Article & Content Library

Workers' compensation rates have remained relatively stable and have even declined in many parts of the country in recent years.

But for small businesses, a few workplace injuries can quickly reverse that trend. These firms may not have the same resources as their larger counterparts to devote to workers' comp cost management, but there are several low-cost steps they can take.

For companies that operate fleets, telematics has become one of the most effective tools for improving safety, reducing accidents and controlling insurance costs.

Cameras, GPS tracking, driver scorecards and vehicle sensors can help identify risky behavior before it results in a serious crash and provide vital data after a crash. But the same data that helps defend a company after an accident can also be used against it if the technology is not properly managed.

Complaints about Medicare-related scam calls have skyrocketed over the past year, with some seniors receiving 50 calls a day about improving their Medicare coverage.

The callers often claim to represent Medicare regulators, a health insurer or a doctor's office. Some say your Medicare card is expiring, your coverage is about to be interrupted or you qualify for new benefits. Others offer free products, including medical equipment or smartphones, to get you to divulge your Medicare number and personal information.

What happens if you are tricked and how can you avoid it in the first place?

Many Americans spend years building a healthy balance in a Health Savings Account, taking advantage of one of the most tax-friendly savings vehicles available.

But once you enroll in Medicare, one simple misunderstanding can create an unexpected tax headache.

One often-overlooked aspect of Medicare is that higher-income beneficiaries may pay more for two types of coverage: Part B, which covers outpatient services, and Part D, which covers drug plans.

Premiums for Part B and Part D are tied to income, and retirees with higher incomes may pay substantially more through a surcharge known as the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. If you are in a higher income-tax bracket, it's important to understand how IRMAA works so you can make informed decisions about retirement income and withdrawals.

Agricultural operators are increasingly running the risk of being underinsured for their farm equipment due to rapidly rising used and new machinery prices and product scarcity.

The quick increase in used equipment prices means the farm equipment coverage for that harvester you bought last year may not be enough to purchase a comparable used machine should yours be totaled in an accident. This relatively recent phenomenon has left many farmers paying out of pocket after filing their insurance claims. Here's why and what you can do about it.

Health insurers are reporting progress on their voluntary effort to streamline prior authorization. They say they are on track to standardize the process for submitting prior authorization requests for coverage for many common procedures by Jan. 1, 2027.

The push, led by America's Health Insurance Plans and supported by major carriers, aims to standardize how prior authorization requests are submitted and reviewed across commercial plans, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid-managed care. Insurers say the goal is to reduce paperwork, speed decisions and improve consistency, though many of the commitments remain voluntary and vary by carrier. How might you benefit?

Diabetes is a devastating illness - and not just for those with the disease. Employers are also shouldering massive and increasing direct and indirect costs due to diabetes.

In this issue we look at what employers can do to help their workers stave off or manage this serious disease.

Inflation, supply chain volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, cyber risk and growing catastrophe losses continue to influence insurance pricing and underwriting, according to a new report.

Across nearly every line of coverage, insurers are rewarding well-managed risks with stable pricing and ample capacity while scrutinizing accounts with poor loss experience, catastrophe exposure or elevated liability concerns.

For most retirees these days, maximizing the amount of income they can safely take out of their portfolio is the most important financial objective.It's the one thing that makes everything else possible. Being able to enjoy time with grandchildren, take time out to enjoy golf or travel, secure your nest egg against the need for long term care - it all hinges on your ability to convert your retirement

Unpredictable job and investment markets make it difficult to determine how much life insurance to buy.

The standard formulas for buying coverage to match a specific percentage of income are inadequate solutions. Online calculation tools usually tell everyone to raise their coverage by $1 million. However, life insurance is a personal issue.

What should you do? It is best to take a systematic approach to buying coverage instead of relying on standard rules and formulas. 

People who use financial advisors are more than twice as likely to feel confident in their retirement preparedness than people who don't. That's the conclusion of a recent report from the LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute.

Two in five U.S. pre-retirees surveyed who work with an advisor reported that they feel well prepared for retirement. In contrast, only 21% of those who do not work with a financial advisor report feeling similarly confident.