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One of the biggest frustrations Medicare Advantage enrollees can face is learning that care recommended by their doctor has been denied by their health plan.

Many MA insurers use prior authorization, which requires approval before the plan covers certain medical services, procedures or treatments. But enrollees who receive a denial may not realize that they have the right to appeal the decision — and that an initial denial is not necessarily the final word.

One of the biggest frustrations health plan enrollees can face is learning that care recommended by their doctor has been denied by their insurer.

Many health insurers use prior authorization, which requires approval before the plan covers certain medical services, procedures or treatments. But people who purchase their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace may not realize that they have the right to appeal a denial — and that an initial denial is not necessarily the final word.

One of the biggest frustrations health plan enrollees can face is learning that care recommended by their doctor has been denied by their insurer.

Many health insurers use prior authorization, which requires approval before the plan covers certain medical services, procedures or treatments. But employees who receive a denial may not realize that they have the right to appeal the decision — and that an initial denial is not necessarily the final word.

Successful open enrollment requires giving every employee a meaningful opportunity to understand their options and select coverage that fits their health care and financial needs.

That can be challenging as many employees devote surprisingly little time to one of their most consequential benefits decisions of the year. Employers and HR teams preparing for open enrollment should prioritize clear communication, decision-support tools and access to knowledgeable assistance that can help employees make the right choices for themselves.

California employers will have new workplace first-aid requirements starting Jan. 1, 2027, including updates to kit contents.

The changes are designed to modernize the rules while requiring employers to consider the size, layout and specific hazards of their workplaces when determining what first-aid supplies they need and where to place them.

A company that discovered water damage at one of its rental properties learned an expensive lesson about starting repairs before notifying its insurer.

After finding damage from a plumbing problem, the company hired a handyman and contractors who demolished and repaired the bathroom. It did not report the loss to its insurer until 46 days later. A court ultimately ruled that the insurer did not owe coverage, finding that the company failed to provide prompt notice and that the demolition prevented the insurer from conducting a thorough investigation.

When was the last time you or the person responsible for doing so walked around your facility, warehouse, office or other workplace and did a safety inspection? Your Injury and Illness Prevention Program should state that the owner, supervisor or person with authority and responsibility shall conduct monthly workplace safety inspections.

To maintain a safe and healthful workplace, OSHA requires that you use the safety standard to help identify hazards that exist now or could develop.

Hiring a risk specialist or dedicating a number of employees to that kind of work is typically too expensive for most small and mid-sized companies. So, this risk mitigation typically is left to the business owner or the duties are spread among senior managers. 

You too can reduce the cost of your insurance if you start thinking like a risk manager.

One of the fastest growing cyber threats to businesses is ransomware, which hackers use to shut down an organization's computer system until the victim pays a ransom to unlock it.

While most organizations focus on the cost of the ransom, which can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars, the costlier damage is to the company's operations, which can be hampered or completely shut down after their systems are rendered unusable.

Here's what's at stake besides ransom.

Generative artificial intelligence is making it easier for workers to sue their employers without hiring an attorney, forcing employers to mount costly defenses against cases that often get thrown out of court.

AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude have made it easier for individuals with little knowledge of the law to quickly draft complaints, opposition briefs, discovery requests and other court filings. That has lowered traditional barriers to filing a lawsuit, particularly the cost of hiring an attorney and the difficulty of navigating the legal system.

California homeowners whose houses survive a wildfire but are contaminated by smoke will soon have clearer rules for getting their homes tested, cleaned and deemed safe to occupy.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed two laws aimed at addressing a problem that came into sharp focus after the January 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires. Thousands of homes survived the flames but were exposed to smoke and potentially hazardous contaminants. Some residents have yet to return home amid disputes with insurers over testing and cleanup.

Here's how homeowners could benefit from these new laws if their homes suffer smoke contamination after a fire.

If you are renting out a property, you already have a lot on your mind: not least, ensuring the home is occupied by good tenants and that they pay the rent on time.

But you also need to protect that investment with landlord's – or rental property – insurance, rather than a homeowner's policy. If you are renting out a property and have it covered with a simple homeowner's policy, it would make it difficult to collect on a potential claims payout.