Integrating Employee Benefits: Giving Up the "Moat Mentality"

Abstract

Recent research shows that employers can reduce disability through intensive medical treatment and focused return-to-work programs. But because group health and group disability programs commonly do not coordinate delivery, the wrong medical treatment decisions can unnecessarily extend disability and add to employers' benefit costs and loss of productivity. This article lays out theoretical bases and practical fundamentals of employee benefit integration initiatives. It highlights ground breaking research that explores the efficacy of a "sports medicine" treatment model of disability management. It also discusses the statutory and marketplace evolution of integrated benefits and explains why it is important for employers to maintain benchmark information across benefit lines and against broader aggregate experience.