Benefit plan design

Benefits Think What does transparency in health care mean?

According to Wikipedia, the word transparency implies openness, communication and accountability . . . performing in such a way that it is easy to see what’s wrong. Sounds like our health care system, doesn’t it? Not really and that’s where enormous opportunity exists to “fix” healthcare.

Take EBA’s PPACA challenge

It's long been said that what you don't know won't hurt you. Whoever said that clearly had no knowledge of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Since its enactment in March 2010, PPACA and its impact on health plans, wellness programs,long-term care and even adoption benefits can definitely harm benefits pros who aren't on top of its provisions.

Lynn Gresham
By Lynn Gresham
Former Editor-in-Chief
Employee Benefit News

Benefits Mania keynote calls for major industry renovation

CHICAGO — There is a need for an “extreme makeover” in the house of benefits with a delivery system built on partnership, collaboration, accountability and engagement — rather than competitiveness, says Larry Boress of the Midwest Business Group on Health. Read more from Associate Editor Brian Kalish as he reports from Employee Benefit Adviser’s Workplace Benefits Mania Conference at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park.

Brian M. Kalish
By Brian M. Kalish
Online Managing Editor, Health Care Group
SourceMedia

Giving up grandfathered status proves easier

While most companies go through their annual renewal process in the fall, at Ambrose we are wrapping it up and heading into open enrollment for an Aug. 1 effective date. For us, as well as other employers with renewals that fall in the middle of the year, health care reform regulations haven't kicked in until now

By Christy Yaccarino
GBA, EHBA, HIPAAA

Questions plague state health exchange program

On July 11 when Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, announced rules for the new state health insurance exchanges, she did so with an air of caution, telling stakeholders to expect more modifications before they become final. That may prove to be an understatement.

Pat Speer
By Pat Speer
President
Speer Content Strategy & Development

Work remains on NAIC broker bill endorsement

Although the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on July 12 tabled their support of H.R. 1206, a bill that would exclude insurance agents’ compensation from the medical loss ratio equation, “there’s a lot of work still to be done on this issue and we look forward to our continuing work with the NAIC, HHS and Congress to find a suitable solution,” says Brianne Mallaghan, director of communications for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers.

No trivial pursuit

Test your knowledge of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Are you a PPACA prodigy? Or, do you need health care reform remediation? Take EBN's PPACA Challenge to find out.

MLR a bad deal for brokers

Rep. Mike Rogers told the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee last week that health insurance agents and brokers are in a "desperate situation," due to medical loss ratio determinations.

Pat Speer
By Pat Speer
President
Speer Content Strategy & Development

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