Advisor strategies

Benefit brokers can better position themselves as a trusted adviser by helping clients maintain compliance with these ERISA requirements.

Small and mid-size employers will turn to private exchanges in the very near future, predicted a speaker Friday at an America’s Health Insurance Plans conference in Washington, and that will change the game once again for small and mid-size brokerages.

Gary Cohen, the top U.S. health insurance regulator accused by congressional Republicans of misleading them before the troubled start of the Obamacare insurance website, will resign.

Commentary: The Catalyst for Payment Reform scored each state on its level of health care cost transparency — 29 received an F, only two scored an A. Transparency of health care cost and quality must be the founding principle of sustainable change, says Borislow Insurance’s Mark Gaunya.

Commentary: Why are we ashamed or afraid to tell our clients or prospects what our cost of doing business is? Why are we afraid to be transparent?

At this week's Workplace Benefits Renaissance in Atlantic City, much buzz surrounded the changing industry landscape under the ACA, with most people agreeing benefit advisers looking to stake their claim on this new terrain need to focus less on brokering to confused employers and more on advising them.

As federal funding for state-run SHOP exchanges runs out in 2015, voluntary benefits may be the key to exchange sustainability, according to Ryan Howells, vice president and general manager of Connecture.

Commentary: A recap of the compliance issues that lie ahead for brokers and plan sponsors in 2014, which EBA Advisory Board member George Lane of Mercer says are making things a lot more complicated.

If the last few years were an age of reform, then we’ve definitely entered a new era — a time of compliance.

For millions of low-income Americans, the road to health care reform in 2014 could prove to be a jagged line as they bounce between public exchanges and Medicaid as their income fluctuates over the year.

Monday's IRS decision to allow some smaller employers even more time to comply with the ACA's employer mandate has some in the industry applauding, others frustrated.

How will the ACA and associated changes in the employee benefit market impact the role of the broker? A recent LIMRA survey of small businesses reveals areas where brokers need to step up to the plate.

AOL Inc. blamed President Barack Obama’s health care law for its plan to reduce spending on contributions to employees’ 401(k) retirement plans.

Commentary: The other shoe dropped on Tuesday and columnist Craig Davidson isn't shocked.

Republican U.S. senators opposed to Obamacare said the best alternative would be a narrower system of tax credits for Americans to buy health insurance without any of the mandates for people or companies to participate.

Excepted benefits are specified limited scope health benefits that are exempt or excepted from the insurance market reform provisions of the Affordable Care Act and the health insurance requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1986, known as HIPAA.

Financial Fitness surveyed nearly 24,000 employees to evaluate how the different generations are faring with retirement planning and expense management

Small-group employers are still particularly perplexed about their ACA options. Here are four options to leverage with these clients.

The recent news that 70 percent of Obamacare’s customers are 35 years of age or older poses challenges, specifically related to those in the 18-34-year-old age group, Moody’s says.

Keeping employees satisfied is ‘about to get significantly more difficult’ for your employer clients. Here’s how to make it easier for them.