Insights – Cost Containment

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Benefits Equity: Awareness vs. Action

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Last month, we asked employers about where inequities exist within their employee benefit plans. Just over half of employers told us they have inequities in their benefit offerings, but improving them is not an explicit goal for most. Building…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Equity in Employee Benefits

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Equity in employee benefits is an increasing priority as organizations strive to ensure fair, inclusive, and accessible offerings for all employees. As they evaluate how benefits are designed, communicated, and accessed, many are uncovering…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2027 EB Strategy

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As we close the first quarter of 2026, some employers are turning their focus to 2027 and how they may implement modifications to their health plans to manage rising costs. In our January Market Check Survey, employers told us they were most…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Fiduciary Responsibilities

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Starting in 2024, several lawsuits targeted large employers and their fiduciary responsibilities, with particular focus on pharmacy benefit oversight. While those cases were ultimately dismissed, they heightened awareness and scrutiny of employer…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2026 Medical Renewal Reflections

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

The 2026 medical renewal season was a difficult one for many employers, as evidenced by the data in our December 2025 MCS, where over half of employers reported receiving a medical renewal increase of 7% or greater. Headwinds, including increased…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2026 Medical Renewal Insights

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As the year draws to a close, many employers are finalizing loose ends related to their medical renewals. For much of the last few months, we heard that 2026 renewals would be the most difficult in many years. Headwinds, including increased…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Changes to Benefit Offerings in 2026

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employers again faced a challenging medical renewal season, prompting many to reassess their overall benefits strategy and make decisions about adding, enhancing, or reducing programs. As organizations continue to balance rising cost pressures…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employer Compliance Perspectives

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Sponsors of health and welfare plans may have noticed an increased scrutiny of employee benefit offerings recently. Employers face more complexity than ever before, making compliance and documentation more critical.To gauge the temperature…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employer Total Well-Being Perspectives

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Total well-being (also referred to as wellness) refers to the holistic approach to supporting the overall health and quality of life of employees. It emphasizes physical, financial, emotional/mental, and social health. Employers have been…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employer Actions on OBBBA

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted in July 2025, impacts a wide variety of workplace issues, and employers are facing important decisions about how these changes may affect their benefit strategies. From the treatment of HSAs and…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: What Employers Are Watching in EB

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As the employee benefits landscape grows more intricate, employers are under constant pressure to manage rising costs, ensure compliance, and meet the evolving expectations of a diverse workforce. With a seemingly endless array of strategies,…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Health Plan Fiduciary Approach

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employers that sponsor employee benefit health and welfare plans have always had responsibilities as ERISA fiduciaries. The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 contained additional rules pertaining to fiduciary obligations, and recent…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employer Strategies for GLP-1 Drugs

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

The market for GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy or Ozempic continues to change quickly. Competition for various forms of these drugs has heated up, and other forms are being developed. Further, these drugs are becoming less invasive, which means…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Taxability of Certain Employee Premiums

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Many employers provide disability coverage and voluntary indemnity benefits (accident, hospital, cancer) to their workforce. While the benefits are important, they do not carry the same tax-advantaged treatment as health coverage. The benefits…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Enhancements to Employee Benefits Offerings

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

In today’s uncertain economic climate, employers face growing pressure to manage costs while continuing to support employee well-being and workplace satisfaction. Since benefits play a critical role in both attracting and retaining top talent,…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Affordability & Alternative Provider Networks

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Healthcare costs continue to rise, placing significant pressure on employers and employees. The 2025 renewal cycle was the most challenging in the last four years, and companies will need to explore more aggressive strategies to make an impact. On…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Benefit Priorities & Strategies in 2025

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As another year has kicked off, employers have many areas of focus regarding their benefit programs. It can also be challenging to achieve all goals in a single year, so decision-makers must prioritize their efforts based on their unique circumstances. On…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2025 Medical Plan Cost Increase

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As we prepare to conclude the year, many companies have finalized their medical plan for 2025. Costs continue to increase at a challenging rate. Some market conditions driving rate increases include provider consolidation, an increasing rate…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

The Inflation Reduction Act imposed changes to Medicare Part D for 2025. The changes reduce an individual’s out-of-pocket amount and remove the coverage gap (“doughnut hole”). These changes may affect the creditable coverage status of…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: HSA Contribution and Administration Perspectives

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Twenty years after health savings accounts (HSAs) became effective, employers continue to offer them as an option with great frequency (see our October 2023 Market Check Survey for more information). Further, many are also providing an employer…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employer Strategies for GLP-1 Drugs

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As benefit plan sponsors monitor industry trends, one topic that has grown in popularity the past year is the coverage of GLP-1 drugs (e.g. Ozempic, Wegovy). These drugs were initially developed to help treat Type 2 diabetes. What has emerged…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employer Perspectives Towards Benefit Offerings

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Over the past four years, it has become increasingly evident that a robust employee benefit package is more valued by employees than ever. Whether influenced by the global pandemic, inflation, skyrocketing pharmaceutical costs, or a decline…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Strategies to Manage Benefit Costs

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

At the beginning of the year, we asked companies about their top employee benefit priority in 2024. “Managing costs to meet budget” was the top priority, with 38% of employers indicating this was their leading concern. This is consistent…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Mid-Year Election Changes

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Companies that provide employee benefits to their workforce usually offer an enrollment period every year, allowing workers to purchase new coverages or change/drop coverages they currently have. While much of the benefit selection activity…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Top Benefit Priority in 2024

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Like any other year, 2024 will bring several benefit issues that employers must confront, including escalating costs, new pharmaceuticals and how to cover them, improving engagement in the benefits plan, and an increasingly complex regulatory…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2024 Medical Cost Increase

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

As employers wrap up their health plan renewals for 2024, they grapple with a complex landscape influenced by inflation, the soaring costs of prescription drugs, high-cost claimants, and many other economic and market factors. The persistent…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2024 Annual Enrollment Methods

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

Annual enrollment season brings both anticipation and concern for employers and their workforces. A well-crafted and thoughtfully planned benefits and communication strategy plays a pivotal role in assisting employers with achieving their employee…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Health Savings Accounts Contributions

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a tax-advantaged and flexible savings option employers can offer their employees as part of their benefits package. HSAs are celebrating their 20th year in the market and are common in many employee benefit…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Managing Pharmacy Costs

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Total Wellbeing

Employers face significant challenges when managing their pharmacy benefits effectively, and the rising costs of prescription drugs contribute substantially to the overall health care expenditure in the United States. This surge in pharmacy…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Medical Contribution Strategies

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As many employers begin thinking about their annual enrollment process and possible benefit changes, they will also review the contribution amounts employees pay for those benefits. Most employers offer a contribution schedule that varies by…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2024 Employer Health and Well-Being Strategies

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employers looking ahead to 2024 remain tasked with ensuring their benefit plan is competitive while focusing on their top priority, managing costs to meet budget (see January 2023 Market Check Survey). Thus, many continue to explore additional…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Student Loan Benefits

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

At the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against President Biden’s plan to forgive certain federal student loan debt. Barring some other plan, payments are set to resume again this fall, impacting about 43 million Americans. Even…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2024 Health Care Renewal Perspective

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

As we approach the year’s midpoint, employers are increasingly focusing on their upcoming 2024 health care renewals. Numerous factors contribute to the renewal rates and overall costs of health care plans, and this year, employers may experience…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: End of the Federal Emergencies

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

The end of the COVID-19 federal emergencies will likely impact group health insurance across the United States. During the pandemic, certain policies were implemented to support employers and employees, such as temporarily suspending certain…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Investment in Employee Well-Being

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employers have a vested interest in the overall well-being of their employees. A happy and healthy workforce increases productivity, reduces absenteeism, improves retention, and lowers total benefit costs. There are several ways employers can…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Domestic Partner Coverage

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Although not required by federal law, many employers offer coverage to domestic partners to attract and retain top talent and avoid discrimination issues. Employers who aim to promote an image of workplace equality may find that offering domestic…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Top Benefit Priority in 2023

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employers have many competing priorities for employee benefits initiatives in today’s competitive labor market, coupled with inflation pressures and an uncertain legislative environment. Employers look to balance short-term needs while focusing…

Employers Weigh In on Major Trends in the Published 2022 Employee Benefits Market Trend Report

Articles, Assurex Global, Benchmarking, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, News, Total Wellbeing

COLUMBUS, OH – The 2022 Employee Benefits Market Trend Report is published and now available from Assurex Global. In 2022, Assurex Global conducted a series of polls during our webcasts with thousands of employers to understand a variety…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2023 Medical Cost Increase

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

As 2022 draws to a close, employers are putting the finishing touches on their employee benefit offerings for next year. After a couple of years of reduced utilization of medical services due to the pandemic, 2022 was a rebound year in terms…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Prescription Drug Reporting Requirements

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

In 2021, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA). Within that bill came several provisions that impacted employee benefit plans. The latest provision set to take effect is the prescription drug reporting requirement. The goal…

Inflation and the Impact on 2023 Insurance Purchasing — Industry Spotlight

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

This piece was written as a companion to our September 2022 Market Check Survey: Inflation and the Impact on 2023 Insurance Purchasing, to highlight perspectives from specific commercial industries. Inflation continues to be an issue…

Market Check Survey: Inflation and the Impact on 2023 Insurance Purchasing

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Inflation continues to be an issue for many Americans. High prices are impacting their wallet in several areas. As we near annual enrollment time, inflation fears may impact what and how employees purchase insurance coverage through their employer.…

Market Check Survey: 2023 Employer Health & Well-Being Strategies

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Total Wellbeing

Employers looking ahead to 2023 continue to explore ways to expand and enhance their benefits program while balancing healthcare costs. Employee engagement and total well-being remain a top priority for employers across the country. Thus, many…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Healthcare Affordability

Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits

As inflation remains at levels not seen in the U.S. in approximately 40 years, its impact is being felt in several industries, and healthcare is no exception. While higher inflation does not directly translate to higher medical premiums, it…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Employee Recruiting and Retention Challenges

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits

The past two years have created massive changes in how employers attract and retain the talent they need and how the workforce views future employment opportunities. News headlines seem to announce the shift in employee mindset on everything…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Investment in Employee Well-Being

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Total Wellbeing

Employers continue to embrace their role in their employees’ well-being. As employers reinvent their employee attraction and retention initiatives, well-being is being prioritized significantly more than before. Companies will always be concerned…

2021 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS MARKET TREND REPORT PUBLISHED

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Total Wellbeing

The employee benefits industry remains a fast-paced, ever-evolving market. While the rapid speed can make it exciting, it also creates challenges for benefit decision-makers. Rising costs, new legislation, retaining talent and sustaining employee…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Voluntary Benefits for 2022

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Total Wellbeing

Employers have offered voluntary benefits (also known as worksite benefits, supplemental benefits, or employee-paid insurance) for many years and they continue to increase in importance and demand. These products allow employees to conveniently…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: Wellness Programs

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employee wellness programs continue to increase in popularity and are becoming a standard part of employee benefits packages. While most employers will acknowledge that they hope these programs will reduce their medical claims, they are also…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2022 Annual Enrollment Methods

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

Annual enrollment season is once again approaching for many employers and employees. This time of year can cause stress and anxiety for both Human Resources staff and the general workforce. Annual enrollment is a critical part of a company’s…

Employee Benefits Market Check Survey: 2022 Employer Health and Well-Being Strategies

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Total Wellbeing

Employee benefits remain a critical aspect of a company’s rewards program. As employers examine their offerings for next year, many continue to adopt additional products, limit financial burdens, and expand access to necessary resources to…

Employee Benefits Market Trend Report Published

Benchmarking, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Health Savings Accounts, Total Wellbeing

As constantly changing circumstances affects how employers handle their operations and benefits offerings, the ability to get a solid picture of what other companies are doing becomes even more important. In 2020, Assurex Global…

Assurex Global Market Check Survey: Impacts of HIPAA and Cobra Deadline Suspensions

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

COVID-19 had great impacts on all parts of business in 2020, and employee benefit plans were no exception. As a result of this pandemic, theDepartment of Labor (DOL) put notification periods for HIPAA and COBRA on hold. This means that anyone…

Assurex Global Market Check Survey: Medical Plan Opt-Out Incentive Strategy

Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources

As annual enrollment nears, employers are revisiting their benefit packages to determine where revisions need to be made. Some employees may have the choice of enrolling in other medical coverage, whether that be through a spouse’s plan,…

Assurex Global Market Check Survey: 2021 Employer Health & Wellbeing Strategies

Articles, Assurex Global, Cost Containment, Employee Benefits, Human Resources, Total Wellbeing

Employee benefits remain a critical aspect of a company’s rewards program. As employers examine their offerings for the next year, many are adopting additional products, limiting financial burdens, or expanding access to resources that are…

Insights – Cost Containment

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