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

In October 2026, Immigration New Zealand updated its business-visitor instructions with effect from 20 October, and Fragomen reported the wider changes on 28 October. The rules include limited informal training and commercial transactions within the permitted visitor activities. Fragomen also describes clearer Specific Purpose Work Visa categories for contractual service suppliers and independent professionals. The changes require an assessment of the proposed activity; a general business purpose does not

In October 2026, Healthcode reported that it processed 3.16 million private medical insurance funded invoices during July to September, up 9.1% year on year, while their value increased 12.2% to £1.5 billion. Its release, published on 29 October, also identified outpatient care as a stronger source of activity growth than admitted care. The figures describe transactions passing through Healthcode rather than a count of individual patients. For employee benefits

In November 2026, Manulife published its third-quarter shareholder report, identifying a Canadian group long-term disability study on claim termination as the main driver of a C$39 million decrease in pre-tax fulfilment cash flows from mortality and morbidity assumption updates. The report was released on 4 November for the quarter ended 30 September. The figure combines several changes: it is not a standalone measure of Canadian disability reserves, claims paid

In November 2026, Reinsurance Group of America reported that roughly US$800 million of its third-quarter net premiums came from single-premium US pension risk transfer transactions. The 5 November release covered the quarter ended 30 September. Consolidated net premiums rose 25% to US$5.35 billion from US$4.28 billion. The comparable quarter had no contribution from these transactions. Separate transaction flows from the recurring base The disclosed amount represents roughly three quarters

In November 2026, Swiss Re reported that Life & Health Reinsurance net income rose 43% to US$1.5 billion in the first nine months of the year, with US mortality experience remaining favourable. The release appeared on 5 November and covered the period ended 30 September. The nine-month result describes a reinsurance segment with multiple lines and markets. It is a useful signal for buyers of protection, but it cannot

In November 2026, the Workers Compensation Research Institute published a study of how the 2023–24 Medicaid eligibility unwinding affected workers’ compensation claims and medical spending. The study appeared on 3 November and draws on injuries occurring between October 2017 and September 2024 across 31 US states. The public study description establishes the design and research questions. Detailed estimates from the full report have not been independently verified for this

In November 2026, WTW announced the promotion of Kisha Tyrrell to lead its Captive and Insurance Management Solutions business in Bermuda. She previously was the Bermuda head of underwriting and claims. Confirm who owns the work A handover is a good time to check who is responsible for reporting, claims queries, reconciliations and escalation. Confirm whether contact routes, signing authority or access to documents have changed, and establish whom

In November 2026, Teachers’ Pensions confirmed the transition of administration from Capita to Tata Consultancy Services following the 1 November transfer date. Its current update says the Employer Portal has launched and My Pension Online will follow as services return in stages. The scheme has said the administrator change does not affect benefits; full service availability is a separate operational question. Evaluate the handover through evidence The transition involved

In November 2026, Securian Financial announced its participation in Workday Wellness, with development expected from 2027 and additional capabilities planned through 2028. Its initial focus includes eligibility and enrolment information and real-time evidence of insurability. The announcement sets out a roadmap; it does not demonstrate completed integration or quantified savings. Start with coverage ownership Employers should use the development period to agree who owns each step between an employment

In October 2026, global reinsurer SCOR announced third-quarter results including a EUR 119 million Life and Health insurance service result and EUR 206 million of group net income. The 30 October release reported an estimated solvency ratio of 221% at 30 September and nine-month group net income of EUR 603 million. These are reported results for specified periods, not forecasts of employee-benefits treaty pricing or future claims performance. Read

In November 2026, the OECD published Global Insurance Market Trends 2026, a comparison of insurance markets in more than 50 OECD and non-OECD jurisdictions using 2025 data. The report draws on national insurance authorities and covers market size, premiums, claims, investment performance and profitability. It updates preliminary information released in June. Its publication date is current, but its observation period is historical. Use a market benchmark for the question

In November 2026, the National Bureau of Economic Research published a Digest summarising a July working paper on immigration and macroeconomic outcomes across 38 OECD economies during 1990–2024. It reports positive relationships between non-OECD immigration, GDP-per-worker growth, investment and human capital. These country-level findings do not mean an individual employer’s mobility program has a positive return. Define the capability being built The research gives mobility leaders a useful strategic

In November 2026, the Isle of Man Government brought its Global Business Mobility framework into operation from 2 November. Five categories form the framework, but the government’s route guidance says Expansion Worker is not currently open to applications because the relevant free trade agreements have not been extended to the Island. Employers must check availability as well as eligibility. Match the work to the route The framework addresses senior

In November 2026, HM Revenue and Customs updated its recognised overseas pension schemes notification list, recording 24 additions and six removals on 2 November. HMRC explains that the list contains schemes that have notified it that they meet the conditions; inclusion does not guarantee qualification or tax-free treatment of a transfer. Treat the list as dated evidence For global mobility and pension professionals, the most useful response is to

In October 2026, Captive International published an analysis comparing Regulation 114 trusts, letters of credit and funds withheld as captive collateral mechanisms. The article dated 28 October explains existing structures; it does not announce a new regulatory requirement. Its practical value is to prompt a review of the documents and economics behind a collateral label. Test the security in the actual agreement A captive board should understand what exposure

In November 2026, Marsh announced plans to offer captive insurance management in Bahrain. It made the announcement at Gateway Gulf, held on 1 and 2 November, and dated its press release 3 November. Marsh says it intends to become the first international broker to offer the service in the Kingdom. Start with one contract A regional sponsor comparing Bahrain with other Gulf domiciles should separate the legal and regulatory

In November 2026, HM Revenue & Customs updated its October employer bulletin to explain an optional reporting exception for eligible globally mobile employees. Phase one of mandatory payrolling begins on 6 April 2027 and covers employer-provided medical benefits and specified company car, van and fuel benefits. HMRC says the exception is intended for genuine practical difficulties in calculating or reporting benefits in real time. Identify the problem before requesting

In November 2026, Fortitude Re and Unum announced that they had closed their long-term care reinsurance transaction on 3 November, following an agreement announced on 6 July. The block covers about 50,000 individual policies, representing $3.8 billion of statutory reserves and approximately $4.5 billion of best-estimate reserves. The figures measure liabilities on different bases and do not represent the transaction price. Unum recaptured the policies from its subsidiary Fairwind

In November 2026, the European Commission announced that revised EU rules on social security coordination had entered into force on 1 November. Most operational provisions will apply from 1 November 2028. The reform covers applicable legislation for posted workers and people who work in several countries, as well as the coordination of unemployment, family and long-term care benefits. Posting decisions need a history The Commission describes a three-month period

In November 2026, Advocate General Maciej Szpunar delivered an opinion at the Court of Justice of the European Union on the use of press publications by an AI chatbot. The 3 November opinion in Like Company v Google considers how EU press publisher rights might apply when a chatbot retrieves a publication and reuses it in an answer. It is not a judgment; the Court has yet to decide

In November 2026, CBIZ Benefits & Insurance Services announced its launch as an independent company backed by New Mountain Capital. The launch took place on 2 November. The company says it has more than 1,600 professionals and over $400 million in annual revenue, and operates independently of CBIZ, Inc. and Grant Thornton Advisors. The business spans employee benefits, retirement, human capital advisory, individual insurance and property and casualty. Find

In November 2026, Aon announced a North America Healthcare vertical within its Risk Capital business. The 3 November launch brings its healthcare liability reinsurance practice closer to its commercial risk advisers for US healthcare providers. Aon points to the shift toward payment arrangements that expose providers to more financial downside. Its announcement describes a service offering; it provides no evidence of savings or better results for clients. Map the