In 2026, the employee benefits market is being shaped by a variety of trends, including regulatory volatility, shifting compliance priorities, accelerated cost pressures and ever-evolving workplace demands. Here are compliance trends to watch for: On July 4, 2025, a sweeping tax and spending bill, commonly...
By: Steve Kolker, Insurance Consultant, Employee Benefits, Hilb Group/Barrow Group One of the most essential, but difficult to afford coverages is long-term care (LTC) insurance. LTC insurance covers services like nursing home, assisted living, or in-home assistance that Medicare generally does not provide. The cost for...
We are pleased to introduce our in-house Employee Benefits Consultant, Steve Kolker. Steve will be working with our business clients to provide “peace of mind” benefits solutions for both employers and employees. With more than 25 years in the insurance industry and 11 years specializing in...
An employment separation is the end of an employee’s working relationship with an employer. It includes voluntary separations (i.e., resignation or retirement), involuntary separations (i.e., firing or layoff) and departures that occur at the expiration of a work contract or seasonal employment. Employment separations require...
Employers continue to face the challenge of managing employee health care costs. One often overlooked strategy to mitigate these expenses is leveraging carrier credits. These credits can provide savings and enhance the overall value of employee health plans. A plan may already include carrier credits,...
An organization’s post-open enrollment activities can be just as important as the tasks that must be completed leading up to and during open enrollment. After wrapping up open enrollment, there are many benefits-related responsibilities employers must address before the start of the new year, and...
A person’s age influences many of their characteristics over time—their hair color, their muscle mass and, crucially, their preferred benefits. If employers want to provide benefits that their employees will actually use, they must take their varying preferences into account. In fact, one of the...
HIGHLIGHTS Applicable Laws Wellness programs that provide medical care must comply with: ERISA COBRA HIPAA privacy and security rules Examples of Medical Care Biometric screenings Immunizations Physical examinations Counseling services Links and Resources Department of Labor (DOL) website on ERISA health plans and benefits An Employer’s Guide to Group Health...
Introduction You should always elect benefits during open enrollment to ensure you get the coverage you need. However, once you make your elections through a cafeteria or Section 125 plan, you are unable to change your elections until the plan year ends. But sometimes qualified life...
In observance of the Christmas holiday, our offices will be closed Tuesday, December 25 so that our employees may spend time with their family & friends. Keep up to date with all the exciting new things happening within our agency! Check Out Barrow Group’s Blog at https://www.barrowgroup.com/blog/ Join Us...