New steps to reduce premiums and make it easier for Americans to enroll in the federally administrated Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan risk pool were announced May 31 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

We all have inherent strengths and weaknesses. This is true in every aspect of life, and is often most obvious when it comes to our careers. The biggest problem with weaknesses at work is that we are hardwired to try and overcome them, and this isn't always the best thing to do. Some weaknesses can and should be addressed and worked on. For example, if you are rarely on time for appointments, success in any field will most likely be difficult. This isn't an inherent weakness. You don't need to 'go against the grain' of who you are as a person to overcome chronic lateness.

Voluntary home and auto benefits are an increasingly important part of many brokers' product arrays - and revenue streams.

The idea I'm about to share with you is the second most valuable idea I'll provide you this month.

Last month we looked at onboarding new employees. In many respects offboarding mirrors onboarding, essentially "undoing" employee onboarding tasks. Because of this, leading onboarding vendors offer tools to manage both processes. However, the offboarding process is different enough to warrant a deeper look. The uniqueness arises out of the fact that, regardless of the circumstances, offboarding is a "good-bye"- the end of a relationship, which is much different than the "hello" welcoming new employees.

I would title the May issue, "Get ready to change." Change your compensation, change your market focus, and change how you help your clients.

Defining and discovering "alpha" in participated-directed defined contribution retirement plans is perhaps the most difficult and important discussion in the industry today. Alpha in DC plans is very different than what asset managers pursue when they strive to beat their benchmarks, which is the hallmark of their abilities and ultimately defines their success. Alpha in DC plans is a measure of participants' success in replacing income within the plan.

With the uncertainty of today's market, guaranteed lifetime income options, or GLIOs, are emerging as a promising new way to help retiring employees protect their retirement income streams over a longer time horizon. EBA recently spoke with Ben Yahr, an actuarial adviser and part of Ernst & Young's Insurance and Actuarial Advisory Services practice, to find out more about GLIOs.

One skill that epitomizes the successful benefit adviser is selling. From the dollar-and-cents results to the art of persuasion, benefit advisers understand the sales process. So why not use that skill to assist human resource professionals in selling their C-suite on a corporate wellness program?

Benefits administrators have an important role in informing employees of coverage offerings and how multiple benefits can work together. But oftentimes, especially in these days of employer cutbacks and cost-saving measures, that role falls to the employee benefit broker or adviser.

At Rood & Dax Advanced Insurance Services in Sacramento, Laurie Rood and partner Gayle Dax approach client wellness plans by creating a comprehensive culture that uses both technology and personal interaction to foster a healthier, happier workplace. "Especially nowadays when people aren't willing to pay a lot of money for things, we have set a lot of our clients up with the idea that they are creating a wellness culture in which to operate to keep their employees happy and healthy and wanting to come to work," says Dax.

It wasn't long after Rick McKinley got his start as a benefits broker that he encountered one of his biggest frustrations in the business: data overload.

Our industry is in a state of massive flux. With regulatory and economic challenges constantly bearing down, agency leaders and advisers are anxiously searching for solutions to current problems as well as those that are swiftly approaching.

Congratulations to long-time EBA columnists Mel Schlesinger and Jack Kwicien, who are assuming important leadership posts in the field.

An industry reunion is being planned for benefits brokers. The event, set for Sept. 8 and 9 in Las Vegas, will be an opportunity for brokers to reunite, share stories and take the time to remember colleagues who have passed away, says organizer Dan Jumonville. The Paris hotel and the adjacent Bally’s will be the headquarter hotels.

Medco Health Solutions Inc. will lose a major pharmacy benefit contract to CVS Caremark Corp. starting next year, sending Medco shares down almost 11% and CVS up nearly 4% Friday.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) has signed into law a bill that allows state residents to purchase individual health insurance policies across state lines.

Vermont became the first state to lay the groundwork for single-payer health care on Thursday when its governor signed an ambitious bill aimed at establishing universal insurance coverage for all residents.

The recently released white paper from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on the role of producers in state exchanges, while helpful, leaves many crucial questions unanswered.

Data collected by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners suggest that average consumer rebates would have been more than 60% lower if agent and broker commissions were excluded from medical loss ratio calculations in 2010.