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Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers

Steve Smith

Steve Smith is a powerhouse of energy, living by the mantra "work hard, play hard." As an expert in uniting teams for a greater purpose, Steve's innovative and creative strategies in employee health and wellness are game-changers. With over 25 years of expertise in health insurance, covering compliance, cost mitigation, utilization, analytics, wellness plans, and strategic planning, Steve is the go-to expert for driving down utilization trends and fostering a culture of well-being. His clients trust him to deliver exceptional results, making him an invaluable asset in the industry. As an Employee Benefits Consultant, Steve specializes in health care consulting for Minnesota public sector organizations including fully insured, self-insured, and stop-loss plans. Steve is a licensed insurance agent and holds the designations for Managed Healthcare Professional (The Health Insurance Association of America), Certified Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Professional (National Association of Health Underwriters), and Group Benefits Disability Specialist (Hartford School of Insurance).

Recent Articles by Steve Smith

The Six Benefits of Telemedicine

2 minute 30 second read

More and more, public sector organizations are adding telemedicine providers as an alternative way to receive acute care for run-of-the mill illnesses like colds and flu. Why?...

Calculating COBRA Premium When You Offer an HRA

Updated May 23, 2024

2 minute read

Do you offer your employees a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) that integrates with their health plan? If yes, you are required to offer COBRA continuation of...

3 Ways Employers Can Reach Out During the Opioid Crisis

2 minute read

The opioid crisis in the United States has reached alarming peaks. The extent of its reach may have touched someone you know, whether it’s a co-worker, spouse, or other family member....

5 Ways to Engage Employees in Your Wellness Program

More and more, public sector employers are investing in wellness programs hoping to slow down health insurance premium escalation. A healthier workforce can lead to a reduction in claims, fewer...

Categories

Trump Addresses Employee Benefits at State of the Union Address

President Trump delivered his 2019 State of the Union Address on February 5, 2019. During his speech, he touched upon several issues that could impact the employee benefits industry, including paid...

Final Wellness Plan Rules Remove Incentive Limits

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has removed the incentive limits from its final wellness plan rules effective January 1, 2019. The rules had allowed employers to offer wellness...

Using Generational Messaging to Discuss Benefits

Your organization is a melting pot of employees from different generations and life stages. While one employee is planning to expand their family, another one is moving towards retirement.

Hope for WI Cities Struggling with Unfunded Retiree Health Liabilities

In the 1970s-1980s, most Wisconsin cities began offering to pay all or some of their retiree’s health insurance benefits post-employment. Some organizations allowed employees to exchange...

How Physician Quality Data Impacts Your Health Plan Costs

Please note that Grand Rounds combined with Doctor on Demand and are now known as Included Health.

Rebecca was a married mother of two who enjoyed bike riding, boating, and spending time with...

IRS Issues HSA Contribution Change for HDHP Family Coverage

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a reduced contribution limit for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) impacting individuals with family coverage. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed late last...