If you build it, they will come - if they hear you.  You could have the best benefits plan in the world, but if your employees don't fully understand it, you're missing the mark.  Commit to better employee benefits communication at open enrollment this year.

So you’ve built your wellness program.  After engaging your employees in your wellness efforts, the next step you should consider is widening your focus to include dependents, spouses and partners in the program. 

Few companies include family members of their employees in wellness programs, but why shouldn’t they? 

If the family is included in your health plan, their wellness impacts your ultimate costs.  Beyond that, the social support that kids and significant others bring to your employees’ wellness efforts can have a huge impact on their health outcomes. 

Family members can easily log their activities, healthy eating habits, or weigh in remotely to participate in your wellness programs (especially if you use an online system for tracking wellness rewards).  If you involve families, it may also be easier to get participation at after-hours or weekend events like charity walks or group fitness activities. 

This is the first time in history where there are four generations in the workforce at the same time.  Communicating with this diverse group, not to mention engaging them, can be a major challenge for workers of every age. 

Wellness programs tend to emphasize exercise and eating right.  We certainly can’t criticize that, but make sure to take into account the following aspects of wellness that affect an employee’s entire state of health and wellbeing.  A holistic approach to wellness is one that emphasizes care for the whole person.

With health care costs continually climbing, employers are looking to consumer-driven plans to help soften the blow. Depending on the model, these plans typically include a tax-advantaged account and a high deductible health plan.  But what are the differences between these varying types of accounts?

ANDREA TARRELL
Marketing Coordinator

You gotta love the Olympics.  There’s nothing like lounging on the sofa while watching extreme feats of athleticism – like the ridiculous abs on our swim team and the graceful routines of our gymnasts (I’m rooting for Gabby Douglas).  But have you ever wondered what kind of insurance goes into preserving the health of our Olympic athletes?  I’m guessing not, but I did a little research to find out.

With the Supreme Court recently upholding the majority of the health care reform, employers are continuing to see new provisions of the law go into effect.  One that many will soon take notice of is the medical loss ratio provision, as hundreds of thousands of people will soon receive rebate checks in the mail in accordance with the law.

ANDREA TARRELL
Marketing Coordinator