EBA Contributor Dr. Ronald Leopold worked for a large carrier with product lines in the “non-medical health” space and their sales associates knew health care was king. But that's about to change. Here's what is inevitable and the questions to ask yourself to be ready.

No matter who wins on Nov. 6, it’s wise to assume that health care reform will stand and plan accordingly. There are 3 things health benefit managers can do for the 2013 renewal and set a smooth transition to the post-reform world.

The American Medical Association and Medical Association of Georgia are fighting efforts in Georgia to undo the state’s law requiring insurers that provide third-party administrative services to pay claims in a timely manner.

The consulting firm finds that almost a third of voluntary sales in 2011 were to the largest employers, but no market has reached its saturation point.

As leaders in the industry and the steward of the 2nd largest expense for clients (benefits), your role is to be the strategic adviser to clients. In the absence of clarity, paralysis often sets in and without forward progress businesses don’t last long.

The amount of venture capital being spent on Health IT companies is increasing, and technology is partying like it’s 1999 as geeks are transforming health care.

Variety is the name of the game when selling benefits in the public sector small employer market, Minnesota Life research indicates.

Most insurance and benefits agencies have no formal marketing plan, but it is time to get serious, says BeAdvised Contributor Wendy Keneipp, and here is how to execute your new marketing plan.

In Mississippi, where one in five people lack health insurance, two Republican elected officials are fighting over the best way to resist President Obama’s health-care overhaul, with one official implementing exchanges and the governor ordering him to stop.

What can brokers learn from their HR counterparts? Read as a benefits manager shares what she has learned from reviewing results of disease management, wellness, and claim savings reports.

Many employers already deploy surveys to monitor employee engagement within an organization, but there remains an important opportunity for advisers to help clients understand the role benefits play in that engagement.

Technology and the Internet have made consumers more informed. So how can those in this business stay ahead of the curve and avoid wasting both their and their clients time?

StayWell Health Management and Integro Insurance Brokers recognize employee’s in this week’s Comings & Goings. Also, The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers announces a recent chairman and The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America is installed as a new member. Check to see if a colleague is mentioned today.

Based on a review of 35 major health plan websites, most issuers are still struggling to provide the Summary of Benefits and Coverage, even while the SBC provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act took effect last week, according to Tyrula LLC.

When you change your client value offering and your sales model, you have to change the way the company supports these new efforts. Taking the time to evaluate your current structure and making changes to support the new model is critical to successfully executing on and delivering on your new value proposition. …

“Business opportunities come from getting to know new people and their interests, and this takes time.” This was a common response from 82 insurance executives participating in a new Inter-Company Marketing Group survey.

For our clients with a January 1 benefit plan renewal date, we have begun the work required to determine the appropriate program strategy, negotiate renewals, create communication pieces and organize logistics for the open enrollment meetings and subsequent employee enrollments. My company provides advisory services to both clients whom offer medical coverage through fully insured providers as well as those large enough to self-insure their medical plan with the services of a third party administrator.…

Combining voluntary and permanent life to help employees.

Using interactive applications to help plan participants.

Employers are rapidly expanding wellness programs, and specifically tobacco cessation, as a strategy to combat increasing health care costs.