New ARAG Research Demonstrates How to Choose and Implement Voluntary Benefits

DES MOINES, Iowa, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from ARAG® highlights four success factors employers can use to increase participation in their voluntary benefit offerings. According to case study research, participation was more than 30 percent when all four of the success factors are used. By contrast, using only two of the success factors resulted in participation of less than three percent.

"Employers face multiple challenges from rising costs and changing healthcare regulations to meeting the needs of a diverse workforce," says Ann Dieleman, Senior Vice President at ARAG, a leader in legal insurance. "Voluntary benefits are increasingly seen as an affordable way to fill in the gaps and help employers create distinction in the marketplace."

Approximately 21 percent of employers saw voluntary benefits as important in 2013.  When asked about the role voluntary benefits will play in the next five years, the number more than doubled to 48 percent.¹

The report also offers employers questions to consider when deciding on a product to offer and when determining how easy the benefit will be to add and maintain. Questions include:

• Is it affordable for employees?
• How are pre-existing matters addressed?
• What options are made available for non-covered matters?
• Can an employee cover dependents?
• Are all employees eligible for coverage? Is any coverage available for non-covered groups?
• What will your role be in ongoing administration?
• How seamlessly will the benefit integrate with existing payroll?

ARAG's new white paper "How to Choose, Implement and Drive Participation from your Voluntary Benefit Offering," provides additional data and is available for free at ARAG's website, ARAGgroup.com.

¹ "VBS – Trends in Voluntary Benefits and Services" infographic, Towers Watson, Spring 2013.

About ARAG:

ARAG ^® (www.ARAGgroup.com) is a leader in legal insurance. It provides people with affordable and reliable legal counsel for everyday life matters. The company has an international premium base of more than $2 billion and protects 15.5 million individuals and their families – worldwide. We give you the freedom and control to embrace life's opportunities.

ARAG's North American headquarters are based in Des Moines, Iowa. We've earned the prestigious Center of Excellence Award for eight consecutive years (2007-2014) and have been named a Top 100 Call Center by BenchMark Portal for four consecutive years (2011-2014), continuing our track record of industry-leading customer service. ARAG team members voted ARAG a Best Places to Work in Insurance (2009-2013).

For more news and information about ARAG visit ARAGgroup.com.                       

Media Contact:

Jen Harken
(515) 237-0271
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130122/CG45741LOGO-b

SOURCE ARAG