California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has ordered an 8.7% average advisory pure premium rate hike for policies incepting on or after Sept. 1, 2025. The rate follows a substantial uptick in claims and claims adjustment costs over the past four years, resulting in a $1.3 billion underwriting loss for the industry in 2024, the first…
The typical family’s income slips by more than $12,000 in the year after a breadwinner suffers a critical illness such as a heart attack, stroke or cancer, according to a study by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. This reduction of income isn’t primarily due to lack of medical coverage. It is actually attributed to the inability…
For companies that rely on fleets of vehicles to deliver goods, transport equipment or provide services, distracted driving is a risk that can pose an existential threat to the company. Collisions resulting from inattentive driving can lead to serious injuries, costly vehicle damage and insurance rate hikes or cancellations. Most fleets are comprised of vehicles…
A growing number of employers are adding menopause-related benefits to their health and wellness programs, recognizing both the personal and business impact of this phase of women’s health. According to a 2023 Mayo Clinic report, menopause-related symptoms are responsible for an estimated $1.8 billion in lost workdays annually in the U.S., largely due to absenteeism…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has overhauled its Site-Specific Targeting (SST) inspection program, marking a major shift in how the agency identifies and prioritizes workplaces for inspection. Effective May 20, 2025, the new guidance applies to non-construction employers with 20 or more employees and significantly increases OSHA’s reliance on employer-reported injury and illness data…
In a major announcement, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) said that more than 50 major insurers — including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna and various regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plans — have pledged to significantly streamline the prior authorization process and improve the patient care experience. This shift could bring relief to more than 250 million…
Rapidly rising commercial building construction costs could result in your facility being underinsured if you suffer a major loss and haven’t increased your insurance policy replacement cost limits lately. Your policy has a maximum amount it will pay to rebuild your building, and that limit should reflect current construction costs. Otherwise, the policy may…
Legislative Wrap-Up: Three Health Benefits Bills Employers Should Know About Health insurance is back on the legislative agenda in Washington, with several proposals that could reshape how employers provide coverage to their workers. Three bills gaining traction in the House aim to overhaul parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expand access to group health…
During wildfire season, utilities with equipment in at-risk areas will often cut power during high-wind events to reduce the risk of ignition from downed power lines. While the practice can prevent a fire from starting, it can put businesses in a bind by hampering operations and even putting perishable items at risk of spoiling if…
Watching their group health plan premiums climb higher with each passing year, some employers start looking into alternative funding strategies in hopes they can get a better handle on their employees’ health costs. While group plans are the standard, larger employers have typically had more options for funding their group health coverage. But now even…