12 Ways to Improve Open Enrollment

Open enrollment can be stressful for employees, HR professionals, and third-party benefit administrators. Vital information must be shared and digested, and timely financial decisions must be made so coverage can start on time. Your company workforce may range from experienced, veteran employees to new hires in their first job. It’s a tall task to pull off an open enrollment season that meets the needs of everyone involved (but you CAN do it!). Here are 12 ways

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Tailor Benefits to Strengthen Employee Retention

A recent study by Willis Towers Watson (WTW) indicates that 72% of U.S. employees now prefer to stay with their current employers, marking a shift in workforce dynamics. This trend presents an opportunity – especially for small- and medium-sized businesses – to gain a competitive edge by offering strategic, appealing benefits packages. The annual open enrollment period is pivotal for companies to reinforce employee loyalty. A well-structured benefits package that reflects employee priorities can significantly

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Infographic: What is an LSA?

Lifestyle Spending Accounts are one of the newest benefit options third-party administrators can offer. This infographic will help educate employers and participants on LSA accounts. Lifestyle Spending Accounts, or LSAs, are one of the newest employee benefits available. These employer-sponsored accounts cover a wide range of expenses that fall outside the IRS’ Section 123 criteria. Interest in LSAs is growing! 7% of employers currently offer LSAs. In 2025, 7% will offer LSAs and 31% are

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5 Ways to Control Rising Benefit Costs

Healthcare costs in America have risen significantly since the 1970s, leading many employers to expect modest yearly cost increases in the benefits they offer. However, current economic conditions, an aging population, and increased costs related to managing chronic conditions have led to less manageable increases for many employers. Here are five ways TPAs can help employers continue offering high-value benefits while working to control rising benefits costs. #1 Ask Participants What They Need Before considering

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Who Owns a Benefit Account?

Third-party administrators enable employers to offer benefits that help them attract and retain their valuable talent. However, employers do not own all benefit funds, nor do employees. These are essential questions when enrolling in benefits and spending down funds. So, let’s discuss who owns benefit accounts and ensure everyone fully understands the benefit account portability. What is portability? Benefits portability refers to the ownership of benefit account funds. If a particular type of benefits account

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2024 Trends in Healthcare and Benefits

2024 is underway, and high costs, persistent inflation, and an election year have some people feeling uneasy about health and wellness this year. What 2024 healthcare and benefits trends should TPAs watch, and how can they help employers meet changing needs and demands? 2024 Healthcare Trends Business Group on Health’s 2024 Large Employer Health Care Strategy Survey shares six healthcare topics trending for 2024: 2024 Benefits Trends Now, let’s look at the benefits that are trending for

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BenefitsPRO Features DataPath CMO on 2024 Benefit Plans

In 2024, perceived coverage gaps, flexibility, and affordability receive more attention as companies weigh prioritizing value versus shifting costs.  November 27, 2023 By Bo Armstrong Originally posted on BenefitsPRO.com For 2024, brokers and TPAs will be well served to focus strongly on options that add significant value. In its recently released Survey on Health and Benefits Strategies for 2024, Mercer cited three key themes emerging from conversations with leadership from more than 700 organizations of varying

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Help Participants Use Benefits with These 5 Tools

During open enrollment, many participants are enrolling in plans for the first time. “Firsts” are often overwhelming, and once the benefit year begins, participants may need help knowing how or where to begin. As employees expect more and employers become increasingly cost-conscious, it’s harder to provide a mutually satisfactory benefits package. To make utilization as easy as possible, TPAs and employers can offer resources to help participants understand, access, and utilize their benefits. Five of

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Newer Benefits Options for 2024

Employer benefits have changed over the centuries to meet employees’ changing needs. While group healthcare is still standard, there are newer benefits that TPAs can offer in 2024 that may better serve the needs of both employers and employees. Health Reimbursement Arrangements Group Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) have been around for some time. The IRS first acknowledged them in 2002 to reimburse qualified healthcare costs. HRAs now include three additional types covering qualified insurance premiums and related

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