Obamacare

These basic plans are easy to administer and more affordable than fully insured plans, while still meeting legislated requirements under the Affordable Care Act, says James Perry of Corporate Synergies.

The U.S. Supreme Court backed out of a divisive clash involving religious groups that object to contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act, issuing a compromise decision that said the two sides might be able to work out their differences.

Employers should start by establishing a registration and testing process for the Affordable Care Act’s mandated documents, says lawyer Carl C. Lammers.

The U.S. Supreme Court backed out of a divisive clash involving religious groups that object to contraceptive coverage under the ACA, issuing a compromise decision that said the two sides might be able to work out their differences.

President Obama’s signature healthcare law was dealt another blow as a federal judge ruled a key program intended to reduce consumers’ out-of-pocket medical bills is unconstitutional because it relies on money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress.

Employers should start by establishing a registration and testing process for the Affordable Care Act’s mandated documents, says lawyer Carl C. Lammers.

To reduce healthcare prices and improve care, a better approach would be to invest in technology that makes cost and quality data more transparent, says adviser Mark Gaunya.

Often overlooked, handbooks are an important form of documentation that the IRS or DOL will most likely request during an audit, says attorney Patricia Moran.

To reduce healthcare prices and improve care, a better approach would be to invest in technology that makes cost and quality data transparent to consumers, says Mark Gaunya.

Often overlooked, handbooks are an important form of documentation that the IRS or DOL will most likely request during an audit, says attorney Patricia Moran.

With reporting requirements soaring, brokers are turning to their own regulatory division to help clients, says Richard Asensio, director of compliance at Burnham Benefits.

Will health insurance be sold across state lines? Will the ACA be repealed or altered? James Klein, head of the American Benefits Council, explains the probable impact of a Republican or Democratic victory in November.

Will health insurance be sold across state lines? Will the ACA be repealed or altered? James Klein, head of the American Benefits Council, explains the probable impact of a Republican or Democratic victory in November.

In another ACA irony, carriers seek to discourage sales of money losing policies by denying consumers the professional advice they need, says NAHU president Don Goldmann.

Bill Kite and D&S Agency are coming up with creative ways employers can meet health care reform requirements.

Citing increased risk and low profits, the health insurer says it will exit a ‘handful’ of state exchanges.

Specializing in a business sector allows advisers to intelligently discuss an employer’s most pressing problems.

As it stands, the medical loss ratio could eliminate agent commissions and may force brokers out of business, Scott says.

The ACA’s excise tax shouldn’t include contributions to HSAs and FSAs, benefit experts say, arguing that such a levy may lead employers to cut those health programs from their plans.

Having had time to take measure of the healthcare reform law, their focus is shifting from ensuring compliance to controlling costs, says Eric Helman of Hodges-Mace.