The Benefits Brief · Week of July 13, 2026

THE ISSUE

Cutting through the week's noise to help out HR.

By Andrew Dalton · Week of July 13, 2026 · 9 stories
This week's standings

My two-year-old, Beckett, guilted me into adopting a couple of toads this week, and I'm now the unpaid operator of a backyard worm-, bug-, and cricket-supply chain - it's chaos, but it's got nothing on the world of benefits, where one wrong move can cost you big time. As I'm navigating the ups and downs of amphibian care, I'm also keeping an eye on the latest benefits news, and here are the stories that caught my eye this week.

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  • Employee Benefit Trends — {"summary": "A survey by Wondr Health and Harris Poll found that 68% of Americans believe menopause should be acknowledged in the workplace, with 67% of employed men and 70% of employed women agreeing that women should not have to "push through" perimenopause and menopause symptoms. Menopause is estimated to cost $1.8 billion per year in lost work time and $26.6 billion when medical expenses are added. Employers can address this issue by taking a whole-person approach to menopause benefits, including education, leadership visibility, and ongoing communication. ", "whyItMatters": "Employers who fail to provide menopause support may face an estimated $26.6 billion in annual losses due to medical expenses and lost work time, making it crucial for them to develop a comprehensive menopause benefits strategy to mitigate these costs and support employee wellbeing."}
  • Employee Wellness — A new EGYM Wellpass USA report found that 76% of US employees exercise weekly, yet 66% say their jobs increase sedentary behavior, leading to mental fatigue, stress, and declining physical well-being. The report highlights the importance of embedding a health culture in the workplace to attract and retain top talent. Companies can promote wellness by encouraging movement and providing tools to measure and track progress.

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  • Employee Benefit Trends — Paytient has expanded its healthcare affordability platform to include prescription benefits, aiming to help employers and employees manage the growing financial burden of medications. The platform integrates pharmacy savings from partners like GoodRx and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, and offers flexible payment options to reduce medication abandonment and improve adherence. By smoothing upfront expenses, Paytient hopes to improve treatment adherence and reduce downstream costs associated with medication nonadherence.
  • STAT News — Sales from the 340B Drug Discount Program rose to $100 billion in 2025, a 22.8% increase from the previous year, with expensive medicines accounting for nearly 62% of spending. The program requires drugmakers to offer discounts of 25% to 50% off outpatient drugs to hospitals and clinics serving lower-income patients. Spending on specific treatments, such as Merck's Keytruda and Gilead's Biktarvy, totaled $8.9 billion and $4.47 billion, respectively.

The Bottom Line

As I'm wrapping up this week's Benefits Brief, I'm reminded that navigating the world of benefits is a lot like caring for my new amphibian friends - it takes attention to detail, a willingness to adapt, and a commitment to creating a supportive environment. By staying on top of the latest news and trends, and exploring innovative solutions like Superpower, employers can create a benefits strategy that truly supports their employees' wellbeing and drives business success - and that's the ultimate goal, right? Boom.

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Quarterly Compliance Update: Critical Requirements for Q3

Compliance deadlines hit almost every month. Join Kat Lacy-Wilson, Emily Dowdle & David Larson for a walk-through of the current and upcoming requirements employers can't afford to miss.

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Transform Your Benefits Strategy

Discover how Captives can transform your company's benefit strategy, reduce costs, and enhance employee satisfaction. Leah Johnson of Captive Resources walks through the various types of Captives, their structures, financial considerations, and overall value proposition.

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Legal and practical considerations for absences across your workforce.

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This Week's Reading — Every Link

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