The typical family's income slips by more than $12,000 in the year after a breadwinner suffers a critical illness such as a heart attack, stroke or cancer, according to a study by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

Health care costs continue to rise, and it can feel as though there is nothing you can do to combat the expenses—but there is. Taking control of your overall well-being can lower your health care costs.

Parts of the Midwest have been experiencing record flooding, caused by rains and the melting snow that fell in the winter. 
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An attractive benefits program is vital for your recruiting and retention efforts, but it is also a significant expense. To ensure you are providing a package that is both competitive and economical, you need to know how your offerings compare to others in your industry. Benchmark data can provide valuable insight for evaluating your benefits package, including:

• Where your weaknesses are
• Where your strengths are and how to maintain them
• Which areas you can improve
• Strategies for improvement
• New or different ways to do things

The possibility of becoming disabled is very real for working Americans, and so are the financial consequences and costs associated with employee absence. Unless it is offered through their employer, most adults have little, if any, disability insurance coverage.
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Over the past few years, more accidents have been attributed to smartphone use while driving. This, along with the higher cost of repairs, has led to double-digit increases in commercial auto insurance rates.

Distracted driving has led to sustained commercial auto premium increases for businesses of all sizes – from those with a few vehicles and drivers to those with large fleets. However, there are now several new factors that will play a part in ensuring rates continue to climb, at least in the near term.
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Long-term care covers a variety of custodial (unskilled or semi-skilled) types of care.  Although nursing homes are still part of the long-term care equation, there are many other options to consider:
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• Home health care
• Community-based care
• Assisted living facilities
• Adult day care
• Respite care
• Hospice care

In our health- and fitness-focused culture, it can be easy to lose sight of what well-being really encompasses. At its most basic, well-being refers to feeling good and living both safely and healthily. It refers to wellness in all aspects of life, including, but not limited to physical health, mental health, social health and financial health. The concept of well-being can have implications on your overall quality of life, health and happiness.

Learn more about four of the tenants of well-being—physical, mental, social and financial—and how you can focus on improving each area.  

The availability of home DNA-testing kits has resulted in many unanswered questions about life insurance.
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​As winter starts subsiding, the harsh elements of the season can do serious damage to roadway surfaces, mostly in the form of potholes.
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