Although the U.S. economy is strong and the stock market continues to rise, most employees are worried about the future. Purchasing Power, a specialty e-retailer for organizations, reports that 87 percent of full-time employees or their spouses are stressed about their finances — with insufficient retirement savings near the top of the list. MassMutual, a…
How much do you know about life insurance? Take the following quiz to find out: 1. Life insurance is the most commonly offered employee benefit, after health insurance. True or false? True. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 55 percent of all workers in private industry have access to life insurance benefits (2016 figures).…
Few people can imagine a day when they will be too ill or injured to work. Unfortunately, it’s not that uncommon. According to the Council for Disability Awareness, more than one in four of today’s 20-year-olds can expect to be out of work for at least a year because of a disabling condition before they…
Many studies have shown the positive benefits of having pets. Your employees would likely agree. If they’re like most Americans, 39 percent have at least one dog and 33 percent have at least one cat. And many Americans consider their pets as family members. Love isn’t free, though. The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association has estimated…
Employer-sponsored life insurance is the way most Americans receive coverage. There are important decisions to make when offering coverage to employees. More Americans now have life insurance coverage through their employer rather than with individual policies. According to the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA), 108 million adults and children receive employment-based life insurance…
Healthy groceries, home-delivered meals, air conditioners and grab bars in the bathroom may soon be some of the “medically appropriate” benefits covered by insurance. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expanded the definition of “primarily health-related” benefits insurers can include in their Medicare Advantage policies. Beginning in 2019, insurers can provide retirees care and…
Health insurance protects you from financial ruin should you have a serious health issue and makes it more likely you’ll seek treatment when you’re ill. To get the most from your coverage, you should understand certain financial insurance terms and how they affect your coverage. The more you understand what bills you are responsible for,…
Help your employees achieve more control over their health care decisions and expenses by providing them with a savings account for medical expenses. One of the most popular ways to save for health expenses is with a Health Savings Account (HSA). The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act created HSAs in 2003 as a…
The results of the American Heart Association’s 2018 Workplace Health Achievement Index were announced this summer, and USI achieved Gold level recognition for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace. Companies recognized at the Gold level are among those that obtained the highest Index scores in 2018. Out of the…
The day has come! You’re headed overseas for the trip of your lifetime. But what happens if you get sick on the trip? Really sick? Don’t assume your health insurance will cover doctor or hospital visits while traveling outside the United States. Get recommended vaccinations. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at…
Vertafore awarded USI the Vanguard Award for Innovation during the recent NetVu18, the largest technology conference in insurance, held in Atlanta, Georgia, this spring. The Vertafore Vanguard Award for Innovation goes to the agency, carrier, or MGA who contributes to expanding and growing the industry through their innovative application of Vertafore solutions. Vertafore announced that…
By Manoj Rajwani, USI Vice President, Employee Benefits Employers and their employees continue to struggle with skyrocketing health care costs. The job market is already competitive, and many companies are overwhelmed with how to manage the benefit costs but still offer a quality program at the same time. Many of those same organizations are diligent…
