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September is Healthy Aging Month, a time to focus on long-term wellbeing, including both physical and financial health. For employers, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on how benefits can support employees well beyond their working years.
August is National Wellness Month, a timely opportunity for employers to champion self-care, stress management, and healthy routines across their workforce. Organizations play a vital role in promoting lifelong wellness through thoughtful benefit design and engagement.
National Disability Independence Day is observed in the United States on July 26. It commemorates the anniversary of signing the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) in 1990. The ADA is a landmark civil rights legislation that criminalizes any discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures that they receive equal rights.
Summer brings more than just sunshine—it’s an ideal opportunity to encourage your employees to review their healthcare benefits and make informed choices that support both their wellbeing and financial goals.
National Hydration Day is celebrated annually on June 23 in the United States, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of staying hydrated and promoting healthy hydration habits for all ages. Proper hydration is essential for maintaining overall health and well being. Water is vital for various bodily functions such as regulating body temperature, lubricating joints and transporting nutrients.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is an international observance held annually on June 15. It is dedicated to raising awareness about the mistreatment and abuse of older adults. The day aims to promote a better understanding of this issue and encourages individuals, organizations and communities to take action to prevent and address elder abuse.
June is Professional Wellness Month, dedicated to recognizing the importance of wellbeing in the workplace and encouraging companies to create environments that support employee health physically, emotionally, and professionally.
Pride Month is observed throughout June, and dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, plus (LGBTQ+) community. For older adults who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, Pride Month is an important time to celebrate their identities, reflect on their journeys, promote intergenerational understanding and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity.
National Senior Health and Fitness Day is held annually on the last Wednesday of May. This day serves as a reminder of the importance of staying healthy and active as we age, promoting physical activity and overall wellness among older adults.
Public Service Recognition Week is recognized the first week of May to celebrate individuals who dedicate their careers to serving the public. It is a time to express gratitude and appreciation to those who serve our nation at federal, state, county, tribal and local levels.
Every May, Older Americans Month is observed across the United States, led by the Administration of Community Living. This national holiday, established in 1963 is a time to acknowledge the contributions of older persons in America.
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, May arrives with the powerful reminder of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. While the sun offers warmth, energy and a dose of vitamin D, it also carries risks that can have lasting impacts on your health.
Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 to raise awareness for protecting the environment and Earth’s natural resources for future generations. The Earth Day Network brings together more than 20,000 partners and organizations globally to take action to help make the world a more sustainable and greener place for all.
National Employee Benefits Day is celebrated each year as a time to take a step back and look at the big picture of your benefit programs. Employee benefits are compensation packages that include benefits such as healthcare insurance, retirement saving plans, time-off and leave, and other wellness initiatives. Employers offer benefit packages to attract and retain talent.
April is National Stress Awareness Month, a reminder to recognize and address the impact of stress on mental and physical health. By incorporating meaningful changes, we can build resilience, improve mental wellbeing, and lead healthier, happier lives.
March marks the celebration of National Nutrition Month, highlighting the importance of healthy eating habits and informed food choices. It serves as a time to reflect on how nutrition impacts our overall wellbeing and sustainable habits that support a balanced, fulfilling lifestyle.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
Wise Healthcare Consumer Month shines a spotlight on the importance of making informed and thoughtful decisions about your healthcare. We know that healthcare decisions can sometimes feel overwhelming, but they’re also some of the most crucial choices to make.
Get a Balanced Life Month is celebrated every January, serving as a gentle reminder to pause, reflect and create a more harmonious life. By focusing on balance, we can improve our wellbeing, productivity and happiness.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrates the rights, achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. This day has become a time for governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to promote awareness of disabilities around the world while celebrating the many achievements of persons with disabilities.
News
As job structures shift, many workers lack employer-sponsored healthcare. Forward-thinking employers partner with Via Benefits to offer individual coverage without increasing budgets.
As healthcare costs continue to rise, plan sponsors are searching for cost-effective, flexible solutions to provide retirees with quality coverage while maintaining financial sustainability. The individual marketplace offers a modern alternative to traditional group health plans, enabling plan sponsors to reduce costs, mitigate risk, and enhance choice.
As the year draws to a close, it’s important that both employers and employees focus on year-end planning for spending accounts. Proper communication from employers on how to manage these accounts before the year ends ensures that employees maximize their benefits and avoid losing any unused funds.
Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (HCFSAs) are important because they provide a tax-advantaged way for employees to manage out-of-pocket medical expenses. By allowing pre-tax contributions and reimbursements, FSAs reduce taxable income, which can lead to significant savings.
Both HSAs and FSAs offer tax benefits when managing medical expenses, but differ in eligibility contributions and rollover options. Understanding these helps align with financial goals.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are increasingly valuable in today’s economic landscape, primarily due to their triple tax advantages: contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are also tax-free.
One thing a majority of U.S. employers and employees agree on: employee benefits are key to attracting and retaining good hires, and they are high on the list of priorities for good hires to accept and remain in a job.
Passed in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes major changes to Part D intended to control prescription costs, cap maximum retiree out-of-pocket costs and simplify coverage for Medicare enrollees. This strengthening of Part D offers improved coverage for retirees as well as new risks and opportunities for thousands of public sector employers who sponsor group Medicare Part D plans for their former employees.
Since its passage in 2006, the HELPS Act has allowed retired public safety officers to benefit from an annual pre-tax distribution of up to $3,000 from the government when used to pay for healthcare or long-term care insurance.
Employers and plan sponsors that offer retiree healthcare coverage are challenged with many variables and obstacles to keep their plans affordable, compliant, manageable and most importantly, offer value to the participants. The strategy needs to consider the overall benefit design (deductible, copays, out-of-pocket maximums, coinsurance, visit limits, covered expenses, etc.), funding design (fully insured or self-funded) and covered populations, which all combine to represent the overall cost of the plan.
Press
If you’re a total rewards leader who’s just hearing about an individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA), it’s likely because the option has only been around for the last five years.
Government employers are battling unfunded retiree health care obligations, but they may have a solution right in front of them. The “long-term price tag” of public sector employee benefits continues to grow, wrote Steve Schatt, senior director of WTW’s health, wealth and career business segment, and Christian Goodman, retiree health care strategist at WTW, in their recent article.
Parents with crushing child care expenses will get a little more help in 2026, from Trump’s new mega tax and spending law. The new tax law permanently increases the annual pre-tax contribution limit for dependent care flexible spending accounts, or DCFSAs, to $7,500 for married, joint filers. That’s up from $5,000 and is the first change since 1986, apart from a temporary pandemic-era boost in 2021.
When President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 1, otherwise known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on July 4, the bill reinstated and permanently extended the high-deductible health plan (HDHP) telehealth safe harbor for plan years beginning after Dec. 31, 2024.
Unfunded retiree health care debt is becoming an unsustainable financial burden for state and local governments, as the price tag for Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) grows larger with medical inflation, while assets set aside to pre-fund these obligations remain low.
Flexible spending accounts are firmly entrenched in the benefits package for most American employers, particularly those with a large number of employees.
Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) could potentially lead to higher spending for both employers and their employees.
Your employer may offer a health care or dependent care flexible spending account during open enrollment. Consider these alternatives before signing up.
The Inflation Reduction Act, a United States federal law passed in 2022, includes major changes to Medicare Part D intended to control prescription drug costs, cap maximum retiree out-of-pocket costs and simplify coverage for Medicare enrollees. This strengthening of Part D offers improved coverage for retirees as well as new risks and opportunities for employers that sponsor group Medicare Part D plans.
Sara Taylor, senior director of employee spending accounts at the benefits consultant WTW, suggests taking a close look at your past medical expenses before deciding how much to contribute to your F.S.A. “It’s hard to do, for some people,” she said. But looking at your “explanation of benefits” for last year — the forms that describe what treatments you had and what share of the cost you owe — can help you come up with a reasonable number.
Listen
Broadcast Retirement Network
Rivka Liss-Levinson PhD, Director of Research for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence (SLGE), discusses why public sector organizations looking to provide the best coverage and value to their retirees while mitigating costs should consider moving to a Medicare marketplace.