Bruce Shutan

A public employer in California is building its own marketplace to mirror public exchanges under the Affordable Care Act — a potential idea for brokers for prospecting.

While confusion and acrimony dominate discussions over Healthcare.gov, HR sources are reporting few if any concerns from their workforce populations, most of whom are snug and secure in their employer-sponsored health care.

The Affordable Care Act did not envision the emergence of private exchanges, noted Larry Boress, president and CEO of the Midwest Business Group on Health. “There are no rules or regulations – yet,” he warned.

A 40% excise tax on co-called Cadillac coverage under the Affordable Care Act will not be assessed until 2018, which gives employers time to tweak their plan design, but now there’s concern that platinum-level health insurance might disappear from public exchanges.

The lowly pedometer has become a cornerstone of wellness programs, providing a range of real data to help employees lose weight and get more active.

Survey reveals major benefits communication challenges.

Benefit Advisors Network partners with Liazon; traction may take time.

While some are expecting technical glitches come Oct. 1, others point out the enormity of what’s at stake and quell widespread fears.

Tapping technology and enhancing wellness are common denominators among this year's honorees.

The percentage of employees that rate themselves as being financially secure has dropped since 2011.

The ACA may be experiencing delays, but HITECH and other enforcement continues on schedule — with more auditors on the clock.

Enrollment in private health insurance exchanges will likely match the public exchanges by 2017, when about 18% of Americans are expected to purchase their plans through the HIX model, according to Accenture research.

ADA, ACA and DOMA are all expected to affect FMLA compliance.

The success of Dickerson Employee Benefits is built on community values.

The emerging private HIX model for active employee populations will learn valuable lessons about how this approach has been applied to the retiree marketplace in recent years. One issue worth closer examination involves the prospect of hosting an off-cycle benefits enrollment.

Can’t decide which way to go on a public or private health insurance exchange, or how those two models even differ? Stumped by the merits of a single-carrier vs. multi-carrier exchange? Want to know which of the industry’s many players will turn out to be the right HIX partner?

From the Land of 10,000 Lakes to the Land of Enchantment, two more states have taken steps toward establishing their own health insurance exchanges.

A close observer of the health care consumerism movement was somewhat surprised by the reaction to his bold prediction that a proposed elimination of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) from private health exchanges for most active employees would sabotage this model.

It is estimated there are more than 100 private exchanges in existence, with each one promoting unique or distinguishing characteristics in a crowded marketplace. Given the enormity of services offered to employers of many shapes and sizes, there are bound to be some conflicting claims that require an asterisk to eliminate any confusion for prospective customers.

The success of broker Dickerson Employee Benefits reflects the multicultural makeup of their Los Angeles community.