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Increased regulatory requirements and rising health care costs have spurred more employers to consider defined contribution health care plans, a trend industry experts at EBAs Workplace Benefits Summit say is a result of a more transformative approach to health care benefit strategy.
Adviser help is sorely needed to lessen employer/employee disconnect during open enrollment. Recent research from Aflac shows tools and resources that employees find useful are not always made available by their employers, further complicating an already confusing process.
The House has agreed to pass legislation that makes possible a repeal of the ACAs controversial expansion of the definition of a small employer a bill hailed by the benefits industry for protecting the small and mid-size businesses they feel the expansion threatens to harm.
Zenefits announced today it is offering small and mid-sized employers an ACA compliance tool for free. Some industry experts say the offering raises the bar again for competing benefit brokers, but others claim it is too little, too late.
The DOLs proposed fiduciary rule presents complex challenges to advisers, clients and will exacerbate the savings crisis in America, NAIFA warned Congress Thursday two weeks before the comment period on the controversial rule closes.
The recently announced mergers of four of the nations largest health insurance companies threatens to decrease competition in multiple markets, a threat the American Medical Association says will exceed federal antitrust guidelines and warrants regulatory review. Experts agree brokers will need to work with employer clients to find creative solutions to work with limited plan choices and keep premium costs down.
The IRS says employers can now do a trial run of their electronic form filing for reporting requirements under the ACA, giving nervous employers and their benefit advisers a way to test for readiness in advance of the reporting deadlines.
Employers cite cyber threats as a top risk to their company, creating an opportunity for benefit advisers to quell their fears with education and product knowledge.
The number of employers who could be subject to the ACAs Cadillac tax is predicted to rise if employers remain stagnant on health care plan changes, underscoring a need to make plan adjustments sooner rather than later.
Brokers say they increasingly view the ACA as an avenue toward new revenue opportunities and roles around education and communication.
While the HR tech platform Zenefits offers a solution that addresses certain employer pain points, it also asks employers to dump their current broker. A new tech solution promises the same benefits without asking employers to sever their current broker relationship.
The DOLs proposed fiduciary rule would likely push some commission-based brokers out of the retirement market altogether, NAIFAs JuIi McNeely testified during the second day of DOL hearings on the proposed rule.
In its first day of hearings about the proposed fiduciary rule, the DOL has heard testimony from advisers, legal experts and other industry representatives many seeking revisions to minimize the burden of the rules future implementation.
Brokers continue to be a vital resource for individuals enrolling in health care coverage on the marketplaces setup under the ACA, with some brokers saying in 2015 they helped more than 100 individuals enroll in health care coverage on the marketplaces.
HSAs are growing in popularity as a health benefit offering and experts say they could save employers a lot in health care costs. But employees still need expert advice to understand how and when to use HSAs and how to maximize their full potential.
With its streamlined technology platform and no fee business model, Zenefits has created quite a stir in the benefits industry. Should brokers be scared or should they be thanking Zenefits for pushing the envelope?
Employee financial stress can often be overlooked by the C-suite. Yet, some industry experts say it can have a major impact on the companys productivity and profitability. Financial education should be considered a pivotal component of any employers wellness program.
Benefit advisers have an increasing responsibility to keep client data secure, says Tinker Kelly, president and CEO of VEBA. He explains practical prevention tips and what to do if a breach occurs.
Worksite voluntary benefits are gaining in popularity on standard ancillary benefit offerings, but the advisers sales approach to each needs to be varied.
Industry trade groups and associations flooded the DOL with suggested amendments and revisions to its proposed fiduciary rule, ahead of the July 21 deadline for comments.