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Be An Employer Resource By Knowing Paid Family Leave Laws

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With a patchwork of policies to navigate, brokers have to provide guidance on the right mix of benefits while staying compliant with current laws. Although most employers offer a baseline of traditional paid leave benefits, such as paid time off and short-term disability, additional benefits can give employers the leg up they need to attract and retain top talent.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 36% of 65- to 69-year-olds will be in the workforce by 2024. In addition, a 2014 AARP study tells us that 70% of experienced workers plan to work full time or part time in retirement. This whole paradigm shift affects not only seniors, but also those who work closely with this population.

Employer wellness programs are mainstream components of benefit packages for most major companies. However, today’s programs have come a long way from their beginnings nearly 40 years ago.

LIMRA research finds the top reason employers offer benefits is to retain employees (73%), followed by attracting new employees (56%) and staying competitive in the market (51%). One reason that retaining employees is a significantly bigger motive than attracting new employees comes down to cost.

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In June, PricewaterhouseCoopers got the guessing game started, publishing its closely-watched cost trend report for 2020, which predicts a 5 percent premium increase. The Society for Human Resource Management followed in August with an identical number. According to an annual employer health benefits survey published in September by Kaiser Family…

Those who drifted away from buying Covered California health insurance policies in 2019 because Congress dropped the tax penalties for going uninsured will face an entirely different situation in 2020.. It instituted statewide penalties very similar to those in the Affordable Care Act before Congress removed them in 2017.. The new state-level subsidies…

While strong majorities of consumers support proposals to lower the cost of prescription drugs, Americans are sharply split on “Medicare for All” proposals and on whether such proposals might ever become reality. Fewer than one third (31%) think it likely that such a program would be implemented; 48% consider it unlikely.

RALEIGH— When the Democratic Congress and the Obama administration enacted the Affordable Care Act a decade ago, the part that got the most attention was a set of insurance exchanges where Americans could enroll in private health plans with varying degrees of subsidy. A majority of justices of the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that the mandate was…
Many seniors are worried about running out of money in retirement. Annuities are one option to prevent that from happening.

The Protected Lifetime Income Index study, a recent survey of 3,119 adults by the Alliance for Lifetime Income, shows that a mere 28% of non-retired Americans have made an effort to determine their likely monthly income needs in retirement —perhaps the single most important thing people should be planning for.

HealthPartners is closing 30 retail pharmacies as well as its mail-order pharmacy operations next year due to economic pressures that officials say give an advantage to larger operators in the industry. HealthPartners, which is a nonprofit health insurer that also runs clinics and hospitals in Minnesota and Wisconsin, said it will work with patients…

RADNOR, PA, – November 5, 2019 – Planning for long-term care needs has become an increasingly important topic as the…
Many seniors are worried about running out of money in retirement. Annuities are one option to prevent that from happening.

A Massachusetts bill would expand an existing state program that makes retirement plans available to nonprofit workers and create a new “Massachusetts Secure Choice Retirement Program.” Most businesses would then be required to enroll workers in their own sponsored retirement plan, the new Secure Choice program or an expanded existing program or face a fine.

Nov. 5– Pennsylvania officials on Monday announced a$ 1 million fine against insurance giant United Healthcare for denial or sometimes failure to pay customers’ claims relating to mental health care. United also inaccurately calculated consumers’ total out-of-pocket costs for claims relating to autism, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Elizabeth Warren could be turning off swing voters in New Hampshire and the Midwest with her Medicare-for-All plan– which “opened up a can of worms” and leaves plenty of questions, pundits tell the Herald. “If fellow Democrats are picking her plan apart, imagine what the man in the White House is going to do and what conservatives are going to do,” said veteran pollster…

Seven U.S. citizens and a nonprofit organization filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday contending the rule would block nearly two-thirds of all prospective legal immigrants. The lawsuit also said the rule would greatly reduce or eliminate the number of immigrants who enter the United States with family sponsored visas. The proclamation signed by President…

Similar changes also are expected in the Springfield, Peoria and Rockford areas, the analysis indicated. Meanwhile, premiums for lower-priced “silver” plans in the Springfield and Peoria areas will drop by 5% to 10% or rise up to 5%. Lower-priced “gold plans” are expected to drop by up to 5% or rise as much as 10% in parts of the Springfield and Peoria areas and increase…

Healthcare costs leave young adults unable to take care of themselves today AND prepare for health and financial needs tomorrow. Lively finds the majority of Gen Zers and Millennials have cut back spending on wellness activities due to healthcare costs, including decreased spending on hobbies and putting off or canceling vacation plans.

And the addition of two more insurers– Molina Healthcare and Bright Health Company– means customers in 32 S.C. counties will have their choice of two insurance providers, while customers in three counties can pick from three. Health care coverage through the ACA marketplace is dropping nationwide after price increases at the end of the Obama administration…

–With the new 2020 Obamacare plans and pricing being released, the new Obamacare marketplace has literally been flipped upside down. These are not government employees, rather, they are Licensed Health Agents that have the experience to help consumers with the application and are educated on the new Obamacare plan options. For accurate quotes, consumers may…

WASHINGTON– The Senate defeated a resolution Wednesday that would have overturned a Trump administration rule that lets states extend short-term health insurance policies for up to three years as a substitute for traditional coverage. Forty-three Senate Democrats, including Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith of Minnesota, voted to overturn the short-term…

The U.S. Senate rejected a Democratic attempt to roll back a Trump administration rule that would allow states to disregard part of the Affordable Care Act and permit the sale of what some call “junk insurance.”

Principal Financial Group issued the following news release:. Today, Principal Financial Group (R) launched Principal (R) SimpleInvest, the company’s new digital advice program that provides retirement savers with access to personalized investment advice online as well as guidance from financial professionals. Principal SimpleInvest uses mutual…

–Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has launched education and outreach efforts aimed at removing barriers to health insurance enrollment in advance of the November 1 st opening of the Individual Insurance Marketplace. “In our state, nearly 900 thousand people are uninsured, yet more than 63 percent of them qualify for financial assistance,” said Steve…

–Americans’ lack of health care literacy may be leading them to avoid medical care. More than one in four people have avoided care or treatment because they were unsure of what their health insurance covered, according to a new survey from Policygenius, the nation’s leading online insurance marketplace. “The survey data suggest the reason people avoid care is…

The Louisville, Kentucky- based Humana announced Monday it’d be cutting 2% of its workforce by the end of the year, with some employees being let go as early as Thursday. The Courier-Journal reports that Humana employs 41,600 nationwide, so 2% would be about 832 people. Information from: Courier Journal, http://www.courier-journal.com.

An appeals court ruling in a major, Texas-led legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act is expected any day, meaning it could come on the eve of open enrollment that runs through Dec. 15, or during the middle of it.

Sharon Kelly had always been healthy and never used her insurance plan much. Kelly, a self-employed psychologist in West Chester, was swept up in a whirlwind of medical appointments, tests, and surgeries that got rid of the disease, but left her with $15,000 in medical bills. The premium alone was close to $7,000 a year.

Oct. 28– A behind-the-scenes struggle over what Pennsylvania doctors can do to patients? Jonathan Garino, a leader of the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society, said insurance companies’ use of the process is out of control. Steven Mentzer of Lancaster County and Rep.

Oct. 28– The annual sign-up period for individuals to sign up for health insurance is just around the corner and Iowa’s market is in a better place than it was in recent years, some experts say. In the past, Iowa has dealt with an unstable insurance market. “We don’t expect anything different for the coming year,” said Scott Sundstrom, vice president of government…

The promise of cost savings and reduced administrative burdens from bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses offer retirement savings plans may prove more appealing to some employers than others, according to a new white paper from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. The House of Representatives earlier this year passed the…

-John Hancock has teamed up with The Players’ Tribune and CBS Sports Digital to launch “Plan for Amazing,” a digital campaign to raise awareness of retirement planning through the perspective of professional football players, including Eric Ebron, Myles Garrett, D.K. Metcalf and Brandon Copeland. Through the campaign, John Hancock hopes to encourage more…

The complex Medicaid expansion bill endorsed by a Republican-dominated Senate committee Wednesday offered health insurance to an estimated 150,000 low-income Kansans and inspired skepticism from conservatives opposed to government growth and from moderates uneasy with the plan’s many moving parts. The package developed by Senate Majority Leader…

Open enrollment season is underway for Medicare Advantage, and if you are one of the 4.5 million eligible seniors in Florida, you are going to want to shop around this year for coverage that best fits your health and spending needs. For 2020, the average monthly Medicare Advantage premium in Florida has dropped to $8.38 in 2020 from $8.45 in 2019.
Many seniors are not prepared for the cost of retirement.
Exclusive

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that 36% of 65- to 69-year-olds will be in the workforce by 2024. In addition, a 2014 AARP study tells us that 70% of experienced workers plan to work full time or part time in retirement. This whole paradigm shift affects not only seniors, but also those who work closely with this population.

–Through 2023, the US insured population is projected to rise 0.7% annually while the uninsured population is expected to increase 1.2% annually, according to Healthcare Insurance: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. These and other key insights are featured in Healthcare Insurance: United States. employer-sponsored…

While more than three quarters of Medicare beneficiaries are happy with their current Medicare plan, 79% also intend to review their coverage options during open enrollment season. One-third of respondents say that prescription drug costs are the number one factor they rely upon when choosing a new Medicare plan.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration issued the following news release:. Consistent with President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 13487, Strengthening Retirement Security in America, the U.S. Department of Labor today announced a proposed rule to allow online retirement plan disclosures to reduce printing and mail…

–QuoteWizard ®, a LendingTree company, and one of the nation’s leading online insurance marketplaces has released its report ranking which states have seen the biggest improvement of uninsured rates from 2008.. Nationwide, the number of uninsured people has decreased by 35% from 2008 to 2017. Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act lead to an…
Employee wellness programs are thriving.
Exclusive

Employer wellness programs are mainstream components of benefit packages for most major companies. However, today’s programs have come a long way from their beginnings nearly 40 years ago.

Minnesota health regulators failed to meet federally mandated deadlines to investigate the most serious nursing home complaints in six out of every 10 cases– even after pressure from the Legislature and elder-care advocates prompted state health officials to conduct a massive overhaul of its complaint investigation unit. “The people of Minnesota expect…

How has the definition of family evolved over recent years? That’ s what Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company set out to discover and asked 3,000 Americans via an online survey conducted by PSB Research in June. This press release features multimedia.

Oct. 22– Maria Carpenter, an bookkeeper for an insurance company in Newberry, told a jury Monday morning that she had received skin care treatment at Reliant Family Practice in January 2015 for some discoloration on her forehead and adult acne, including one chemical peel. The two are accused of filing $4.4 million in false insurance claims to Blue Cross Blue…

“We are not anticipating an increase in our rates because of this change,” said Marti Lolli, chief marketing officer for Grand Rapids- based health insurer Priority Health. But how much the controversial overhaul will raise the cost of health insurance for Michigan employers with self-funded plans, some of which have traditionally not covered auto accidents,…

—California regulators are objecting to Berkshire Hathaway’s sale of one of its smaller insurance companies. Berkshire and Applied Underwriters said this week that the $920 million sale to company founder Steve Menzies was completed earlier this month after Texas regulators approved it. California regulators say they’re exploring their options…

There’ s a lot at stake for both Hartford and Connecticut. Hartford and the rest of Connecticut have lots of private insurance jobs. Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, ConnectiCare, Harvard Pilgrim and United HealthCare employ more than 17,000 people directly and support another 31,000 indirectly in Connecticut, according to a recent study by the Connecticut Economic…

—Health care memo to Democrats: There’s more than one way to get to coverage for all. The study from the Commonwealth Fund and the Urban Institute think tanks concludes that the U.S. can achieve a goal that has eluded Democrats since Harry Truman by building on former President Barack Obama’s health care law. She urged Democrats not to “trash Obamacare” but build on…

–US healthcare expenditures are forecast to advance 5.2% annually in nominal terms through 2023, according to Healthcare: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. In real terms, spending is projected to rise 2.5% annually to 2023. These and other key insights are featured in Healthcare: United States.

–Six years after Health Insurance Exchanges were first launched as a result of the Affordable Care Act, Americans report they are largely satisfied with their healthcare options, according to a survey of 3,760 adults ages 18-64 in August 2019 by national nonprofit Transamerica Center for Health Studies ®. “Health costs can be very expensive, particularly for…

UnitedHealth Group hiked its 2019 forecast again after the addition of hundreds of clinics to its health care services business contributed to a better-than-expected third quarter. UnitedHealth Group Inc. provides health insurance for more than 49 million people but also has been expanding well beyond that focus through its Optum segment.

The sanction from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services applies to just one of United’s many contracts with the federal government to sell Medicare Advantage health plans, and doesn’t apply to coverage sold in Minnesota. “CMS imposed enrollment sanctions on a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare… because the organization did not meet a Medical Loss…

Cost of International Health Insurance in 100 countries- Infographic. Of the 100 countries, the average international health insurance premiums for individuals ranged from USD $8,887 in the US to USD $2,728 in Thailand. Meanwhile, the average international health insurance premiums for families ranged from USD $26,883 in the US to USD $10,842 in Thailand.

Oct. 14– With Medicare’s annual fall enrollment period starting Oct. 15, President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to enhance Medicare Advantage– privately run Medicare plans he described as more efficient and a greater value than traditional Medicare. People with Medicare Advantage– managed-care plans run by insurance companies– on average are…

–The Thinking Ahead Institute has today released research that describes an industry on the cusp of significant change. The challenges that need to be addressed in defined contribution plans include coverage, adequacy, technology, a lack of trust and a lack of engagement with participants.. “The need for change has been clear for a long time,” said Bob Collie, head of…