Benefits Manager

Employer matching can encourage how much money participants invest in their 401(k) retirement accounts, even when the employer's total contribution remains the same, finds a new Principal Financial Group analysis.

In a recent survey, employers say they are not likely to drop health care once state-run insurance exchanges take effect in 2014, finds consulting firm Mercer.

Roughly one-third of respondents say they will reduce health care benefits, 23 percent will reduce bonuses, and 18 percent will be reducing stock options/equity based compensation.

47 percent of executives say the PPACA may have a financial impact on their business. Most of them - 70 percent - have begun reviewing their health care benefit plans.

The nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute examined data for private-sector establishments in 2009:

Roughly 1,000 more organizations have been approved since August by the Department of Health and Human Services to receive reimbursements for their early retirees' medical claims.

In a new survey, LIMRA, Windsor, Conn., finds most employees want their contributions to their defined contribution plans escalated annually once they hit age 45.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) slammed pharmacy benefit managers for pursuing profit over client interests after a report from AARP found retail prices of brand-name drugs skyrocketed in 2009.