Category Archive

Benefit Spotlight

Paid Time Off

2026 January, Benefit Spotlight December 30, 2025

Taking breaks off work is vital to our health and wellbeing. But with countless activities to do and several different months to choose from, how do we know we’re utilizing our Paid Time Off (PTO) to its fullest? There’s a couple things to consider:

Timing

You might be tempted to take your PTO around federal holidays to lengthen your vacation time. In the case of Labor Day or the winter holidays, this could turn just a couple well-placed PTO days into a 9 – 10 day break! But does a longer time off work mean more health benefits? Well, not entirely. Research shows that wellness benefits peak at 8 days, so there’s not much advantage to taking 2 – 4 weeks of vacation, at least in the way of positive health impact. Instead, you would be better off taking several short vacations throughout the year, whenever you start to feel burnt out. That way you relax and refresh more consistently, maintaining higher levels of health and wellness compared to those who take a single, long vacation.

Activities

What you do during vacation is just as important as the length of your break. Unsurprisingly, engaging in work-related activities during vacation does nothing to improve your health and wellness. In fact, it means you won’t see any vacation-powered health benefits, even if you take 8 days off. So, turn off your email notifications, silence all incoming calls, and shut down your laptop. Focus entirely on your time off!

Instead, you could go for a ski trip with your family, take a solo trip overseas, or even have a staycation in your own house. Go on a trip or stay inside, it doesn’t really matter where you spend your PTO. While travel may help you mentally distance from work, there’s not a huge benefit difference between either choice.

Both physical and social activities give you a huge mental energy boost, so choose whichever you prefer. Some ideas include:

  • Camping – The outdoors is a perfect place to reset! But if finding somewhere to pitch a tent is too difficult or costly for you, why not set up camp in your own backyard? You can roast marshmallows (or microwave them, if you’re at home), hunt for fireflies, or look up at the stars!
  • Family Game Night – Settle in for a night of fun with your loved ones! Want a fast-paced, easy-to-pick-up game? Try Uno! Want something a little more tactical? Catan requires a little more set-up but is equally engaging. Puzzles are also great for all ages!
  • A Trip to the Library – Reading is a wonderful (and free) way to spend your PTO, but libraries offer much more than just books! You can also rent movies, participate in craft classes or book clubs, borrow games and toys, and even just bask in the library’s sweet silence.
  • Visiting Another City – Whether it’s a road-trip or a plane ride to a different country, travel is a great way to shake things up. Bring along your friends or family for added fun, or go adventuring out on your own. Either way, you’ll get to escape from all the boring parts of daily life, like vacuuming the house or doing the dishes.

But if none of these ideas appeal to you, research suggests that doing nothing at all is the best way to spend your time off. Compared to social and physical activity, doing nothing has the longest lasting health and wellness benefits, keeping your moods high even after you return to work. So, if you just spend your PTO lazing around the house, don’t feel bad! You’re just maximizing your vacation benefits.

Your brain is like a battery, and it doesn’t work if it’s out of juice. Taking your PTO is an excellent way to relax, refresh, and recharge. Don’t wait until December to use it all in one go, either! Be proactive about your health by sprinkling some vacation days throughout the year. Your mind and body will thank you in the long run!

How Healthcare Advocates Protect Your Health

Keesha Maybank 2025 December, Benefit Spotlight November 26, 2025

Hospitals can be intimidating spaces filled with unfamiliar routines, fast-paced decision-making, and technical medical language.

Patients often find themselves overwhelmed and unsure of their rights or options. That’s where professional healthcare advocates come in.

A professional healthcare advocate works on your behalf to make sure you understand your medical options, get the care you need, and aren’t left navigating the healthcare system alone. These advocates can be independent professionals, hospital-based patient advocates, or even specialized nurses or social workers trained to guide you through medical decisions.

Their role can cover explaining diagnoses and treatment options in plain language, helping coordinate care between multiple doctors or facilities, reviewing medical bills for errors and negotiating costs, ensuring your healthcare rights are protected, and providing emotional support and reducing stress during challenging times.

Many people don’t realize they could benefit from a healthcare advocate until they’re knee-deep in stress. Here are a few red flags that might mean it’s time to bring one on board:

  • You’re overwhelmed by medical information
  • You have a complex or chronic condition
  • You’re facing a major medical decision
  • Billing and insurance confusion is eating up your energy
  • You feel your concerns aren’t being heard

If you think you might need a healthcare advocate, the first step is knowing where to look. Here’s how to start:

  • Many hospital facilities have patient advocacy departments.
  • Organizations like the Patient Advocate Certification Board (PACB) or the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates can connect you with certified professionals.
  • Some insurers provide access to advocacy services as part of their benefits.
  • Friends, family, or support groups may know trusted advocates who specialize in your condition.

When choosing an advocate, look for someone with experience in your specific needs, clear communication skills, and a commitment to putting your goals first. Many offer a free initial consultation so you can see if it’s the right fit before committing.

92% of patients report that patient care was positively impacted by working with a health advocate.

Where to Go for Care

2024 July, Benefit Spotlight June 24, 2024

We have so many options for medical care these days that it is important to understand the types of care, when it’s appropriate for each type, the impacts on the time it may take to get care, and how much that care may cost.

Nurse Lines – This is a great resource if you need a quick answer to a health issue that doesn’t require immediate medical treatment. They are typically free as a part of your medical insurance and available 24/7. Nurse Lines can answer questions about your symptoms, self-care/home treatments, medications and side effect, and can help you decide when to seek care.

Telemedicine – This resource can be used when you need care for minor illnesses and aliments but would prefer not to or cannot leave home since they are offered by phone or online if you have access to a webcam. Some telemedicine visits can even be scheduled outside of normal doctor’s hours. There are usually copays or flat fees for these types of visits, but they often give you immediate access to care and in some cases in some states can provide prescriptions. Best used for cold & flu symptoms, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and sinus infections.

Primary Care Center – Use this resource for routine care or treatment of current health issues. Your primary care doctor knows you and your health history and can provide help with most of your care and prescription needs. Appointments usually are required and can come with wait time once in the office. Copays and/or coinsurance typically applies. Use your primary care center for routine checkups, immunizations, preventive services, and managing your general health.

Urgent Care Center – This resource is used when you need care quickly but is not a true emergency. They offer treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses like strains, sprains, minor broken bones, and minor infections or burns. These visits are subject to copay and/or coinsurance and can be more costly that a primary care center visit. Walk-ins are welcome but may have long wait times.

Emergency Room – Save an emergency room (ER) visit for when you need immediate treatment for a serious life-threatening condition such as heavy bleeding, chest pain, major burns, or severe head injuries. These visits are often far more costly than seeing your primary care center and are subject to copay and/or coinsurance. ERs are open 24/7 but come with long wait times since life-threatening emergencies will be seen first. ER visit may also come with ambulance charges that are not covered by insurance or may not be in network.

Palliative Care: A Supportive Option to Help Patients and Their Families

2024 May, Benefit Spotlight April 22, 2024

Navigating a serious illness can be challenging. Palliative care lessens the burden.

When you, or someone you care about, are diagnosed with a serious illness, it takes a massive toll on all aspects of your life. Navigating care options and figuring out your new normal can be overwhelming, and many are unsure how to find support — or if it’s even available. That’s where palliative care comes in.

Palliative care (which stems from the Latin word palliare, meaning “to cloak”) offers supportive care in many forms to lessen the burden and strain felt when you’re dealt a life-altering diagnosis. It acts as an additional layer of care to enhance your well-being alongside the current treatment plan that may already be underway.

Palliative care can be a good option if you are impacted by one of the following conditions: ALS, Alzheimer’s, cancer, chronic obstructive lung disease, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, AIDs, cystic fibrosis, and diseases of the kidney, liver, or lungs.

Palliative Care Differs from Hospice

Palliative care and hospice are not interchangeable terms. Hospice focuses on end-of-life care, whereas palliative care aims to improve a person’s quality of life and alleviate stress at any stage of an illness.

Unlike hospice care, palliative care does not signify an end of treatment or a terminal diagnosis — in fact, it is often done in tandem with curative treatment. Palliative care can help relieve issues such as breathing difficulties, pain, nausea, anxiety, loss of appetite, depression, constipation, fatigue, and lifestyle stressors.

Palliative Care is Needs-Based

Palliative care varies depending on the available resources in your area and your or your loved one’s condition. A palliative care team may consist of medical professionals and specialists—such as doctors and nurses — who help with symptom management, as well as social workers, chaplains, and financial advisors.

The demands on your mind, body, finances, and relationships may be overwhelming, but a palliative care team helps with weighing treatment options and better understanding your condition, empowering you to address important decisions surrounding:

  • Medical expenses: concerns around insurance coverage, Medicare plan, and financial planning for ongoing treatment
  • Living arrangements: a person can receive palliative care in their home, a clinic or hospital, a nursing home, or other setting
  • Legal documentation: setting up a power of attorney or creating a living will

Social support is another important component of palliative care. Because a serious illness can uproot your life, it often feels isolating. A palliative care team helps by connecting you with support groups, organizing and coordinating caregiving responsibilities, and seeking out community resources. Review your medical plan documents to see what palliative care options are covered by your plan.

Getting Started

There isn’t a set time when palliative care is offered, so you can seek out care early on (often once a diagnosis is received) to help plan for what is to come. The World Health Organization states, “early delivery of palliative care reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and the use of health services.”

Receiving care on your terms is of the utmost importance, and a palliative care team can communicate a patient’s preferences, goals, and wishes. Ask your provider for a referral, whether you are a candidate for palliative care, and what support resources are available to you.

Sources:

https://www.nhpco.org/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22850-palliative-care
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/palliative-care/about/pac-20384637
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/frequently-asked-questions-about-palliative-care
https://www.healthline.com/health/palliative-care
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care

Benefits Lifecycle

2024 April, Benefit Spotlight March 27, 2024

Employee benefit expirations mark the termination date of benefits provided by employers, including health insurance, retirement plans, and wellness programs. These benefits often run on a yearly cycle. Some may auto-renew while others require you to physically reenroll each year. Failing to utilize or renew these benefits within the specified timeframe may result in loss of coverage or access to services. Importantly, if you leave the company or retire, some benefits terminate immediately, while you might have access to others through the end of the month. Employers typically communicate such deadlines annually to ensure that employees can make informed decisions about their benefits and take necessary actions before expiration, promoting employee well-being and satisfaction.

Wellness Programs

2023 August, Benefit Spotlight July 31, 2023

Employer-sponsored medical benefits are provided to help you stay healthy. But some employers go a step further by implementing wellness programs.

Wellness programs provide various tools and incentives for you to keep an eye on your overall health. These incentives often take the form of discounts off your medical premiums (or even a surcharge), fitness trackers, or gym memberships. If your spouse is on your insurance, they may also be eligible.

Often times these programs will require an annual biometric screening that checks certain standard health factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, height, weight, and glucose levels. These are helpful in the short-term because they may reveal health issues that you can address with your doctor. These screenings are helpful long-term because they will provide your doctor a consistent medical history — if some of your benchmarks change suddenly from one year to the next, it may indicate a health problem. You can usually get these biometric screenings done at your doctor’s office, though some employers will offer onsite screening opportunities as well.

Many wellness programs also include health education modules and mental and financial wellbeing resources. Overall, wellness programs help you become better informed about your own health, which keeps you healthier and could save you money in the long run. Check your benefits information to see whether your employer has a wellness program and what its benefits are.

Extended Leave

2023 July, Benefit Spotlight June 23, 2023

Life happens, and sometimes you need to take an extended period of time away from work outside of what your standard PTO and sick time off cover.

This is where the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) steps in. It provides employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period to handle the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, care for oneself or an immediate family member due to severe health conditions, or qualifying emergency due to a spouse, child, or parent being a covered member of the armed services on active duty. The FMLA ensures your job is protected while you are away (i.e., you cannot legally be let go due to your absence) and you keep your health insurance during the leave.

Some states, such as California and Colorado, also require employers to provide certain forms of paid sick leave or paid family and medical leave. In some instances, this paid leave also applies to employees affected by domestic violence or assault. These provisions vary widely by state, and not all states require employees to put paid sick leave provisions in place. Click HERE and HERE to find your state and any provisions it has made. If your state has both FMLA and paid sick/family leave, your employer must follow the law that benefits employees most.

Extra, Extra! Understanding Supplemental Insurance

2023 June, Benefit Spotlight May 7, 2023

Maybe this is a familiar scenario.

You’re reviewing your annual enrollment materials to figure out what coverage is best for you and your dependents. Medical, dental, and vision coverage are pretty straightforward. Now you’re looking at the extra kinds of coverage, and they all sound similar. Accident coverage, hospital indemnity coverage, and critical illness – what’s the difference? While exact coverage varies per provider and employer, these are the general differences between plans.

  • Accident coverage provides benefits for you and your covered family member for expenses related to an accidental injury that occurs outside of work. This coverage can help pay deductibles, copays, and even typical day-to-day expenses such as a mortgage or car payment.
  • Critical Illness coverage pays a lump-sum benefit if you are diagnosed with a covered disease or condition (the exact diseases and conditions will be specified in plan documentation). You can use this money however you like. You might pay expenses not covered by your medical plan, lost wages, childcare, travel, home healthcare costs, or any of your regular household expenses.
  • Hospital Indemnity coverage pays you cash benefits directly if you are admitted to the hospital or an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a covered stay. This can help pay for your medical expenses such as deductibles and copays, travel cost, food and lodging, or everyday expenses such as groceries and utilities.

While these coverages may overlap at points, they are definitely not all the same. Before your next benefits enrollment, consider whether you might want to enroll in any of these coverages for a little extra peace of mind.

Doc On Retainer: Concierge Medicine

2023 May, Benefit Spotlight April 27, 2023

If you’ve moved recently or had to find a new primary care physician (PCP) for any reason, it might have taken you much longer to get an appointment than expected.

Even getting a regular appointment could take weeks longer than it used to. You’re not imagining it – due to a growing shortage of PCPs, Americans are having to wait significantly longer to see doctors than we used to.

An alternative to long waits at traditional doctors’ offices is concierge medicine, or its cousin, direct primary care (DPC). To access this kind of care, you’ll pay an annual or monthly fee that gets you direct physician access. Each practice will vary, but generally you can expect to receive the following benefits:

  • Guaranteed access to care 24/7
  • Same-day or next-day appointments
  • Coverage of standard care like blood work, preventive screenings, and physicals
  • No copays or deductibles for office visits
  • More personalized care
  • On average, twice as much time with your doctor per visit

It’s crucial to note that there are drawbacks as well. DPC practices typically do not accept insurance and are entirely fee-based, while some concierge systems do accept insurance. You’ll still need regular health insurance to cover hospitalization and specialty referrals. If cash is tight, concierge medicine may not be a good choice – annual fees can run from $1,200 to $10,000. However, if your finances are in a good place, and you want guaranteed access to care, there is a growing number of concierge and DPC providers you can investigate today.

What Is Concierge Medicine? A Complete Guide – Forbes Health
Advantages and Disadvantages of Concierge Medical Care (aarp.org)
Many Doctors are Switching to Concierge Medicine, Exacerbating Physician Shortages – Scientific American

Broadening Benefits for Your Health: Lifestyle Spending Accounts

2023 April, Benefit Spotlight March 30, 2023

While your medical insurance covers much of your bodily health, and many companies have Employee Assistance Programs to help you out with mental health, there’s more to your overall wellbeing.

Employers realize this, which is why more and more companies are adding a new acronym to the fold – the LSA, or the Lifestyle Spending Account.

Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts help cover specific IRS-approved expenses such as copays, glasses, or dental care, Lifestyle Spending Accounts have fewer restrictions. They can be used to pay for a broad variety of services and products that promote your own physical, mental, or financial wellness. Below are just a few examples:

  • Exercise equipment and nutritional supplements
  • Personal trainer
  • Entry fees for races or sports leagues; sports lessons
  • Spiritual retreats
  • State or national park passes
  • Camping equipment
  • Spa treatments
  • Estate planning costs
  • Financial planning services

The crucial difference between LSAs and other health-related spending accounts is that expenses submitted for reimbursement through a Lifestyle Spending Account are taxable to you. The reimbursed amount is considered income and is subject to the same taxes as your normal wages. If you’re looking to further your health and wellness, see whether your employer offers an LSA. It can be a helpful tool in taking care of yourself.

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