Tag

employee benefits

Sep 29

Benefits Renewal Season: What Mid-Sized Employers Should Be Doing Right Now

By Employee Benefits
If your organization has 50 to 200 employees, benefits renewal season probably feels less like a season and more like a sprint. Renewal notices land, carrier partners set deadlines, and open enrollment is only weeks away. Meanwhile, you still have a business to run. This year, the pressure is real. Mercer's latest national survey projects that employer health benefit costs will rise 8.2% in 2027, the largest jump since 2003. For many mid-sized employers, that means a renewal that is harder to absorb and harder to explain. The good news is that you still have options. Here is what to…
Read More
Aug 01

Alternative Funding Options: 4 Moves HR and Finance Can Make Now

By Employee Benefits
Healthcare costs keep climbing, putting immense pressure on company budgets. For HR and finance leaders at mid-market organizations, the traditional fully insured model often feels like a trap. It offers little control, limited transparency, and no relief from annual premium hikes. Worse, the constant cycle of renewal negotiations leaves you stuck—forced to either absorb unsustainable costs or shift the burden onto your employees. That’s why exploring healthcare cost control strategies is more critical than ever. Fortunately, you don’t have to stay in this reactive cycle. By taking a proactive, strategic approach to benefits funding, you can unlock significant savings, improve cash flow,…
Read More
May 27

Benefits Data Analytics: Leveraging Insights to Predict Outcomes

By Employee Benefits
Watch the Video When it comes to managing employee benefits, making data-driven decisions is key. Claims data analytics has emerged as a powerful tool in  By analyzing historical claims data, organizations can: Uncover trends Identify potential risks Predict outcomes Control costs Enhance the overall employee experience For HR professionals and organizational leaders, this approach not only promotes better decision-making but also ensures a healthier, more productive workforce.
Read More
Feb 11

Is Your Benefits Spend Hitting the Mark?

By Employee Benefits
As an HR leader or CFO, you spend a significant portion of your budget on employee benefits. The goal is twofold: attract and retain top talent while managing costs effectively. But how do you know if the benefits you offer are truly valued and used by your employees? The effectiveness of your employee benefits spend is a critical question. Offering a benefit that nobody uses is like broadcasting on a dead channel—it’s a financial drain with no return. Conducting a regular benefits cost-benefit analysis is no longer a "nice-to-have" administrative task; it's a strategic necessity. This process helps you identify…
Read More
Jan 07

2026 Market Forecast: From Reaction to Readiness

By Market Forecast
The strategy for 2026 is clear: stop reacting and start preparing. For business leaders, the coming year represents a pivotal shift from managing crises to building genuine readiness. Whether you are navigating complex commercial risks or designing a benefits package to retain top talent, success will depend on data-driven insights and proactive planning. That's why Kapnick put together our 2026 Market Forecast. The most successful organizations won't leave their stability to chance. Instead, they will pair resilience with intelligence to stay competitive. Read on to learn more, or access the full market forecast here.
Read More
Nov 03

Cost Control and Compliance: 4 Moves HR and Finance Can Make Now

By Employee Benefits
Benefits costs are rising, and regulations are tightening. HR and Finance leaders face the challenge of managing both without sacrificing employee experience. The risk isn’t just overspending—it’s fines, audits, and eroded trust if compliance slips. The good news? With the right benefits cost control strategies, you can reduce waste, improve compliance, and protect your program from unnecessary risks. Four Benefits Cost Control Strategies to Prioritize 1. Build a Clean Plan-Data Foundation Fragmented documents and outdated agreements make budgeting and compliance harder. Start by inventorying all plans—medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, HSA/FSA/HRA, life, disability, and wellness. Centralize: Current plan documents (SPD, SBC,…
Read More
Oct 30

Smart Design: Beyond the High-Deductible Health Plan

By Employee Benefits
For many Indianapolis employers, the annual benefits renewal cycle presents tough decisions. High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) are often chosen to control rising healthcare costs. However, without thoughtful plan design, these plans can shift financial burdens onto employees, leading to delayed care and medical debt. By leveraging strategic plan design, you can create a benefits program that balances affordability with employee well-being. The Pros and Cons of HDHPs HDHPs offer clear advantages, such as lower premiums and tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). For a healthy, financially savvy workforce, this combination can work well. However, without smarter HDHP benefits design, the high…
Read More