Finding the Right Prescription for Rising Drug Costs
Self-funded pharmacy plans rarely have just one cost concern. High-cost brands, combination products, specialty medications, and prescriptions that could be handled over the counter can all drive spending in different ways. Solutions exist, but many PBMs rely on...
A Growing Role for Direct-to-Employer Contracting
While PPO networks remain a core part of how self-funded employers provide access to care, a growing share of MedBen clients have added direct-to-employer contracting and other alternative reimbursement strategies — 42% of clients in 2025, up from just 17% in 2018....
Reminder: Gag Clause Attestation Deadline is December 31st
An important reminder that group health plans must attest compliance with the gag clause prohibitions mandated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Attestation is required online by December 31, 2026. The law requires plan sponsors to file an...
MedBen Employees Celebrate 30+ Years of Serving Clients
At MedBen’s annual employee recognition event on October 2, employees who reached milestone anniversaries in 2026 were honored. Three employees are celebrating 35 years with MedBen: Kurt Harden, Chairman & CEO; Monica Jackson, Claims Examiner III; and Cathy...
MedBen Representatives Share Cost Management Strategies at Conference
The 13th Annual Sherrill Morgan Healthcare Innovation Conference, held September 17-18, brought together employers from Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee to discuss practical ways to manage health care costs. Chairman & CEO Kurt Harden, Vice President of Sales &...
MedBen Closing Early October 2 for Employee Recognition Event
MedBen’s home office and Client Services will close at noon EDT on Friday, October 2, so our team can take part in an employee recognition event. Normal business hours will resume at 8:00 a.m. EDT on Monday, October 5. In the meantime, MedBen Access is available...
Reminder: Medicare Part D Deadline is October 15
The annual deadline to distribute Medicare Part D notices to plan members is October 15. These notices indicate whether a plan's prescription drug coverage is considered creditable or non-creditable and can affect a Medicare-eligible individual's decision about...
What’s Driving 2027 Trend — and Hardening Stop-Loss
MedBen recetly noted that matching national trend in 2027 still means absorbing a large increase. A Fortune article points to the forces behind another year of elevated growth, including expensive drugs, high-cost treatments, and AI-enabled medical billing. Those same...
2027 HDHP Planning: What Employers Need to Know
A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) must meet specific rules for employees to be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). As employers plan for 2027, MedBen’s Compliance team has prepared a 2027 HDHP and HSA Guide covering the updated HSA...
Support for Mental Health Members May Not Know They Have
More plan members are using mental health care, and more of those visits are running through the medical plan. MedBen client data shows mental health office visits from January through August 2026 were 41.6% higher than the same period in 2022. Members are getting...
A Wellness Exam Is Worth Making Time For
Many MedBen WellLiving clients have a December 31 deadline for plan members to get their annual wellness exams and recommended screenings... and we're nearing the final stretch for 2026. If you haven't reminded your employees about the deadline, now is an ideal time...
A Bigger Rebate Isn’t a Lower Drug Bill
A large rebate can look like a bargain, but often it only offsets a higher list price. Manufacturer rebates are typically a percentage of list price, so raising the list price makes the rebate look bigger without reducing what the plan pays. That is why rebate size is...