Providing employer-sponsored fertility and family building benefits widely in the U.S. is possible and a step toward strengthening employee support and wellbeing.
Benefits brokers and consultants offer critical expertise that helps employers navigate the complexities of choosing the best health plans to offer employees, and providing physician ratings data to supplement the choices employees make can be a powerful weapon against waste, inappropriate care and unnecessary suffering
While litigation is not widespread, it's important for plan sponsors to look at operations and shore up practices since there was action on 43 defined contribution cases during the first quarter of 2023, according to Mercer.
"Looking ahead to 2024, it seems likely that employers will be challenged to absorb higher health care cost increases," said Beth Umland, director of health research for Mercer.
In the defined contribution market, the first quarter of 2023 saw an spike in lawsuits and a drop in retirement confidence, however, Congress' main priority now is SECURE 2.0 implementation, according to Mercer.
More employers than ever are prioritizing program investments to support employee wellness. For brokers, it's imperative to create clients' benefits programs that stem employees' growing stress levels.