Although Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) have been a popular group health benefit plan feature since their introduction in the 1980s, their shine is starting to fade.
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PPOs are supposed to be a great way to lower health care costs. Providers agree to a discounted rate in exchange for insurers steering members to their services. The problem is that retail prices charged by hospitals and physicians continue to rise steeply. 

Ned Schaut, President at Agency Leverage, and host of Benefits Influencer - a podcast highlighting thought leaders in the Employee Benefits industry – recently interviewed Allied National Executive Vice President Gary Ashley. 

The pandemic has had an enormous impact on every aspect of our lives, including the way employees view employee benefits. Employers are having to rethink what kind of perks, benefits and incentives will keep workers engaged and offer a competitive advantage in a post-pandemic world. 

Despite the numerous changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), applicable large employers (ALE) must still provide group health benefits to their employees. These benefits must meet at least the minimum standard as set by the federal government or the employer will be required to pay a penalty.

Mental health is an incredibly broad subject. When you hear someone talking about mental health, what do you think? It is not just about people who have multiple personalities or severe alcohol or drug additions.

Has this happened to you? Your insurance company sends you a statement in the mail about a medical claim and you’re left wondering if that’s what you owe or if you’re supposed to ignore it.
 
Don’t ignore it!

Heavy metal is good for your health! 

No, not literal heavy metals, which can be toxic and problematic, but heavy metal music. Heavy metal music is a great way to lower blood pressure and believe it or not, reduce anxiety. Experts say  that some of the topics sung or screamed about in heavy metal music help fans of the music genre release aggression and deal with some of the existential challenges we all face in our lives.

The United States’ high-priced health care system, which includes health care and insurance, affects everyone, sick or well. It has reduced individual spending power for several decades. Salaries for American workers have risen, but net pay has stayed the same because of increasing charges for health insurance.
 
So, what exactly makes the health care system in the U.S. so expensive? It depends on who you are asking.

The concept of a Health Savings Accounts (HSA) was established by Congress in 2003 to allow individuals and families to save for and pay for medical expenses with tax preferred money.

The tax preferences are significant. In fact, HSAs are “triple tax” preferred, which means:

1. Money you invest into an account is tax deductible.
2. Money that is in your HSA may be invested and the income from that investment is tax free.
3. Money that is spent from your HSA on qualified medical expenses also is tax free.
   

Would you agree that your employees are the best asset for your small business? Hopefully you answered with a resounding YES! It’s important for employers to encourage healthy habits at the office that lead to good heart health.
 
Building a healthy workplace and workforce has a number of benefits such as: increased productivity, less absenteeism and ample health-spend savings for both employees and employers. Some health plans – like Allied National’s Freedom Plans – even offer a refund at the end of a healthy plan year. 
 
February is American Heart Month and so we came up with five easy ways to keep your employees happy and heart healthy.

Download our infographic at the end of this blog.