Employers introducing more family health benefits, but employees don't always recognize them, survey finds

By Anastassia Gliadkovskaya – Employers are spending more on women’s and family health, but that is not always being felt by employees, a new report finds. The Maven Clinic released its fifth annual State of Women’s & Family Health Benefits report, which is based on responses from over 2,000 HR leaders and nearly 5,000 full-time employees across the U.S., U.K., Canada and India. The report highlights how rising healthcare costs are reshaping how employees seek care and what actions employers are considering to help address those costs. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Benefit Expansion Outpaces Employee Experience: Employers reported a 39% year-over-year increase in women’s and family health benefits, yet the share of employees who felt their benefits supported them “very well” declined by 10%. The findings suggest that expanding benefit offerings alone does not necessarily improve employee perception or engagement. Experts cited a lack of coordination and clear integration across programs as a key reason employees struggle to understand or fully use available benefits.

2. Rising Maternity Costs and Persistent Knowledge Gaps: More than half of benefits leaders said high-risk pregnancies are driving higher healthcare costs, prompting 93% of employers to implement cost-management strategies such as care coordination, mental health support, and virtual maternity services. Despite these investments, only 3.5% of employees correctly identified all factors associated with high-risk pregnancy, including risks linked to IVF and surrogacy. Globally, 75% of employees felt adequately supported in managing high-risk pregnancies compared to 60% in the U.S., highlighting regional differences in perceived support.

3. Technology, Coverage Demand, and Access Challenges Reshape Benefits Strategy: Employee use of artificial intelligence for health information is widespread, with 81% reporting AI use and one-third taking action based on AI-generated guidance, while 88% of HR leaders worry about inaccurate decision-making. Direct-to-consumer advertising is also influencing care decisions, as nearly three-quarters of employees acted after seeing hormone replacement therapy ads and 61% did so after GLP-1 medication advertising, contributing to expanded employer coverage (44% for GLP-1s and 50% for HRT). At the same time, access barriers remain significant—more than a quarter of women delayed routine care, including 30% in the U.S., largely due to scheduling difficulties, long wait times, and transportation challenges, while three-quarters of U.S. HR leaders expressed concern about declining maternity care access from provider and hospital closures.

U.S. News launches first ratings of home health agencies

By Ron Southwick – After more than three decades of rating hospitals, U.S. News & World Report is looking a little closer to home. For the first time, U.S. News is publishing ratings of America’s home health agencies. The inaugural list was published today. U.S. News examined more than 12,000 home health agencies certified by Medicare, and 1,319 earned recognition as “Best Home Health” agencies. In addition, 5,288 agencies were identified as meeting U.S. News’ standards for providing quality care and a good patient experience. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Growing Importance of Home Health Care After Hospital Discharge: As hospital stays become shorter, a larger portion of patient recovery now takes place at home or in other post-acute settings. The article emphasizes that health systems, patients, and families are paying closer attention to the quality of home health services because outcomes after discharge significantly affect recovery. The introduction of U.S. News’ first home health agency ratings reflects the increasing role these providers play in the overall continuum of care.

2. Readmission Prevention as a Key Quality Indicator: Home health agencies play an important role in helping patients recover safely at home and avoid returning to the hospital. The article notes that agencies differ in their ability to prevent potentially avoidable hospitalizations, which can impact both patient well-being and hospital financial performance. Lower readmission rates are viewed as an important measure of effective care management during the home health episode.

3. Timely Care and Functional Recovery Drive Agency Performance: High-performing home health agencies were more likely to start care promptly and help patients improve mobility, independence, and medication management. Both hospital-affiliated and independent agencies demonstrated strong performance, suggesting quality outcomes are not limited to one organizational model. The article also highlights access challenges, noting that patients in rural areas may face fewer home health options compared with those in urban or suburban communities.

Walgreens debuts virtual weight management clinic with access to GLP-1 meds

By Heather Landi – Walgreens is wading into the self-pay GLP-1 space, going head-to-head with telehealth subscription offerings. The retail pharmacy giant launched a digital weight management service to offer access to personalized, clinician-guided support for weight loss. The service expands Walgreens’ virtual healthcare platform and provides patients with access to licensed doctors and nurse practitioners, FDA-approved medication options and ongoing virtual support, according to the company in a press release. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Walgreens Launches Virtual Weight Management Program: Walgreens has introduced a virtual weight management service that offers $49 online visits without requiring a monthly subscription. The program is available in 28 states and is intended for eligible overweight or obese adults ages 18–64 who plan to self-pay for GLP-1 medications. The initiative expands Walgreens’ digital healthcare offerings while providing an additional access point for patients seeking medically supervised weight-loss treatment.

2. Clinical Evaluation and Ongoing Virtual Support: Eligible patients can complete a video consultation with a licensed physician or nurse practitioner who evaluates medical history, weight goals, and treatment needs. Providers may prescribe FDA-approved GLP-1 medications when appropriate and offer follow-up care through chat or video visits. The program includes extended seven-day access for medication adjustments and side-effect management to support continued treatment.

3. Program Responds to Rising Demand and Coverage Gaps: Walgreens is launching the service amid growing demand for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and limited insurance coverage for these treatments. Discounted pricing for Wegovy is available through the company’s Rx Savings Finder tool to help reduce out-of-pocket costs for self-paying patients. Employer survey data indicates that while coverage among large firms is increasing, a majority still do not cover GLP-1 medications for weight loss, highlighting ongoing affordability challenges.

What Boosts Adherence to GLP-1s?

By Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW – GLP-1s are associated with an array of possible side effects that contribute to medication nonadherence and discontinuation among a significant portion of users, although most patients are able to tolerate them. What spells the difference between adherence and nonadherence among patients who have unpleasant reactions? A new study suggests that experiencing the benefits of the drug (weight loss, reduced food cravings) can outweigh the negatives and motivate patients to put up with uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) side effects. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Patient-Perceived Effectiveness Drives Treatment Continuation: The study found that the strongest factor influencing whether patients continued Ozempic treatment was their perception of effectiveness, including weight loss, appetite suppression, and reduced cravings. Although gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea were frequently reported, they rarely led to discontinuation on their own. Patients were generally willing to tolerate discomfort if they believed the medication was producing meaningful results. Lack of perceived benefit, rather than side effects, was more commonly associated with stopping treatment.

2. Online Patient Reviews Offer Real-World Insight but Limited Clinical Reliability: Researchers used publicly available online medication reviews to capture patient perspectives that are often absent from clinical trials. While these reports provide insight into real-world experiences and expectations, experts noted significant methodological limitations, including a small, self-selected sample and lack of demographic or clinical verification. Because of these constraints, the findings cannot be considered representative of the broader patient population. The study is therefore best viewed as exploratory and supportive of future structured research rather than as guidance for clinical practice.

3. Communication and Expectation-Setting Are Key to Treatment Management: The findings emphasize the importance of clinician–patient discussions focused on both treatment expectations and side-effect management before and during therapy. Experts recommend regularly evaluating treatment response, preparing patients for manageable side effects, and reassessing therapy early if meaningful benefits are not observed. Professional guidance also highlights strategies to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms through dietary adjustments and individualized dosing approaches. Overall, effective patient education and ongoing monitoring were identified as central to informed decision-making and safe medication use.

Building a multi-generational approach to insurance coverage

By Paola Peralta – Employees have long since rejected a one-size-fits-all approach to benefits, and it's impacting their interactions with supplemental insurance products, too. Different generations have differing expectations around their insurance interactions, with younger employees expecting tech-forward experiences, while older employees are more satisfied with a hand-on approach. Finding the balance is the key to getting employees to engage with these offerings, says Matthew Paul, VP of commercialization at insurance company Heathos. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Declining Satisfaction Highlights Growing Expectations: Employee satisfaction with insurance coverage dropped from 66% to 61% in 2025, reflecting a widening gap between benefit offerings and employee expectations. Insurance remains a key factor in employee retention, making dissatisfaction a significant concern for organizations. Much of the decline is linked to unmet needs across a workforce made up of multiple generations with differing priorities.

2. Multi-Generational Strategies Emphasize Digital and Personalized Support: Organizations are encouraged to adopt a balanced approach that combines digital convenience with personalized assistance. Younger employees often expect fast, transparent, and easy-to-use digital tools, while older and mid-career workers may require more tailored guidance as their insurance needs become more complex. A digital-first experience, when thoughtfully implemented, can improve access and usability for employees of all ages.

3. Experience Quality Drives Engagement and Retention: Insurance churn is frequently driven by poor user experiences rather than cost alone, particularly during key life events such as enrollment or claims processing. Data shows that frustrating digital platforms have led some employees, especially younger generations, to switch insurers or avoid filing claims altogether. Providing flexible, easy-to-navigate support throughout employees’ life stages can help organizations maintain engagement and long-term satisfaction.

GLP-1 Drugs Tied to Unexpected Migraine Benefits

By Judy George – Chronic migraine patients who used GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat conditions like obesity or diabetes had fewer emergency department (ED) visits than those on topiramate (Topamax), a real-world data analysis showed. Compared with topiramate users, GLP-1 drug initiators were 10% less likely to visit the ED over the following year (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86-0.94), reported Hsiangkuo Yuan, MD, PhD, of Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, in an abstract released ahead of the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting. Read Full Article...

HVBA Article Summary

1. Reduced Healthcare Utilization Observed With GLP-1 Use: Patients with chronic migraine who initiated GLP-1 receptor agonists were less likely to be hospitalized, undergo nerve block procedures, or receive triptan prescriptions compared with those starting topiramate. The GLP-1 group also showed lower initiation rates of several additional preventive migraine medications, while beta-blocker use remained similar between groups. These findings indicate an association between GLP-1 therapy and reduced overall healthcare use among chronic migraine patients.

2. Findings Show Association, Not Causation: Researchers cautioned that the study design does not determine whether GLP-1 receptor agonists directly improve migraine outcomes. Observed differences may reflect indirect effects such as metabolic improvements, weight loss, reduced inflammation, or real-world treatment limitations of topiramate. The results therefore highlight a potential signal rather than confirmed clinical effectiveness.

3. Emerging Biological Rationale Requires Further Study: Experimental and early clinical data suggest GLP-1 receptor agonists may affect migraine-related pathways through anti-inflammatory, neurovascular, and intracranial pressure mechanisms. A small pilot study reported reductions in monthly headache days with liraglutide that appeared independent of weight loss, supporting possible additional biological effects. However, large prospective trials are needed to confirm whether GLP-1 drugs play a direct role in migraine prevention.

80% of employers are expanding grief and life-event support

By Alan Goforth – Employees often find that their benefits come up short just when they need them most. Although many employers plan to expand offerings and investment this year, benefit strategies often struggle to deliver measurable impact, the 2026 Workplace Benefits Report from Empathy found. Read Full Article... ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Employers Are Increasing Focus on Bereavement and Life-Event Benefits: More than 8 in 10 employers report plans to expand bereavement support in the coming year, while 95% of employees say bereavement-related benefits are valuable. Employees who experienced major disruptions—such as loss of a loved one, serious illness, caregiving responsibilities, or pregnancy loss—are more than 1.5 times as likely to identify grief and bereavement support as a major unmet need. Nearly half of employees also expect formal employer assistance during significant life events, underscoring growing expectations for workplace support during periods of disruption.

2. Benefits Spending Is Expected to Rise, but With Greater Emphasis on Outcomes: Eighty percent of employers anticipate increases in benefits budgets in 2026, though most expect only modest growth, prompting more selective investment decisions. One-third of employers say improving employee wellbeing is their primary objective, while 30% aim to strengthen competitiveness through benefits offerings. Despite increased spending, six in 10 employers and more than half of employees believe current benefits are only somewhat—or not at all—aligned with workforce needs, highlighting concerns about return on investment and program effectiveness.

3. Misalignment and Complexity Continue to Limit Benefits Impact: The survey found persistent challenges in benefit utilization, with 27% of employees reporting difficulty understanding benefits, 23% struggling to access information, and another 23% citing navigation complexity. At the same time, nearly one in three employers identify supporting workers through major life events as a top organizational challenge. Both groups agree that future expansion should prioritize mental health, financial wellness, flexibility, and life-event support, with the report concluding that benefits designed around real-life transitions can improve engagement, retention, and long-term organizational resilience.