From Student Debt Assistance to Family-Forming Support: Benefits and Well-Being Go Hand in Hand 

You know this, but it bears repeating. Prioritizing physical, psychological, emotional and financial wellness is key to supporting our overall well-being. This holds true during the busy holiday season and throughout the entire year.  

Employee benefits that address emotional, physical and financial well-being

It can also be easier said than done, so we need as much support as possible in this vital endeavor. An in-depth framework recently published by the US Surgeon General outlines a vision of the workplace as an engine of well-being. The report states, “Our workplaces play a significant role in our lives. Work affects both our physical and mental well-being – in good ways and bad. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the relationship between work and well-being into clearer focus.”   

Continue reading “From Student Debt Assistance to Family-Forming Support: Benefits and Well-Being Go Hand in Hand “

Taking a Second Look at Flexible Spending Accounts

22722908 - blue piggy bank with stethoscope for check your financeAre you looking for a way to save money on those need-to-have items that you buy throughout the year?  You know, not fun items or cool clothing, but rather those medical expenses that have a way of draining your wallet?  Have you ever considered using a medical Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?  Flexible Spending Accounts have been around for over 50 years, initially created in the 1970’s by the Internal Revenue Service as a solution to the addition of deductibles and elimination of dental and vision insurance by many employer-sponsored health insurance plans. The expenses that insurance didn’t cover – but employees still experienced – were given a tax-free pass by the IRS up to an annual limit.

Over the years the accounts have gone through many changes:  adding the convenience of debit-card access, on-line claims submission services, increases in the annual limits, and elimination of many over-the counter expenses as eligible.  So how do you know what you can and cannot use the account for, and is it really worth the hassle of claims submission? Continue reading “Taking a Second Look at Flexible Spending Accounts”