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Insurance

Health-Care inflation ‘Good news’ is relative: Rate increases fall again, but still above 10%

06/19/2007

While health-care costs are forecast to rise at a slower pace in 2008, don’t get too excited: Those costs will still increase at a double-digit rate. Here are the numbers, plus three suggestions for ways to successfuly "sell" health-premium increases to employees.

As Same-Sex Unions Spread, So Do Job Protections

06/01/2007

New Hampshire last month voted to give same-sex couples the same legal rights as other couples, making New England the first region in which every state provides some sort of protection for the civil unions of same-sex partners …

Obesity equals higher absenteeism, workers’ comp costs

06/01/2007

A great deal of attention has focused on the direct health costs caused by obese employees. But a new Duke University Medical Center study shows obesity also takes a heavy toll on your workers’ comp costs and absenteeism rates …

Commuting injury not covered by workers’ compensation unless the route is hazardous

06/01/2007

Generally, Michigan employees aren’t entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for injuries that happen while driving to or from work. One exception is that for so-called “excessive exposure to traffic risks” …

Striking employees forfeit unemployment comp

06/01/2007

Q. We are in contract negotiations, and there is some concern that our employees will actually vote to go out on strike. Are striking employees eligible for unemployment compensation benefits in Michigan?—F.B.

Don’t just ban smoking on-Site; help employees quit

06/01/2007

Even if you ban smoking at work, nicotine-addicted employees will still manage to find a place to light up. And trying to hire only nonsmokers could create legal troubles. So what’s the best way to cut your high health costs related to smokers? Actively help them quit …

6 ways that smaller businesses can make wellness worth it

06/01/2007

Employers can raise deductibles and co-pays only so much before employees begin to doubt the value of their health benefits. So, organizations are looking for other ways to get meaningful savings as health costs continue to rise. Enter the employee wellness program …

Educate employees about the value of disability insurance

06/01/2007

Thirty percent of employees between the ages of 35 and 65 will become disabled for at least 90 days at least once during their working years … That means you can count on a steady stream of short-term disability insurance claims. Do you know how much those claims cost your organization? Almost half of employers do not …

IRS sets higher HSA levels for 2008

06/01/2007

The maximum contribution to health savings accounts (HSAs) for employees with single coverage will rise to $2,900 for calendar year 2008, up from $2,850 this year …

Identify health problems before they become chronic

06/01/2007

Here’s more incentive to ramp up your organization’s disease-management and wellness efforts: A new study predicts that chronic conditions will account for the greatest health care cost increases over the next several decades …