Two years after the pandemic closed businesses nationwide, more employers could begin to make changes to their health insurance benefits.

During the second year of the pandemic, area businesses continued to steer away from making large changes to their health plans while trying to minimize increasing benefit costs for employees. 

Area insurers have rolled out their Medicare Advantage (MA) plans for 2022, boasting a wide range of offerings for a growing base of Medicare beneficiaries seeking new options in the space. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reported that the state’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 6.2% in September.  

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has reached its lowest level since the pandemic struck last year, further evidence that the U.S. economy and job market are quickly rebounding from the pandemic recession.

Following a gap in benefits after the federal government delayed approval of December’s COVID relief and government funding bill, the state Department of Labor & Industry announced it can now resume payments for its temporary federal unemployment programs.

Employers who aren’t giving their retirement plans as much attention as their health plans could be missing vital benefits when it comes to finding new employees.

Pennsylvania’s available services for aging residents are detailed in the state Department of Aging’s new 2020 Benefits and Rights Book.

A desire to help young employees pay off their student debt has prompted some Pennsylvania companies to try offering help as a benefit, but many are finding that it may be more trouble than it’s worth.

Steven Buterbaugh, 54, is president and CEO of York-based McConkey Insurance and Benefits, which he joined in 1991.

Experts in human resources are recommending that businesses look into adopting a program that allows employees to pull from a bank of time off that they can use however they please instead of receiving specific days for sick, vacation and personal time.