No matter whether it is anticipated or unexpected, a hospital stay is expensive. According to HealthCare.gov, the average 3-day hospital stay in the United States costs around $30,000. Health insurance will cover some of the costs if you are admitted to the hospital, but you may have other out-of-pocket costs. Hospital Indemnity Insurance can help … Continued
Free and low-cost employee benefits are perks that don’t cost you much financially. These perks are often simple to provide and help enhance an existing employee benefits package. Including non-traditional benefits in a job offer shows employees your values; they’re a promise to both current and potential employees that you’ll support them and treat them … Continued
Everyone needs health insurance but many people don’t fully understand it. One important concept to understand is your deductible. A deductible is the amount of money that must be paid for covered services before the health insurance company begins paying for expenses. For an individual plan, the deductible is straightforward. But family plans are a … Continued
IRS Releases ACA Pay-or-Play Penalties for 2025 The IRS recently released updated penalty amounts for 2025 related to the employer shared responsibility (pay-or-play) rules under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For calendar year 2025, the adjusted $2,000 penalty amount is $2,900, and the adjusted $3,000 penalty amount is $4,350. This is a decrease from the … Continued
Does a Health Plan Typically Pay for Services from Any Doctor? Not always. Some types of plans encourage or require consumers to get care from a specific set of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other medical service providers who have entered into contracts with the plan to provide items and services at a negotiated rate. The … Continued
A better work/life balance is at the top of the list for many employees. However, with the absence of nationwide paid leave regulations for American workers, employers typically determine the extent of paid time off for their employees. In an increased effort to remain competitive and improve employee attraction and retention, a new survey found … Continued
ACA Reporting Deadlines Are Approaching Employers subject to Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 or 6056 should prepare to comply with upcoming reporting deadlines. For the 2023 calendar year, covered employers must: Furnish statements to individuals by March 1, 2024 (an alternative method of furnishing statements to covered individuals is … Continued
What is Health Insurance and Why is it Important? Health insurance is a legal entitlement to payment or reimbursement for your health care costs, generally under a contract with a health insurance company. Health insurance provides important financial protection in case you have an accident or sickness. For example, health insurance may help to pay … Continued
Critical illness insurance is known by many names: heart attack insurance, catastrophic illness insurance and sick insurance are just a few. No matter what it’s called, it’s designed to guard against the financial costs of a serious disease or condition. As the average life expectancy in the United States continues to increase, insurance brokers are … Continued
The challenges that influenced the benefits landscape in 2023 persist—perhaps even more so. Rising costs, due to inflation and increasing health care prices, will continue to present challenges this new year. But employers who understand the benefits landscape for 2024 can mold their approach for the upcoming year. A new year means revisiting your existing … Continued