Imagine if you will, an employee has surgery for a freak chainsaw accident. Assisting in the patient’s care are a masked surgeon, an anesthesiologist with a large wart on the nose, a post-op nurse (who happens to always have a broom with her) and administrative staff who appear to have dead eyes. The total cost … Read more
There is no GOOD hidden fee in your self-funded healthcare plan. We’re all familiar with hidden fees or undisclosed costs. We see the “extra charges” once we’re ready to check out on Ticketmaster, VRBO or any major airline, to name a few. These charges are so common that they really aren’t “hidden” anymore. We know … Read more
Have you ever had rabbits in your yard? One or two may seem harmless, but left unchecked, they will quickly multiply and destroy your landscaping, garden and grass, leaving you with a big bill to fix the mess. Systemic errors in a self-funded health insurance plan work the same way. One error that costs your company … Read more
It is important that human resources leadership and corporate counsels be mindful of the growing efforts by disgruntled employees and employee advocacy groups to utilize ERISA regulations to initiate class-action lawsuits related to alleged failures to appropriately manage medical costs. Motivated by the escalating impact on employees and their families from annual increases in health … Read more
It’s fun to search for four-leaf clovers in the hopes of finding unexpected luck. But if you rely on wishes and leprechauns to keep self-funded healthcare expenses in check, your luck is going to run out. Each year businesses lose millions of dollars from incorrectly paid medical claims. Even the best benefits administrators don’t always … Read more
February is Heart Health Awareness month, but heart care should be a focus every month! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America according to the Centers for Disease Control. Its impact is costly to all Americans and businesses and deserves appropriate funding. Some quick facts: Heart disease is the leading cause of death for … Read more
Mental health and wellness are more important than ever in employee benefit plans, but are you practicing what you preach? As you wrap up open enrollment, you can lead by example and take time to recharge and improve your mental and physical well-being. Below are different activities that can boost your mental attitude. Social Activities … Read more
Have you ever gotten a notice saying that you might have unclaimed money from a refund, settlement, or inheritance? What was your first reaction? Most people think about what they would do with this “surprise” windfall. But guess what? It was always your money! You just didn’t know it was missing. It’s time to put … Read more
We talk a lot about WHY you should be getting external healthcare claims audits. (These statistics emphasize the importance.) So, in this article, we are going to assume you have made the excellent decision to have audits. Congratulations! But did you know that all audits aren’t created equal? Do not assume that your self-insured healthcare … Read more
The SHRM conference in New Orleans this year was spectacular (ending the event with a Brad Paisley concert was icing on the cake!). It was wonderful talking with friends in the Human Resources world – in person – and meeting many benefits managers eager to find ways to contain costs in their employee benefits plans. … Read more