Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Post-election, for those who were waiting for something to happen that might change the course of health reform, you can stop waiting. A recent Mercer study found 15% of clients were waiting on the election to start implementing health reform, anticipating a change in administration would either repeal it, fundamentally change it, or roll back some of the provisions - which was probably more feasible. That not being the case, I think everybody out there should start making plans for 2014 based on the law as we know it.

States received an extra month from the Obama administration to decide whether to build online marketplaces for medical insurance after Republican governors pressed their resistant to the president’s health care law.

In a letter to the nation’s governors, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius eased a tight deadline for the states to declare whether and how they will build health insurance exchanges mandated and funded under the Affordable Care Act.

Key considerations for employers and their brokers looking to self-fund.

The health care industry will change its focus from expanding the insurance market to reining in medical costs now that the presidential election has been decided, says the CEO of the main lobbying group for health insurers.

The Congressional Budget Office said in a report that a Congressional fix to exclude broker commissions from medical loss ratio calculations will increase deficits by $531 million over the 2013-2017 period.

The president’s re-election probably spells doom for any short-term efforts to overturn PPACA, and industry professionals who waited to implement health care reform changes can wait no longer.

Health insurance company stocks fall Wednesday after Obama’s re-election affirms PPACA will move forward. Health reform’s product standardization and transparency will “pressure margins,” insurers say, offsetting any potential for increased profits from a larger client base.

Updated throughout the day after Obama's re-election, hear what industry leaders and industry groups say the president's win means for the broker community. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments, too.

Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, StayWell Health Management, Mayer Brown and Lockton Dunning Benefits all announce personnel moves. Check to see if a colleague is mentioned today.