Employer Strategies

Through strategic partnerships, small brokerages can compete on a national level.

The legislation meant to cut through the red tape of state-by-state insurance broker licensing is stalled in the Senate as a standalone bill, but has been attached to another bill up for vote soon.

Culling through big data is nothing new, but professional employer organizations like Engage utilize databanks from multi-location businesses to laser-focus employers’ risk management. Until recently, employers and their benefits advisers could only assess risk for a bird’s eye view, over an entire company. Now with new technology, they can hone in on medical claims and safety data from each restaurant location, distribution center or factory.

New business unit consolidates recently acquired Extend Health, Liazon and others to help employers deliver health benefits to employees, company says.

The ACA has been roundly criticized for its lack of cost-containment provisions But one Princeton University academic maintains that cost-containment cannot be implemented simultaneously with universal-coverage measures.

Crediting uncertainty surrounding ACA’s implementation, Moody’s Investor Services slashed the outlook for U.S. health insurers to negative.

As a result of the continued uncertainty of Affordable Care Act’s impact, Moody’s changed the outlook for U.S. health insurers to negative from stable.

The latest guidance from DOL addresses questions on coverage of preventive services and limitation on cost-sharing requirements under the ACA. The FAQs also provide guidance on expatriate plans, wellness programs, fixed indemnity insurance and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

BeneTrac, a San Diego-based employee benefits administration software provider, says employers need to act now in order to comply with the ACA’s employer-shared responsibility clause.

To hear it from Vice President Joe Biden, the fight over the Affordable Care Act may be far from over – but he’s certainly interested in recognizing the troops who helped build support for the landmark legislation.