesday evening were in for a show. The budget is $3,408,574, up $390,550, or 12.9 percent, from the $3,018,024 figure voters approved last year. Town Administrator Jeremy Bourgeois told The Sentinel earlier this month the hike was driven by rising health insurance premiums, as well as…
Brad Little should veto House Bill 345, which is on its way to his desk, having passed the Idaho House and Senate with unanimous Republican support. The bill would, among other things, have Idaho submit for a waiver that would allow it to implement work requirements on Medicaid expansion and transition the entire system swiftly to a managed-care model.
President Donald Trump's pick for CMS administrator told the Senate Finance Committee that America is struggling with soaring health care costs and higher obesity rates than other countries. Republicans, who have coalesced around Trump's nominees for the health agencies, are likely to ask Oz about his plans for Medicare and Medicaid, including the Trump…
