Wondering what the top trends in workplace benefits will be for 2012? Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company released their top five predictions for the coming year in terms of workplace insurance:

1. Products: Critical illness insurance will continue to get attention

Major medical issues like cancer, heart attacks and strokes usually exceed many employees’ major medical coverage. Critical illness insurance can provide vital out-of-pocket protection in these cases. “One way to think of critical illness insurance is as ‘living life insurance,’” says Randy Finn, assistant vice president of supplemental health products at Colonial Life, where critical illness sales increased 24 percent from 2009 to 2010. “If you get a serious illness such as cancer and die, life insurance helps with that. But what if you survive? You’re likely to have years of financially crippling bills to pay.”

2. Sales: Voluntary insurance sales will improve significantly

Experts believe sales will increase as more workplaces feel the need to offer a variety of choices to employees. “There’s a big need for better education of workers about the need to protect their most valuable assets with life and disability coverage,” points out Jeff Koll, Colonial Life’s assistant vice president of life and disability products.

3. Services: Wellness programs will become more common as a cost-reduction strategy for employers

Employers have more motivation to keep their employees healthy as health care costs continue to rise. “Good communication about wellness programs is essential for them to be effective,” says Steve Bygott, Colonial Life’s assistant vice president of marketing analysis and programs. “Without a focused effort to ensure employees understand the program and its value to them, participation tends to be low.”

4. Technology: Employees will receive access to more online insurance tools

Employers are putting more decisions into their employees’ hands which means easily accessible tools are going to become even more important.

5. Economy: Government sector employers will need more money-saving options

Government employers are feeling the financial pinch and will need more affordable insurance solutions. “The good news is there’s a huge opportunity for government employers to control costs by changing their benefits plan design,” says Pat McCullough, Colonial Life’s public sector practice leader. “Government employers have been slower than other industry segments to shift away from the more comprehensive, paternalistic benefits models of the past, but there are solutions to help them offer strong packages and still save money.”

Fidelity Investments announced that they are seeing significant growth in their Health Savings Account business. They’ve added 14 new HSA clients which marks a 52% increase over the previous year. In a news release the company explained how customers using Fidelity HSA are taking advantage of tax benefits of having this medical account.

On average, participants contributed $2,620 in 2010 which included both personal additions and employee contributions. “The continuing rise of health care costs combined with health care reform really drove the adoption of HSA-qualified health plans  by employers last year and thus the growth of HSAs,” said William Applegate, vice president, HSA products, Fidelity Investments in a company news release.  “As for participants, it is clear that many are using the health-savings product to help manage not only their current medical expenses but also plan for future expenses, with nearly all participants carrying some balance over to the following year.”

Currently Fidelity has 74,000 HSA participant accounts. One in five of those participants contributed more than $5,000 to their account in 2010. About half added around $2,500 in 2010. By law, in 2011 the maximum an individual can contribute is $3,050 and for families that number is $6,150. HSA’s allow consumers to make pre-tax contributions, realize tax-free growth and make withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.