Career Elevator: How to Be a Better Listener at Work (October)
In today’s fast-paced work environment, effective communication is more important than ever. One of the most crucial aspects of communication is listening. Being a good listener at work enhances communication, builds stronger relationships and boosts productivity by ensuring messages are accurately received and understood. It also reduces conflicts and encourages open dialogue, leading to a more positive and collaborative work environment.
Career Elevator: Enhancing Your Workplace Value (September)
In today’s dynamic and competitive job market, demonstrating and elevating your workplace value is essential for career growth and job satisfaction. Whether seeking a promotion or simply looking to solidify your position within your company, focusing on your workplace value can help you achieve your professional goals.
Career Elevator: Companies Seek Employees With a Strong Work Ethic (August)
A new survey by HR management company ADP revealed that “a strong work ethic” is the top skill companies are looking for in new hires, but it’s the hardest to find. This research further validates the importance of soft skills in the workplace and how these behavioral skills can give job seekers a competitive edge.
Career Elevator: Time Management Tips to Boost Productivity (July)
Effective time management is crucial for enhancing productivity and achieving career success in today’s fast-paced work environment. As workers juggle multiple responsibilities and deadlines, mastering the art of managing time can transform their professional lives. However, staying on track and focused can be especially hard given daily distractions in workspaces.
Career Elevator: Understanding the Difference Between Upskilling and Reskilling (June)
In today’s rapidly evolving job market, the terms “upskilling” and “reskilling” are becoming increasingly common. While they both involve enhancing one’s skills, they serve different purposes and require distinct approaches. For employees navigating their career paths, understanding the difference between upskilling and reskilling is crucial for making informed decisions about professional development.
Career Elevator: 6 Soft Skills That AI Can’t Replace (May)
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) continues to shape today’s workplaces, often making learning technical and hard skills easier. However, soft skills can’t be outsourced to AI. Soft skills are important for everyday life and can help drive your career development and growth.
Health Plan Eligibility: Do’s and Don’ts
Employers sponsoring group health plans have some flexibility when deciding which groups of employees and dependents will be eligible for coverage. However, there are several crucial eligibility requirements employers should adhere to for health coverage. These rules can be categorized into important eligibility “do’s” and “don’ts” for employers to follow.
A basic eligibility “do” is following the terms of the health plan’s written plan document, including its eligibility rules. Also, to avoid potential penalties, applicable large employers (ALEs) should ensure they offer affordable coverage to their full-time employees. Other important “do’s” include making coverage available for adult children up to age 26 and continuing to offer coverage for Medicare-eligible employees when the health plan is the primary payer.
Essential “don’ts” for health plan eligibility include offering coverage to nonemployees, such as independent contractors, andimposing waiting periods that exceed 90 days. Other crucial “don’ts” are overlooking applicable nondiscrimination requirements when establishing eligibility rules and excluding employees from coverage based on health status-related factors.
View and download the latest Health Plans Eligibility: Do’s and Don’ts
Benefits Breakdown: Complex Health Benefits Can Hinder Employee Success
Health care is rarely straightforward for the average consumer. Many individuals need help making sense of their options both during open enrollment and when receiving health services. In fact, 8 out of 10 people said they faced challenges when receiving care, according to a recent study from Quantum Health.
According to the study, the vast majority of consumers have reported facing hurdles in the past two years when receiving care. These challenges include issues understanding coverage levels, locating providers and navigating the insurance claims process. Issues like these were compounded for individuals with chronic conditions—90% of whom said they faced additional challenges, such as making sense of diagnoses or test results.
Understanding Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement
Arrangements (ICHRAs)
HRAs reimburse employees for certain medical costs. Depending on the plan, such expenses may include doctor visits, medical procedures and prescriptions. An employee must be enrolled in their employer’s group health plan to qualify for an HRA.
ICHRAs are a bit different. These accounts can reimburse employees for certain medical expenses, insurance premiums or both. Whether an ICHRA will cover both premium and medical expenses is up to the employer.
Benefits and Me: Preparing for Rising COVID-19 Medical Bills
COVID-19 medical bills are expected to increase next year. During the height of the pandemic, insurers waived the costs of certain COVID-19-related services, such as emergency room (ER) copayments, hospital stay deductibles and testing charges. For example, screening procedures were primarily free during the pandemic, and now they could cost upwards of $200.
Consider the following ways to control your costs:
Understanding Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement
Arrangements
An individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA) uses funds from your employer to help pay for certain medical expenses. To qualify for an ICHRA, you enroll in individual health coverage using a Health Insurance Marketplace, a private insurer, Medicare or another method. In other words, if you’re enrolled in an employer’s group health plan, you don’t qualify for an ICHRA. Here’s how an ICHRA works:
Know Your Benefits: COVID-19 Medical Bills Expected to Rise
COVID-19 medical bills are expected to increase next year. During the height of the pandemic, insurers waived the costs of certain COVID-19-related services, such as emergency room (ER) copayments, hospital stay deductibles, and testing charges.
As the pandemic eases, those previously waived costs are returning. Many insurers are now treating COVID-19 much like other diseases, meaning they no longer provide special exceptions for COVID-19-related services.
This article briefly explains why this pricing change matters to you and what you can do to protect your health budget.
- Where Might Expenses Increase?
- How Might Rising Costs Be Controlled?
- Where Can I Learn More?
Reach out to Evolution of Benefits for all your employee communication needs, including enrollment guides, video messaging, presentations, and more.
Learn more and take action – view the full newsletter below.
Client and Employee Resources
The more your employees understand your benefit plans the more they become educated, empowered consumers. The programs you provide will also gain an enhanced value.
As your strategic partners in employee benefits, we can provide multiple avenues of ongoing support, including:
- Employee Meetings (English and Spanish)
- Webcasts
- Payroll Stuffers
- Poster Campaigns
- Newsletters
Carrier Directories
E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States. Click the image below to begin.
