LSA

who owns

Who Owns a Benefit Account?

Third-party administrators enable employers to offer benefits that help them attract and retain their valuable talent. However, employers do not own all benefit funds, nor do employees. These are essential questions when enrolling in benefits and spending down funds. So, let’s discuss who owns benefit accounts and ensure everyone fully understands the benefit account portability. What is portability? Benefits portability refers to the ownership of benefit account funds. If a particular type of benefits account

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2024 trends

2024 Trends in Healthcare and Benefits

2024 is underway, and high costs, persistent inflation, and an election year have some people feeling uneasy about health and wellness this year. What 2024 healthcare and benefits trends should TPAs watch, and how can they help employers meet changing needs and demands? 2024 Healthcare Trends Business Group on Health’s 2024 Large Employer Health Care Strategy Survey shares six healthcare topics trending for 2024: 2024 Benefits Trends Now, let’s look at the benefits that are trending for

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changing workforce dynamics

BenefitsPRO Features DataPath CMO on 2024 Benefit Plans

In 2024, perceived coverage gaps, flexibility, and affordability receive more attention as companies weigh prioritizing value versus shifting costs.  November 27, 2023 By Bo Armstrong Originally posted on BenefitsPRO.com For 2024, brokers and TPAs will be well served to focus strongly on options that add significant value. In its recently released Survey on Health and Benefits Strategies for 2024, Mercer cited three key themes emerging from conversations with leadership from more than 700 organizations of varying

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use benefits

Help Participants Use Benefits with These 5 Tools

During open enrollment, many participants are enrolling in plans for the first time. “Firsts” are often overwhelming, and once the benefit year begins, participants may need help knowing how or where to begin. As employees expect more and employers become increasingly cost-conscious, it’s harder to provide a mutually satisfactory benefits package. To make utilization as easy as possible, TPAs and employers can offer resources to help participants understand, access, and utilize their benefits. Five of

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benefit options 2024

Newer Benefits Options for 2024

Employer benefits have changed over the centuries to meet employees’ changing needs. While group healthcare is still standard, there are newer benefits that TPAs can offer in 2024 that may better serve the needs of both employers and employees. Health Reimbursement Arrangements Group Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) have been around for some time. The IRS first acknowledged them in 2002 to reimburse qualified healthcare costs. HRAs now include three additional types covering qualified insurance premiums and related

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benefitspro

BenefitsPRO article features DataPath CMO on using benefit accounts to support the work-life relationship

Considering the vital role of the work-life relationship in worker effectiveness, wellbeing, and long-term commitment, employers, brokers and TPAs should prioritize it across all facets of their operations, including their benefits programs. August 2, 2023 By Bo Armstrong Originally posted on BenefitsPRO.com Employees who struggle to balance their work and personal lives can suffer from health issues, poor job satisfaction, exhaustion, burnout, and problematic behavior on the job. Despite 72 percent of Statista survey respondents acknowledging the importance of

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high food prices

Help Employees with High Food Prices

You don’t need us to tell you that food prices are high. Some attribute the cause to energy costs and labor shortages, but other factors are also at play. For instance, the avian bird flu epidemic has raised chicken and egg prices. Extreme heat and reduced cattle herds have led to higher butter prices. Margarine also costs more due to the effects of the war in Ukraine on vegetable oil exports. And severe weather has consumers struggling to find certain fruits,

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whitepaper hybrid onsite benefits

Whitepaper: Updating Your Benefits Program for a Remote or Hybrid/Onsite Workforce

Benefits can determine a company’s success or failure in competing for and holding on to engaged, productive workers. Whereas employers once boasted about their health and retirement benefits, those now serve as simply the foundation for a more complex benefits program needed for remote and hybrid/onsite workers. If we learned anything from the Great Resignation of 2021-2022, it’s that employees need and are demanding more support from employers in terms of their physical, mental, emotional, and

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LSA FAQs

LSA FAQs

Lifestyle Spending Accounts (LSAs) have been used successfully in other countries for some time now but are relatively new to the U.S. Here are answers to commonly asked questions about this very flexible benefits option. What is a Lifestyle Spending Account? LSAs are employer-funded accounts that employees can use to pay for products, services, and activities that support employee well-being. Qualified expenses may involve physical, mental/emotional, or financial health. Because LSAs do not provide tax

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rising costs

5 Ways to Control Rising Benefit Costs

Healthcare costs in America have risen significantly since the 1970s, leading many employers to expect modest yearly cost increases in the benefits they offer. However, the combination of current economic conditions, increased costs related to managing chronic conditions, and an aging population are leading to less manageable increases for many employers. Here are five ways TPAs can help employers continue offering high-value benefits while working to control rising benefits costs. #1 Ask Participants What They Need

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four generations one workforce

Four Generations, One Workforce: Creating a Benefits Program for All

Americans live and work longer, leading to a four-generation workforce in different life stages and with differing needs. Creating a benefits package that satisfies their varied needs can prove challenging. Diverse Needs In its latest Workplace Wellness Survey, the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) examined financial stressors as well as overall financial, emotional, and physical well-being. Financial Well-Being Financial well-being is of moderate to high concern for 28% of younger workers, 37% of middle-aged workers, and

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benefitspro

DataPath Article on Financial Stress and Benefits Accounts Featured on BenefitsPro

Strategic Use of Benefit Accounts to Ease Employee Financial Stress The average employee burdened by financial stress loses a fourth of their weekly productivity – can your company afford that? April 3, 2023 By Bo Armstrong Originally posted on BenefitsPRO.com With inflation eating into the American budget, a recent BenefitsPRO article by Alan Goforth pointed out that 2023 would be a year of ‘living sensibly.’ Indeed, the current economic situation presents employers with an excellent

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new year

New Year, New Benefits

Welcome to 2023! The new year brings a renewed focus on losing weight, staying healthy, and becoming financially healthier. Across the country, millions of us have set goals of increasing our health and wealth. However, inflation, supply chain issues, continued mental health challenges, and more can make tackling these goals even harder than usual. Financial Health Resolutions Many Americans are examining their spending and saving habits. Fidelity Investment found that when asked about financial concerns,

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new year mental health

New Year’s Resolutions and Mental Health

With the holidays upon us and a New Year approaching, many Americans are preparing to make resolutions regarding exercise, weight, smoking, and overall physical health, among others. Having survived many life changes over the last couple of years, many people are also looking specifically to enhance their mental health and well-being. Mental Health Resolutions In a recent Forbes poll, 45% of all respondents ranked achieving better mental health among their top resolutions. By age group, 50%

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