If you are an employee of a school district or municipality in Arizona, the window for open enrollment is fast approaching for you to choose your benefits package for the next plan year. Many public sector employers operate on a fiscal year, running from July 1 through June 30. However, the open enrollment period is typically held in the spring … Read More
Where To Start When Revisiting Your Employee Benefit Plans and Practices
Revisiting your employee benefit plans and practices should be a continual effort, not a once every 5-year endeavor. Employers who regularly review and optimize their employee benefit plans and practices throughout the year reap the rewards of increased employee appreciation, improved employee retention, greater productivity, and ultimately, a happier workforce. While staying abreast and ahead of industry and compliance changes … Read More
COVID-19 Relief Legislation and Employee Benefits 2021
In the last days of 2020, Congress passed yet another COVID-19 Relief Bill. Moving forward into 2021 there will be an impact on employee benefits that you need to be aware of. Significant restrictions on so-called “surprise” medical bills, changes to Health Flexible Spending accounts (HFSAs), and Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) are among the key changes that will impact … Read More
Why Working With a Employee Benefits Consultant is a Must
With a wide array of health plans, benefit options, and employee needs, it almost goes without saying that working with an employee benefits expert is a must. In an era where remote working and risk mitigation is crucial to your operations, Valley Schools has several key reasons why you should work with a trusted employee benefits consultant. Resolving Compliance Issues … Read More
Employee Benefits Trends to Watch in 2021
One of the many great reminders of 2020 is that no matter how hard we try, we cannot predict what the future holds. Our priorities have shifted considerably due to the COVID-19 pandemic and many of those priorities are in direct correlation to our health and our careers. Employers in the public sector have had a front seat to change, … Read More
Procurement of Hearing Officers for Student Discipline Hearings
Procurement of Hearing Officers for Student Discipline Hearings By Bill Munch, CPPO, CPPB Hopefully, none of our students are currently facing discipline issues this early in the year, and since online learning is the way of the world right now. However, I received a question via one of the many listservs I belong to regarding whether or not student discipline … Read More
COPING WITH 2020 – Member Assistance Services
Dealing With the Times 2020 has been a year of unprecedented trials and stressors that have left us all scrambling in our professional and personal lives to find compromises and solutions that address risks and concerns. It’s more important than ever to leverage tools and resources available (as an employee and employer) to assist us with the fallout of COVID … Read More
Getting the Best Advice in Employee Benefits
Who We Are – Valley Schools Did you know that Valley Schools is one of Arizona’s largest employee benefits consulting organizations for schools? Serving over 35,000 employee and dependent lives for benefits consulting and plan administration, we have been leaders in the industry for innovative cost containment strategies, wellness, and more. We are incredibly excited to announce that we have … Read More
Strategies to Make Your Open Enrollment for Employee Benefits During COVID-19 Safe and Successful
Open Enrollment Messaging COVID-19 is disturbing public and private employer and employee operations across the board and the country. The extraordinary challenges and questions posed by COVID-19 has created a storm of emotion around health coverage. If your open enrollment for benefits is right around the corner, it couldn’t come at a better time as health coverage is at the … Read More
The Role of Telemental Services in Healthcare
Technology continues to advance our access to care in the form of telemental services. What Are Telemental Services? Like telemedicine that allows members to access practitioners to remedy acute care situations such as colds, rashes, or minor infections, telemental health solutions have moved into the digital age. With the demands on balancing work, home, family, and self-care, telemental services offer … Read More