In November 2026, Brown & Brown released the findings of its 2027 Employer Health and Benefits Strategy Survey, reporting that 44% of surveyed employers ranked controlling the organisation’s health benefit costs as their top priority. The November 9 release also cited a separate analysis of the brokerage’s customers, who anticipate average annual healthcare cost increases of 10% in both 2026 and 2027. Put employer and employee costs in the

In November 2026, Captive Intelligence reported that Lloyd’s had granted ByteDance approval in principle to establish a captive syndicate. The report was published on November 9 and dated the decision to November 6. This is a report of an intermediate step. Final approval, an underwriting start date and the classes to be written have not been confirmed here, and there is no basis to assume that employee benefits will

In November 2026, Chesnara announced that it had agreed to acquire MetLife UK Limited’s closed UK life book. The November 6 announcement put the portfolio at around 18,000 customers and GBP 1.7 billion of assets under administration at the end of 2025. MetLife’s continuing UK operations are outside the agreement. Chesnara expects completion in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Establish exactly what would change hands

In October 2026, France published Decree No. 2026-1001, which revises work and residence rules for foreign workers, including EU Blue Card holders. The decree generally took effect on October 30. Fragomen’s November 9 analysis notes that some measures still await implementation details. Recheck transfer and exit procedures For qualifying Blue Card holders moving from another EU member state, the prior holding period has been shortened from 18 to 12

In November 2026, Hannover Re reported group net income of about EUR 2.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, up 6.9%. On November 9 it maintained its full-year group net income target of at least EUR 2.7 billion and its expectation of a net life and health reinsurance service result of about EUR 925 million. Both full-year figures are guidance. Check the captive’s own exposure For a

In November 2026, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority published updated technical documentation for constructing the risk-free interest rate term structures used under Solvency II. EIOPA issued the update on November 6 and said it would apply from January 30, 2027. The documentation incorporates revised market assessments and portfolio inputs. It also removes the Colombian peso, Hong Kong dollar and New Taiwan dollar from the list of relevant

In November 2026, Sterling Brokers announced that it had acquired Lucite, an AI platform built for Canadian group benefits brokers. Sterling’s November 6 announcement said the combined offering would bring its third-party administration platform to independent brokers for the first time. Lucite already supported more than 45 brokers serving over 20,000 clients, according to the announcement. Sterling did not disclose financial terms or quantified productivity gains. A shared back

In November 2026, Sun Life reported third quarter group insurance sales of C$619 million, up about 24 percent from C$498 million a year earlier. Group insurance sales for the first nine months reached C$1.85 billion, compared with C$1.61 billion for the same period in 2025. At the consolidated level, underlying net income rose to C$1.146 billion, while reported net income attributable to common shareholders fell to C$785 million. Those

In November 2026, the US Department of Labor’s final rule on pharmacy benefit manager fee disclosure appeared in the Federal Register, following the department’s October 29 announcement. The rule requires covered pharmacy benefit managers and affiliated brokers or consultants serving large self-insured employer health plans to disclose compensation to plan fiduciaries. It also gives fiduciaries a right to audit that information. November 2 was the publication date; sponsors should

In November 2026, Aon and funds managed by Blackstone announced the launch of Cortina syndicate 1956 at Lloyd’s. The November 6 release describes multi-year following capacity for eligible treaties placed by Aon, with QBE as managing agent and a dividend for participating cedents linked to the syndicate’s share. Lloyd’s gave approval in principle on October 16. Permission to underwrite from the intended January 1, 2027 start remained pending in

In November 2026, the UK Department for Work and Pensions launched consultations on Guided Retirement and Retirement Collective Pension Schemes. The November 3 proposals envisage a default route from workplace defined-contribution savings to managed lifetime income while preserving choice. Responses are due December 22, 2026. A scheme’s role during saving is different from its role when a worker needs income. Trustees and employers should compare how proposed routes handle

In November 2026, Lincoln Financial disclosed higher disability claim severity and 32% growth in supplemental health premiums in results published on 5 November for the quarter ended 30 September. Its Group Protection business reported $77 million in operating income and a 5.5% margin. The disability loss ratio rose six percentage points year on year, which Lincoln attributed to higher severity, while Group Protection premiums grew 3%. Ask what drove

In November 2026, the US Internal Revenue Service published its tax inflation adjustments for 2027. The November 5 release sets the health FSA salary reduction limit at $3,500, the permitted carryover ceiling at $700 and the monthly limits for qualified transportation and parking at $350. The qualified small employer health reimbursement arrangement ceilings rise to $6,700 for self-only coverage and $13,550 for family coverage. Separate statutory limits from plan

In November 2026, Crum & Forster’s Accident & Health division and ViaSafely announced annual travel protection as a voluntary employee benefit. The November 5 release describes fixed-cost payroll deductions and distribution through bswift, participating brokers and marketplace channels, including access outside normal open enrolment. It does not provide evidence of take-up or claims performance. Explain which contract applies Employees should be able to distinguish this offer from the employer’s

In November 2026, The Cigna Group reported growth in its Cigna Healthcare business, which includes US employer plans and international health coverage. In results published on November 5 for the quarter ended September 30, the segment reported adjusted revenue of $11.7 billion, up 9%, and adjusted pre-tax income of $1.19 billion, up 15%. Its medical care ratio was 85.0%, compared with 84.8% a year earlier. The company cited premium-rate

In November 2026, Captive.com previewed the November issue of Captive Insurance Company Reports, identifying reputation in fronting credit assessment, captive governance and data quality in reinsurance access as topics. The overview was published on 6 November. It does not show that a reputation measure secures better terms or that documentation alone changes a placement decision. Build a renewal file counterparties can check For a fronting insurer, the file should

In November 2026, bswift announced that employers could connect its Emma Intelligence service to existing workplace AI assistants to deliver personalised benefits answers. The November 5 release describes an integration intended to let employees ask about their actual coverage from a workplace interface. It does not name participating employers or establish measured accuracy, escalation performance or how sensitive information is protected in a particular deployment. Decide which source can

In November 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published its 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan and a separate measure intended to help people already in Canada obtain permanent residence. The 5 November backgrounder sets annual targets of 380,000 permanent admissions and 370,000 new temporary arrivals. The additional measure concerns up to 200,000 people in 2027, divided between worker and humanitarian cohorts. For multinational employers, the practical starting point is to

In November 2026, Canada’s Department of Finance proposed GST/HST relief for qualifying massage therapy services in the Budget presented on 5 November. The proposed application is to qualifying supplies after Budget Day. Practitioner qualifications matter, and the measure remains a legislative proposal. Tax treatment and plan eligibility are separate Benefits administrators should explain how any tax change interacts with existing claim rules. A service being tax-exempt would not, by

In November 2026, Canada’s Department of Finance proposed clearer tax consequences for pension deregistration in Budget 2026. The 5 November proposal combines a special revocation tax with conversion into a retirement compensation arrangement and a refundable-tax mechanism. It concerns revocations after 2026 and is not yet an enacted piece of legislation. Sponsors should identify who checks the conditions for maintaining registration, who reviews the evidence and how unresolved deficiencies

In November 2026, Employment and Social Development Canada announced a longer maximum period for low-wage Labour Market Impact Assessment applications submitted from 6 November. Early childhood educators also gain an exception in metropolitan areas with high unemployment. Separate regional changes proposed for March 2027 depend on provincial or territorial participation. Employers should record the filing date and the period actually approved. Recruitment communications and workforce budgets need to reflect

In November 2026, the OECD reported that annual consumer-price inflation across its member countries rose to 4.5% in September, from 4.3% in August. Its 6 November statistical release identifies energy as the main source of acceleration, with energy inflation reaching 17.4%, while core inflation remained broadly stable at 3.7%. These figures describe consumer prices in a past reference period; they are neither medical-cost trends nor forecasts of insurance renewals.

In October 2026, California’s Department of Insurance issued Bulletin 2026-8 on separate-account products with general-account guarantees, including pension risk transfers. Dated 29 October, the bulletin adds filing, financial and disclosure requirements under existing statutory authority. It does not give blanket approval to every insurer or transfer arrangement. For pension sponsors, the practical question is how the promised benefits are supported by the actual contract and participating organisations. A description

In October 2026, Vitality released research in which 40% of respondents earning above £100,000 said they would feel financially unprepared if illness stopped them working, while 41% reported having income protection. Published on 29 October, the findings came from an Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults conducted on 5 to 12 August. The overall sample was nationally representative; the release did not state the high-earner subgroup’s size. The findings

In October 2026, Vanguard published How America Retires, linking flexible withdrawal options with a greater likelihood that recent retirees keep savings in workplace plans. Its 29 October release also found that around 15% withdrew their full account as cash in their retirement year. The observations should not be read as proof that retention or a particular withdrawal feature improves retirement income. For employee benefits teams, the practical question is

In October 2026, PLANSPONSOR reported that six employers had sued UnitedHealth over administration of their self-funded health plans. Its 29 October coverage concerned a complaint filed on 20 October in the Eastern District of Texas by Aramark, Kraft Heinz, Ralph Lauren, Sterling Jewelers, Grainger and Whirlpool. The employers allege problems with claims processing, fees, cross-plan offsets and access to data. UnitedHealthcare strongly disputes the allegations and says it will

In October 2026, US Customs and Border Protection announced that eligible Saudi citizens could apply for Global Entry following Saudi Arabia’s addition as a programme partner. Applicants face vetting and an in-person interview; successful membership remains conditional on compliance. The practical benefit is expedited border processing for approved travellers. Membership does not provide a visa or employment permission. Employers should keep those distinctions clear when communicating the option to