The shock to the system was good medicine regardless of how one feels about the ACA,' and other quotes of the month
May 28, 2014 4:49 PM
1. A no-brainer to use an agent
It doesnt cost the consumer anything to use an adviser and those that did, understood the product better, said Naama O. Pozniak, agent and owner of A+ Insurance Service in Studio City, Calif., in a story about how a major drawback for the uninsured in ACAs 2014 enrollment was cost. For me, its a no-brainer to use an agent. Read the full story here: Advisers key in next ACA open-enrollment period
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
2. The shock to the system was good medicine
Once the brokerage industry got over the woe-is-me phase of grieving, they got smart and began adopting new techniques, service offerings and hustle to go after the business that was always there. Maybe brokers had become complacent. The insurance industry has a way of breeding complacency. The shock to the system was good medicine regardless of how one feels about the ACA, said Craig Davidson, broker coach and founder of the Davidson Marketing Group, in a story about why benefit advisers might be headed for a record-profit year. Read the full story here: Advisers could see record-high profitability in 2014
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
3. The primary connection between the exchange and Idaho citizens would be agents and brokers
I worked with the Your Health Idaho board, and the board agreed that the primary connection between the exchange and Idaho citizens would be agents and brokers," Director Bill Deal, Idahos insurance commissioner, said in a story about how brokers in Idaho enrolled about 50% of all consumers on the state-run exchange in 2014. "We were fortunate that exchange-certified agents were willing to play a major part in enrollment events held throughout the state. Idaho was second in the nation per capita for number of residents successfully enrolled in a health insurance plan on the exchange ..."
Read the full story here: Brokers rack up ACA enrollments in Idaho
[Image: Fotolia]
Read the full story here: Brokers rack up ACA enrollments in Idaho
[Image: Fotolia]
4. Definitely increased interest
We have not noticed a rush to self-insurance in the past year, but there is definitely increased interest in learning about it, says Kevin Kuhlman, manager of legislative affairs for the National Federation of Independent Business, in a story about the lack of action from small businesses moving to self-funding, so far. Read the full story here: "">Small employers not seizing self-funding tactic for ACA, yet
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
5. They try and bite off more of the apple all at once
Maybe because [the vendors and employers] try and bite off more of the apple all at once, says Jamie Debenham, vice president of employee benefits at Brooker Insurance Agency in Strongsville, Ohio, about why wellness programs are so hard to implement as EBAs first-ever wellness survey found. They try to educate around everything. In my perspective, a wellness program should be a work in progress and add programs over the years so you dont overwhelm the employees. Read the full story here: Wellness is tough and more than 30% of advisers aren't playing here
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
6. A lot of other components
Maintaining an ACA-compliant plan requires a lot of other components, says Jessica Waltman, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Association of Health Underwriters, about an analysis saying that elimination of the employer mandate wouldnt do much to the uninsured rate. Employers have to comply with all of the market reforms and notice requirements and offer all of the benefit mandates, as well. Read the full story here: Employer mandate repeal wont relinquish employers from ACA compliance
[Image: Fotolia]
[Image: Fotolia]
