Supplier Teamwork Cuts Benefit Costs: Report

The key to cutting the cost of the benefit programs is to improve cooperation among the employer, its group health and disability insurers and other benefits suppliers, according to a new report.

For one thing, improved coordination can help employers spot trends and take prompt action to improve benefits administration, according to a white paper by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), the National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH) and Liberty Mutual Group, Boston. Secondly, better cooperation can improve the health of employees and streamline their access to employee services, such as disease prevention and workplace wellness and safety, the report maintains.