Employee-Paid

Prior authorization was conceived to rein in health care costs by eliminating duplicative treatment, however, critics worry it has now become a way for insurance companies to save money, often at the expense of patients' lives.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner, who both have championed to lower the cost of prescription drugs, applauded Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly – the three major insulin manufacturers – for slashing prices, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Due to a nationwide shortage of therapists, about a third of U.S. employers say they offer employees AI-based wellness and mental health programs, yet researchers say there isn't enough evidence that the programs work.

The IRS announcements include a number of dollar amounts employers will need to know in order to administer their benefit plans for 2024, including the key dollar amounts for retirement plans, FSAs, HSAs and HDHPs.

The Food and Drug Administration approved 55 new treatments in 2023, representing a nearly 50% increase from the year before, with Pfizer gaining the highest number of high-profile approvals covering a wide range of illnesses.

Health and retirement benefits are more important now than they've ever been as employers compete for top talent, with employees' mental health now taking a more prominent place in a company's benefits package.

Benefits advisors can tap into new sales by helping employers explore new and expanded benefits plans.

Health Savings Accounts are increasingly being positioned as part of a holistic retirement savings approach, with nearly half (46%) of organizations using HSA auto-enrollment, according to a PSCA survey.