Navigating the Shift: What A.O. Smith Employees Need to Know About Upcoming Financial Aid Changes

Healthcare Provider Update: Healthcare Provider for A.O. Smith A.O. Smith primarily offers healthcare benefits to its employees through a selection of insurance plans, which include both individual and family coverage options. Specific details on the providers or plans may vary based on location and employee level, but many employees utilize major providers like Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna for their healthcare needs. Potential Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026 In 2026, A.O. Smith employees may face significant healthcare cost increases, primarily driven by anticipated hikes in Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums. Reports indicate that some states are expecting increases of over 60%, affecting the insurance landscape as federal subsidizations expire. As many as 22 million marketplace enrollees-constituting about 92% of policyholders-could see their out-of-pocket premiums rise by more than 75%. This drastic increase in healthcare costs is compounded by rising medical expenses and pressure from major insurers, resulting in a challenging financial environment for employees planning their healthcare budgets. Click here to learn more

As an employee of A.O. Smith it's important that you know, the Social Security Disability Insurance program paid out $143.7 billion in benefits in 2018. And with new applicants each year, the system is expected to exhaust its reserves at the end of 2034 if changes aren’t made.

Rather than depending on a government program to protect their income in the event of a disability, many individuals prefer to protect themselves with personal disability insurance.

Disability insurance provides protection by replacing a portion of your income, usually between 50% and 70%, if you become disabled as a result of an injury or illness. This type of insurance may have considerable benefits since a disability can be a two-fold financial problem. Those who become disabled often find they are unable to work and are also saddled with unexpected medical expenses.

What About Workers Comp?

Many people think of workers compensation as a disability safety net. But workers compensation pays benefits only to individuals who become disabled while at work. If your disability is the result of a car accident or other off-the-job activity, you may not qualify for workers compensation.

We'd like to point out to our clients from A.O. Smith that even with workers compensation, each state makes its own rules about payment and benefits, so coverage may vary considerably. You might consider finding out what your state offers and plan to supplement coverage on your own, if necessary, especially if you have a high-risk profession. Likewise, if any of our A.O. Smith clients have an active lifestyle that puts them at a higher risk of disability, considering an extra layer of protection may be a sound financial decision.

If you become disabled, personal disability insurance can be structured to pay a benefit weekly or monthly. Benefits are not taxable if you have paid the premiums in full.

When you purchase a policy, you may be able to tailor coverage to suit your needs. For example, you might be able to adjust benefits or elimination periods. You might opt for comprehensive protection or decide to define coverage more specifically. Some policies also offer partial disability coverage, cost-of-living adjustments, residual benefits, survivor benefits, and pension supplements. Since coverage is designed to replace income, most people choose to purchase protection only during their working years.

Even as changes are made to federal disability programs, they typically provide only modest supplemental income, and qualifying can be difficult. For A.O. Smith employees who don't want to rely solely on Uncle Sam in the event of an unforeseen accident or illness, disability insurance may be a sound good way to protect your income and savings.

Out of Commission

According to the most recent data available, about 19.6% of working-age disabled Americans are employed.

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Chart Source: ACLI Life Insurers Fact Book 2018

1. Social Security Administration, 2019
2. Disability insurance is issued by participating insurance companies. Not all policy types and product features are available all states. Any obligations are dependent on the ability of the issuing insurance company to continue making claim payments.
3. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Federal and state laws and regulations are subject to change, which would have an impact on after-tax investment returns. Please consult a professional with legal or tax experience for specific information regarding your individual situation.