The Department of Health and Human Services recently released updated physical activity guidelines to encourage a healthier country while reducing care costs and mortality rates. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans state that adults need 150… more »

Lowering hypertension risk isn't simply a matter of exercise and diet... it also helps to practice good dental habits, a new study suggests. According to HealthDay, researchers reviewed medical and dental records of more than 3,600 people diagnosed… more »

New research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 14% of U.S. adults have diabetes… and of that percentage, 4% don't know they have the disease. An aging population factors into the number, but the rise in obesity and… more »

The number of Americans getting screened for cervical, breast, and prostate cancers has declined in recent years, suggests a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The review of self-reported screenings from 2000 to… more »

Taking a common-sense approach to wellness can dramatically cut your risk for heart disease and cancer, and even add over a decade to your life, a recent study suggests. The analysis of 120,000 participants found that men and women who followed five… more »

"Healthcare costs increasing at unsustainable pace" a recent Modern Healthcare headline reads. In a new study, PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts a 6% medical cost trend in 2019, as expensive new medical services and drugs and market consolidation make it… more »

National figures indicate high chronic condition costs and low wellness compliance. This comes as no surprise to MedBen, knowing that there is a direct connection between untreated (or even undetected) diseases and increased health care costs. But a… more »

Americans with high blood pressure may pay nearly $2,000 more on medical fees this year than those without the condition… a problem that could be alleviated through a focus on preventive care. According to a 12-year study, adults with hypertension can… more »

Sure, work is important and sometimes burning the midnight oil is necessary for getting projects done on time. But making a habit of late nights and less sleep can have long-term health consequences, new research suggests. The study of over 400,000… more »

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other sources paint a grim picture of the growing prevalence of diabetes, as well as its attendant physical effects: More than 29 million Americans are diabetic. Approximately 19… more »

Nowadays, opioid painkillers usually make the headlines because of their addictive properties, rather than their therapeutic advantages. But new research has raised questions as to whether such benefits have been overstated. A year-long study of… more »

In recent years, U.S. health care spending has slowed significantly compared to the double-digit cost spikes we saw a decade ago. But there’s still room for improvement, so MedBen uses multiple containment strategies to keep client claim costs under… more »

Dental checkups do much more than giving your teeth a good cleaning. Through twice-yearly exams, a dentist can monitor the condition of the teeth and gums to spot subtle changes that may need attention. But that's only the half of it. Research shows… more »

A new study suggests that nearly half of cancer cases in the U.S. can be attributed to unhealthy habits – habits that could be changed through a focus on wellness and maintaining a doctor-patient relationship. The American Cancer Society study found… more »

British researchers have determined that a regimen of medications can be just as effective in treating heart patients as a coronary stent insertion to open blocked arteries. The results raise questions about the value of using stents for the treatment… more »

Medical plan trend has kept stable over the last few years. Even so, MedBen has consistently remained under national trend by emphasizing the highest driver of plan costs – claims. According to the 2018 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey, medical… more »

While ransomware attacks have increased during the first half of 2017, accidental data breaches caused by employee error are also a serious problem, according to new research by Beazely, a breach insurance company. As reported by Benefits Pro, employee… more »

Keeping prescription drug plan costs in check is one of the greatest challenges for self-funded employers nowadays... but year after year, MedBen is helping clients beat pharmacy cost trends. From 2014 to 2016, MedBen clients experienced average… more »

Adding vision benefits to a group health care plan sends a positive message to employees and serves as a useful retention tool, a recent survey reveals. According to the Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey (via BenefitsPRO), an overwhelming… more »

Among the advantages of MedBen Analytics' proprietary reporting platform is that it allows providers to drill down into hospital readmission data. Now, a new study demonstrates the financial value of this accessibility. University of Michigan… more »