Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

From the use of minimum essential coverage plans to the CO-OP model to the Cadillac tax, EBA readers share their views on a variety of topics that were in the news this week.

Multinational organizations are all competing for top-notch employees, and benefit packages are one way for companies to attract and retain talent. Here are the top five benefits offered globally, according to new research from Thomsons Online Benefits.

When considering whether or not to implement a new technology, brokers should always weigh the pros and cons of that decision. Prior to deciding to leverage a benefits marketplace platform, here are nine questions brokers should ask themselves, according to Mike Baker, senior vice president and general manager of commercial products at hCentive.

The employer excise tax on high-cost health plans, commonly called the Cadillac tax, is set to take effect in 2018. That may seem three years away, but in reality, employers have one year left to implement changes. Since plan offerings for 2016 are pretty well cemented now for most large employers, and with the 2017 planning season right around the corner, now is the time for employers to execute on strategies to avoid the tax, says Don Garlitz, senior vice president, bswift. So what changes are employers likely to consider?

Almost all employers are experiencing rising costs and pressure to move to higher deductible health plans. Wanting another route, Envision Healthcare undertook an eight-month process to decide which private benefit exchange was right for them. Don King, Envision’s VP of compliance and benefits, shared questions all employers should consider when deciding to move to an exchange at EBA’s Workplace Benefits Summit in Orlando.

While private exchanges are no longer new, they are still in their infancy, and have not seen the adoption rate that many predicted. One reason for the low implementation rate may be the many questions that remain unanswered, says Dan Gowen, senior vice president and an employee benefits national practice leader for Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, Inc. Here are the top five questions employers are asking:

Merger and acquisition activity in the health insurance industry threatens to further erode market competition, which many benefit insiders feel is already dismal. Recent research from the American Medical Association identified the top 10 states that have experienced the biggest drop in competition levels between 2010 and 2013.

Zenefits was back in the news this week with the announcement of its free ACA compliance tool. EBA readers comment on the impact this will have on brokers, as well as the impending Cadillac tax.

Whether earned through fighting for adviser rights on Capitol Hill, making sure agents are up to date on Affordable Care Act compliance or growing a fledgling brokerage into a powerful business, these second annual awards recognize women making a difference in the field. EBA asked the influential women to share: What motivates you most about your job?

Benefit advisers, employers and other industry insiders fear merger and acquisition activity in the health insurance industry is eroding market competition, a trend that could lead to increased premiums for employers and individuals. Recent research from the American Medical Association identified the top 10 states with the least competitive HMO markets.