Where we’re going

The stop-loss insurance market is facing a stress test. After several years of relatively stable trends, a wave of high-dollar claims has triggered significant losses, rate hikes and tighter underwriting. For employers with self-insured health plans, this shift brings serious consequences. They face higher stop-loss premiums, increased claim scrutiny, fewer coverage guarantees and in some … Continued

The 2025 Milliman Medical Index (MMI) estimates the average cost of employer-sponsored health coverage for a family has reached $35,000. That’s not a forecast, it’s the new reality. If you’re an employer offering health coverage, this number isn’t surprising. You’ve been watching premiums rise year after year while absorbing the majority of the increased premium … Continued

The House has spoken and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are getting an upgrade. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” recently passed by the House, includes a list of HSA-related provisions designed to expand eligibility, increase flexibility and boost tax-advantaged savings potential. These are the first significant changes in almost two decades – since President George W. … Continued

The IRS has announced new Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limits for 2026, offering an opportunity to save more. While that’s positive for eligible participants, most employees won’t benefit. Many don’t have access to an HSA-qualified plan and those who do often fail to use it in ways that maximize its long-term financial advantages. The … Continued

The stop-loss insurance market is facing a stress test. After several years of relatively stable trends, a wave of high-dollar claims has triggered significant losses, rate hikes and tighter underwriting. For employers with self-insured health plans, this shift brings serious consequences. They face higher stop-loss premiums, increased claim scrutiny, fewer coverage guarantees and in some … Continued

Fifteen years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the results are in and so are the consequences. While health reform succeeded in reducing the number of uninsured Americans, it failed to address the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage. For the more than one hundred sixty million Americans who get their health coverage … Continued

The No Surprises Act (NSA) was created to protect patients from unexpected medical bills—especially in emergencies and when treated by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. However, recent layoffs at the federal agency responsible for enforcement have put those protections at risk. With fewer regulators and mounting dispute volume, oversight is weakening, leading to more billing … Continued

At this year’s Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Compliance Conference in Columbus, Ohio, aequum’s Jack Towarnicky offered insight on two mental health topics: Mental Health in the Workplace and The Mental Health LTD Challenge: Because Parity is Not a Priority … Yet. These conversations confirmed that employers, plan sponsors and disability management administrators can no … Continued

I read with interest Ben Dobler’s February 5, 2025, article on “Why Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Aren’t Always Worth the ‘Triple Tax Savings’[i]. Ben notes that HSAs require individuals to be covered by a “High Deductible Health Plan” which has tradeoffs compared to traditional coverage. However, my 20+ years of hands-on experience with HSA-capable coverage … Continued

The No Surprises Act (NSA) was created to protect patients from a number of surprise medical bills — such as for emergency treatment by out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. However, recent layoffs at the federal agency responsible for enforcement may have put those protections at risk. With fewer regulators and mounting dispute volume, oversight is … Continued