Advisers Latest

Mel Schlesinger on the imperative of marketing with new media tools

There are right ways and wrong ways to go about ending a business relationship

EBA Contributor Barry Cohn is being kept busy with questions about MLR reimbursements, with clients wondering what to do or asking how much they would be receiving.

Finding opportunities in CDHPs, exchanges and a new business model by EBA Advisory Board Member Mark Gaunya

Workplace difficulties faced by the hearing impaired highlight the need for corresponding benefit coverage

Brokers all talk with their clients about the fact that “engaged” employees are more “productive," says EBA Blogger Beverly Bettie. However, when, if ever are they put under the same looking glass? Internal and external resources in our own organizations impact our ability to be productive, to achieve results, and financial success.

Every year someone calls guest blogger Jim Moniz the Grinch because he’s the guy who points out the ineffectiveness of the holiday bonus. But, he says, employee benefits advisers, brokers and consultants need to recognize there exists more creative vehicles that can serve as incentive programs to drive and maintain growth as well as recruit and retain key talent/

A recent Health Affairs study that concludes the 10 modifiable health risks only connect to about 20% of health care spending. Thus, says guest blogger Linda K. Riddell, a realistic benefits manager should acknowledge that the most successful wellness program may only have a limited impact.

Rules for the six state insurance exchanges that won conditional approval from the Obama administration Dec. 10 are split evenly between those with strict criteria for companies that want to participate and states that have opened their exchanges to all comers, a scenario supported by the insurance industry. A high bar for inclusion could limit the number of insurers offering health plans in some states.

Many states led by Republican governors have already said they won’t build their own insurance exchanges. That puts the onus on the Obama administration.