A boom in private exchanges and a changing distribution system for health care will create a new landscape for benefits managers and advisers, with more emphasis on consumer-directed health care.

A proposal up for vote in the most populous state would give the insurance commissioner veto power over health insurance rates, among other things, and has brokers fearful of the trend spreading to other states.

The Senate Wednesday failed to get enough support for its reversal plan of the recent Supreme Court Hobby Lobby ruling that will allow some employers to decline providing insurance coverage for some forms of birth control based on religious grounds.

Commentary: Too often wellness programs are started as just another way to reduce heath care costs. Certainly, this is a terrific outcome that good wellness programs will help deliver. However, this focus not only sells the wellness program short, but it also misses the “soul” of the program.

Commentary: Learn about why you may be failing at cross-selling voluntary from columnist Nelson Griswold, and how to fix it.

Few small business employees say they are satisfied with their company’s benefit offerings — revealing a need for benefit advisers to work with employers to create more comprehensive benefit packages with employee needs in mind.

Millions of Americans sought help from navigators and assisters during the ACA's first open-enrollment period, but many were more satisfied with help from a benefit adviser.

Learn about how technology can demonstrate the link between volatility and risk in retirement planning — a distinguishing factor from other advisers, according to columnist Craig Davidson.

Employment education sessions are a critical way to get plan participants more involved in the personal choices they need to make to maximize their retirement account returns.

The statistics on type 2 diabetes are staggering but the condition that precedes it presents a window of opportunity for employers to have a real, positive impact on employee health.

The status of payments to brokers for their work signing up consumers across the nation varies from state to state and broker to broker, with some missing nearly 50% of commissions and others reporting no problems whatsoever.

Like other industries, health care employers and benefit plan managers in the health care sector are struggling mightily with their ability to address the retirement preparedness of their evolving workforces.

Commentary: This fall will be a time for plan sponsors to take on additional decisions, as many prototypes sponsors are going through the process of getting their documents updated for the upcoming restatement process. While columnist John Ludwig says this is a necessary process for everyone, he shares decisions that plan sponsors should think about as they go through this process.

When it comes to retirement savings, no family structure is apparently better prepared than same-sex couples without kids, who reported having $276,200 tucked away – the very model of successful workplace savers.

An increase in the offering of consumer-driven health care products has not translated into increased understanding on the part of consumers — exposing a need for more assistance from benefit professionals and educational tools.

For the first time, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act covers corporations. But, employers will still have to review the possible application of any state laws that might require contraception coverage despite the holding in Hobby Lobby.

For most employers, the Hobby Lobby decision will have little impact, meaning they will have to comply with the ACA as written. Looking for loopholes can be risky, not just for ACA compliance but also for ERISA compliance, generally.

Despite an improving economy, American employers continue to be cautious with pay increases for employees.

As media interest in health insurance exchanges decreases over time, the insurance industry may need to develop more effective communications to reach the uninsured.

Road to Workplace Benefits Mania: Ahead of the July conference, speaker Donald Rowe discusses why you need something new to talk about with clients and how there's a product that no one is too old, too sick, too tall, too short or too anything to be eligible for.