Category: Employee Benefits

  • Turn Healthcare Costs Into Savings: A Practical Guide to HSAs

    A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged savings account designed to help you pay for healthcare expenses. It offers valuable benefits now and in the future — from lowering your current healthcare costs to building long-term savings for retirement.

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  • Your EOB Explained: A Helpful Guide to Your Health Plan

    Ever found a confusing document in your mailbox after a doctor’s visit, wondering if it’s a bill, especially with an “amount you owe” at the bottom? You’re not alone! That document is most likely an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your health insurance company. It’s crucial to remember: an EOB is NOT a bill.

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  • Your Guide to Short-Term Disability

    Life sometimes throws you a curveball. You might sprain an ankle playing soccer, need surgery, or experience a difficult pregnancy. These situations can temporarily prevent you from working and earning an income. That’s where short-term disability insurance comes in. It acts as a financial safety net, providing income replacement while you recover and get back on your feet.

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  • Everyone Benefits From Year-Round Benefits Communication

    For most organizations, employee benefits communication kicks into high gear during open enrollment season. During this time, there is a surge in emails, educational webinars, fliers throughout the office, and a barrage of forms demanding signatures.

    Post open enrollment, however, employees often receive minimal information about their benefits. While sporadic email updates or new laminated signs in the office kitchen may occur, a comprehensive, year-round employee benefits communication plan is often lacking.

    This oversight represents a significant missed opportunity. An annual approach is insufficient to ensure that employees genuinely comprehend and effectively utilize their benefits.

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  • Understanding Health Insurance Basics

    Not understanding benefits terminology is near the top of the list of ways that open enrollment and benefits selection can stress you out.  Open enrollment is coming quickly and soon you will be talking about benefit options. The world of benefits and insurance can be confusing. In-network, out-of-network, deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance? What?

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  • Open Enrollment: What Is It and How Does It Work?

    For millions of Americans, the end of the year is open enrollment season – a yearly opportunity to take stock of your health care needs and select the health insurance plan that works best for you.  It is a window of time – typically in the fall – when you can sign up for health insurance, review, assess, and modify your existing benefits.

    There are more choices than ever to help you find a plan that will best suit your health needs.  Think of it like planning a trip: you don’t pack a surfboard if you are planning to hike in the mountains.  Likewise, there is a lot to think about when selecting a health plan for the next year.  What does it cost?  Does it include your prescription or preferred doctors?  Understanding health insurance basics and how open enrollment works is essential for making informed choices about your benefits and insurance coverage.

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