Health care can be confusing. Between copays, eligible expenses and dense coverage policies, sometimes it feels like you need a master’s degree just to understand your hospital bill. And with high deductible health plans gaining popularity each year, it’s critical that employees understand what their health decisions are costing them. This is where health advocacy services—sometimes called patient advocacy—can help.

Snow has arrived for many parts of the country, and that means it's time to brush up on tips for safe winter driving, especially in snow.

The roads can get slick and visibility can dwindle, so always take it easy, drive calmly and stay safe. Whether you've driven in snow often, a short while, or never, it's always a good idea to brush up on the basics to help you stay safe during this time of year.
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Middle-class families - those with incomes of between roughly $50,000 and $100,000 per year - are becoming increasingly reliant on workplace benefits in case of a disability or critical illness.

Simple health insurance is insufficient to carry the load. The loss of a breadwinner's or caregiver's financial contribution through death or disability is often devastating.
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As attacks on businesses' networks continue at unprecedented levels, cyber risks have become the top concern among organizations of all sizes for the first time, according to a new survey.

The "Travelers Risk Index" found that 55% of executives surveyed said they worry "some" or "a great deal" about cyber risks. That's more than they worry about medical cost inflation (54%), employee benefit costs (53%), the ability to attract and retain talent (46%), and legal liability (44%).
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No workplace is immune to the risks of an active shooter incident. However, there are steps that you can take to ensure that your organization is prepared for the worst.

To prepare your staff for an active shooter situation, create an emergency action plan (EAP) and conduct training exercises. Together, the EAP and training activities will prepare your staff to effectively respond and help minimize loss of life.
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With all the fun fall activities, you may be tempted to put off your home maintenance chores. But winter will be here before you know it, so take some time to tackle any needed maintenance before the weather gets too cold.

This handy checklist will help you take proactive measures to prevent damage from any winter storms that may pass through.
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Falls from ladders are one of the most common injuries that construction workers and others in the industry sustain. Because using a ladder seems like common sense, many employers fail to properly train their workers in ladder safety.
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Fraud takes many shapes and forms, among them corporate fraud, consumer fraud, tax fraud, identity theft, and many others. According to ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners), organizations worldwide lose an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues to fraud, costing the world $3.7 trillion each year.
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New federal overtime regulations have been introduced for non-exempt workers after years of wrangling over the issue.

Under the new rule, employers will be required to pay overtime to certain salaried workers who make less than to $684 per week - or $35,568 per year - up from the current threshold of $455, or $23,660 in annual salary.
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There are about 10 million adults over the age of 50 in the United States who provide care for their aging parents. During the past 15 years, the number of adult children providing primary financial or personal care for their parents has increased more than three times. About 25 percent of all adult children in the country today are the primary care providers for their parents. The same number is almost equal to the number of non-working adult children who help their parents.

​The Cost of Caregiving
These caregivers are also planning for their own retirement, and the task of being a primary caregiver can negatively affect saving efforts. A study from MetLife looked at the impact of caregiving on adult children and their future financial status.
 
According to MetLife's survey, the level of care provided by adult children to parents is about the same between male and female. However, men are more likely to provide financial assistance, and women tend to provide more personal care. The cumulative amount of lost Social Security benefits, pensions, and wages among these adult caregivers is around $3 trillion.
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