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Aetna Buys bswift: Why Benefit Brokers Must Pay Attention

"Aetna has invested billions in technology preparing for what they view as a consumer-centric health care model. They want to reinvent the patient experience. To quote [Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna], 'We're going to begin to change the health care industry by giving people tools they can put in the palm of their hand.' Here is another quote from Bertolini that would make brokers pause. When asked about the future of health care, Bertolini responded: 'There wouldn't be plan designs. You wouldn't need them. What you would do is invest in all those things that are necessary to keep people healthy.' "

Girding for Consumerization, Aetna Buys a Private Health Insurance Exchange

"Aetna bought bswift, a Chicago-based developer of insurance exchange and employee benefits administration technology, for approximately $400 million.... For Aetna, the addition of bswift offers a new way to keep or garner new employer clients looking to provide health benefits on a defined-contribution model, rather than the traditional group plan. It also offers a way to operate a single-insurer private exchange option, as Cigna and numerous Blue Cross insurers are doing."

How to Choose Benefits Software: HRIS vs. Dedicated Benefits Admin

"The hidden risks of all-in-one HR technology ... SaaS vs. licensed software ... How to choose the right benefits tech partner ... Client support: Why it's critical in benefits administration ... Personalization: The keys to benefits engagement and utilization ... How to evaluate AI for HR and benefits administration ... Making the decision that serves you long term."

Personalize Employee Benefits Comms for Millennials and Gen Z

"Millennials (born 1981-1996) and Gen Z (born 1997-2012) ... are already more than half the workforce in the U.S. They were raised with algorithms that already know their shoe size, go-to pizza toppings, and what music they like to listen to on Monday morning.  ... [If] your benefits experience isn't delivered the way younger employees already consume everything else (and not even that young -- the oldest Millennials are 44!), it risks losing relevance with them before it even gets noticed."

HR Trends 2025: Smarter Benefits Strategies

"[1] Data-driven benefits packages: Tailoring your offerings to employee needs.... [2] Personalized wellbeing: Employee engagement strategies that actually work.... [3] AI in HR: Balancing HR tech and the human touch.... [4] Workplace flexibility: Employee preferences can be a competitive advantage."

Diabetes in the Workplace: A Growing Concern

"While medications like GLP-1s play an increasingly important role in diabetes management, lifestyle and behavioral modifications cannot be overlooked for sustainable diabetes management.... Diabetes places significant pressure on healthcare costs for employers. U.S. companies incur $413 billion annually in diabetes-related costs alone."

Conquer Annual Enrollment: Steps to Scale Your HR Everest

"[1] Strategic planning and data analysis ... [2] Customer service excellence ... [3] HR technology preparedness ... [4] Compliance and legal review ... [5] Communication and education strategy ... [6] Optimizing your resources ... [7] Post-enrollment analysis.'  

Holistic Health Trends to Boost Employee Wellbeing and ROI

"[1] Value-based care models: Cut healthcare costs and improve employee wellbeing ... [2] Whole person care: Treating people not conditions ... [3] Employee mental health benefits: Strategies to reduce burnout and stigma ... [4] Financial stress: How financial wellness programs boost ROI."

​​Benefits Enrollment Best Practices for the Off-Season​

"[T]he 'downtime' of the 'off-season' is an excellent opportunity to get ahead of the curve and implement employee benefits strategy best practices. [1] Lay the groundwork for top-notch employee benefits communications.... [2] Analyze benefits utilization data and enhance your employee benefits portfolio.... [3] Prepare, test, and refine your supporting resources for open enrollment."

How to Create an Engaging Employee Benefits Communication Strategy

"[1] Use a multi-channel approach: digital and print benefits communications go hand-in-hand ... [2] Keep empathy at the core of your employee benefits communications ... [3] Use benefits communications [that] both 'push' and 'pull' employees ... [4] Create an easily accessible editorial calendar for year-round benefits communication plan ... [5] Think beyond medical, dental, and vision benefits ... [6] Broaden the conversation on employee wellbeing ... [7] Ask for and act on employee feedback."