1. (NU) - Sponsored News - As
health care costs continue to shift
to consumers, it’s important to con-
sider benefits packages that pro-
vide more holistic support outside
the usual health, dental and vision
policies. Consumers should be
aware that there are plans available
today that will aid in their overall
well-being, which includes physi-
cal, mental and financial health.
Luckily, many employers see
the need for robust benefits of-
ferings, with some incorporating
new solutions to meet increased
employee demand for more from
their benefits provider. In fact, 34
percent of employers surveyed in
a Towers Watson study indicated
they already offer more cus-
tomization with voluntary bene-
fits. Companies likeAflac are ex-
panding services, ranging from
credit monitoring to supplemen-
tal accident benefits to helping
provide employees and their fam-
ilies with financial protection.
As consumers select benefits
options provided by their employ-
er, here are three additional ser-
vices to look for that go above and
beyond a typical benefits offering:
• Fraud protection: Accord-
ing to the Identity Theft Resource
Center, by the middle of 2015,
there were a total of 424 data
breaches, compromising millions
of consumers’personal and finan-
cial information. It’s no secret that
the move toward mobile technol-
ogy and digital transactions has left
consumers vulnerable, so benefits
that include services to help pro-
tect employees’personal and finan-
cial information should be viewed
as a must-have option in employ-
er-sponsored packages.
• Telemedicine: A Towers
Watson survey showed that almost
half of employers offer telemedi-
cine, and by 2018 that number is
expected to rise to 90 percent.
Companies are starting to connect
consumers to highly qualified
health care professionals who can
evaluate common conditions and
provide personalized treatment re-
motely, offering a low-cost and
convenient option, as opposed to
a hospital visit.
• Benefits management sup-
port:According to the Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau
(CFPB), medical debts account for
52 percent of debt collection ac-
tions that appear on consumer
credit reports. Not to mention, the
Kaiser Family Foundation found
that 1 in 3 Americans struggle to
pay medical bills. Companies are
beginning to offer administrative
support to help negotiate employ-
ees’ unpaid medical bills. Con-
sumers who are concerned about
being able to pay for their medical
expenses should investigate these
options further, as it could help
them protect their financial future.
With more health care respon-
sibility falling on consumers,
now is the perfect time to search
for and demand more from em-
ployer benefits packages. For
more about the value-added ser-
vices Aflac is offering, visit:
aflac.com/aflac-business-solutions.
Search for Benefits Packages That
GoAbove and Beyond the Usual
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