As smartphones become more entrenched in our daily lives, the wellness technology industry has exploded to more than $8 billion, driven largely by wearable devices and more than 160,000 wellness-related mobile apps.
Employers are capitalizing on the tech advances, making workplace wellness programs more digital, social, and connected. Continue reading
When trying to fill a vacant position, it can seem impossible to find the “right” person in an inbox full of resumes. A recent study from ADP states that mid-sized companies are not only concerned with recruiting top talent, but with keeping them – a challenge usually addressed in an employee retention strategy. If you have this concern, you are certainly not alone. Continue reading
Uncertainty is a latent variable. It is difficult to quantify however, if you are a small business owner and looked into alternatives to traditional group health insurance for your business over the last few years, you have no doubt experienced your fair share of elevated uncertainty. Continue reading
Increases to premium for individual health insurance may be on the horizon for 2017. Insurers everywhere are citing financial losses under Obamacare or ACA. The rates of these increases vary from state to state. In North Carolina, for example, Aetna is requesting 24.5% increase and Blue Cross by 18.8% while United Healthcare has decided to withdraw from the exchange market entirely. Many should not feel the hit of these increases due to the numerous tax credits available on the exchange. Continue reading
Too many Americans graduate high school, earn their college degrees, and land a job, yet still lack basic education or experience in financial planning. Additionally, large numbers of Americans have accumulated massive debt for a variety of reasons, including education, car repairs, or medical bills. This combination of excessive debt and financial illiteracy creates stress and decreases an employee’s ability to properly focus on and engage in his or her work. Such stress also contributes to increased healthcare costs. Companies have the power to mitigate the consequences of this financial illiteracy by providing financial education and guidance – in addition to typical work benefits – to their employees. Continue reading
The Affordable Care Act gives small businesses the option to offer a group healthinsurance plan through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace. Certain small businesses participating in the Marketplace are eligible to receive a tax credit. This Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, which can be obtained solely through the SHOP Marketplace, is only available for two consecutive taxable years. While the use of the SHOP Marketplace has been attractive to some small businesses, it is possible that coverage procurement through the Marketplace will drop after the expiration of the two-year tax credit. Continue reading
Connecticut Bookmaker Gets Prison Time in Insurance Fraud Scheme
A bookmaker who pleaded guilty to charges he shot a gambler with a stun gun and tried to burn down a Middletown restaurant in an insurance fraud scheme is headed to prison.
The Hartford Courant reports 52-year-old John Barile of East Hartford was sentenced Tuesday to 71 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in February to charges of arson, insurance fraud, gambling and extortion. Continue reading
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, said that it took action last week against 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers.
This effort was part of Operation Pangea IX, the Ninth Annual International Internet Week of Action, a global cooperative effort, led by INTERPOL, to combat the sale of illegal and potentially counterfeit medical products on the internet. Continue reading
