• 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.
• Annually, mental illness and substance abuse cost employers approximately $80 to $100 billion in indirect costs. Depression alone is estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays each year, costing employers $17 to $44 billion.
• Stress and anxiety cause more work absences than physical illness or injury.

Mental illness is much more common than most people realize. Ignoring it can be costly to you and the individual, as mental health conditions can get significantly worse if untreated.

Health care is expensive and often confusing. No doubt about it. But it is also immensely important. Benefits offerings are a major factor in employee recruitment and retention. So how do your benefits stack up to others in your industry? Are your offerings competitive? Are they the best option for your team? How do you determine if your benefits measure up?

“Wellness” and “wellbeing” are synonymous. But “wellness” has been diluted in the marketplace. Traditional workplace wellness is flawed. It has an intense focus on physical health and unrealistic expectations. It’s often based on ineffective incentives. Incentives may help encourage participation, but are they leading to engagement in the wellness programs? Doubtful.

Blog updated on March 27, 2017 to reflect most recent data.

According to Express Scripts’ 2016 Drug Trend Report, national prescription drug spending increased just 3.8% in 2016, down from 5.2% in 2015 and a whopping 13.1% in 2014. This may very well come as a surprise to those who have witnessed prescription drug claims jump from 18-20% of their total medical and Rx spend to 35% and greater. Don't worry, you're not alone! 

On March 11, 2015 we presented the Human Capital Summit. Meredith Baratz, Vice President of Strategic Insight and Innovation at UnitedHealthcare, presented on designing innovative experiences and solutions for health consumers. Below are the highlights.

On March 11, 2015 we presented the Human Capital Summit. Jill Ostrem and Chad Towner shared marketplace perspectives. Below are the highlights.

On March 11, 2015 we presented the Human Capital Summit. Mike Nader, Partner at Faegre Baker Daniels, presented a compliance update. Below are the highlights.

2014 was one for the employee benefits history books! The roll-out of the individual mandate, modified community-rating for individual and small group policies, and the public exchanges.

2015 will be yet another chapter in the revolution of employer-provided health insurance with the employer mandate taking effect and additional compliance and reporting responsibilities placed on employers. Throughout all of this, the overriding themes will continue to be creating and maintaining a culture of health within the workforce and the evolution of technology.

There is a movement happening in the wellness industry and it is one rife with controversy. Those in the industry are beginning to using the term “wellbeing” in lieu of wellness. Wellness and wellbeing really represent the same dynamics of a person’s health, but the term “wellness” has been diluted. Google the term and you will get everything from supplements to dog food. As a result, there has been a conscious effort to refer to wellbeing efforts instead of wellness.

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger, Dr. Eric Bricker, Chief Medical Officer of Compass Professional Health Services. We hope you enjoy Dr. Eric’s wisdom and perspective.