Employee benefits

Two days after the troubled online U.S. health exchange went live, just 248 people nationwide had successfully enrolled in insurance plans under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, documents show.

A debrief on the types of changes that trigger the loss of grandfathered status, the concept at the center of the “if you like your plan, you can keep it” issue.

Most health plan cancellation notices are being delivered to individuals who had coverage that is now out of line with the Affordable Care Act. But some the changes are also affecting small employers who must decide whether to pay the higher costs for new coverage, or send workers to purchasing exchanges.

“The tool ... provides us with the ability to send out critical food safety alerts to all store managers instantly,” says one official, who adds that the ability to upload training videos was a big part of what needed to be a very low-budget solution.

The White House calls the nationwide uptick in health plan cancellations a result of “substandard policies” being eliminated, but advisers express concern over resulting rate hikes.

A day after her deputy apologized for the failures with the Affordable Care Act insurance exchange, U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius followed suit and told Congress that she shoulders the blame for the botched rollout.

Solutions you share can help overcome the false assumptions held by 80% of people who think they are above-average investors.

Their lack of understanding is often displayed in the questions they ask.

The Department of Labor is apparently close to finishing its controversial work on establishing a fiduciary standard.

CMS is communicating minimally with the thousands of insurance brokers who went through training for the 36 federally-run exchanges, while prominent ACA spokespeople — including the president — repeatedly fail to mention brokers as a viable exchange information source.

With the online site expected to face difficulties through November, Americans may have only weeks to find replacement coverage, and many may end up paying higher premiums.

With the online site expected to face difficulties through November, Americans may have only weeks to find replacement coverage, and many may end up paying higher premiums.

While the rest of the country was trying to access exchange websites on Oct. 1 and having no luck, something remarkable happened in Connecticut.

Four turnkey solutions to the problem of true benefits engagement.

While it provides peace of mind for employees, some brokers question this non-insurance benefit.

Eager to meet client needs - and keep their business - brokers hunt for info on exchanges.

Understanding and overcoming the barriers to retirement readiness.

While still a relatively under-used tactic, advisers are making a push for auto features more than ever before.

A good communications strategy can help your clients get the most from their benefits investment.

One man is a walking example of the disability insurance he sells — now he wants to reframe how brokers and employees view this benefit.