Employee benefits

The health care industry will change its focus from expanding the insurance market to reining in medical costs now that the presidential election has been decided, says the CEO of the main lobbying group for health insurers.

The president’s re-election probably spells doom for any short-term efforts to overturn PPACA, and industry professionals who waited to implement health care reform changes can wait no longer.

Health insurance company stocks fall Wednesday after Obama’s re-election affirms PPACA will move forward. Health reform’s product standardization and transparency will “pressure margins,” insurers say, offsetting any potential for increased profits from a larger client base.

Businesses can help the thousands of children who need parents by offering adoption benefits — which are relatively simple and affordable — and by raising awareness in their communities

Up to 20% of those who take currently available medication to lower bad cholesterol suffer from side effects, but new medicines may take unusual forms — engineered tomatoes and yogurt.

The president’s re-election probably spells doom for any short-term efforts to overturn PPACA, and industry professionals who waited to implement health care reform changes can wait no longer.

Updated throughout the day after Obama's re-election, hear what industry leaders and industry groups say the president's win means for the broker community. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments, too.

President Barack Obama’s re-election means his overhaul of the U.S. health-care system, opposed by most Republicans, will move ahead in all 50 states, with or without the cooperation of their governors.

Romney and Obama’s teams both try to spin the most recent batch of unemployment data, and one index has consumer confidence hitting a five-year high.

A recent survey shows a lack of planning around health care reform on the part of many small businesses, and even confusion over the obligation to provide coverage.

The Department of Labor reports that the employment cost index increased by 0.4% in the third quarter, with benefits costs rising by the most since the first half of 2011. Many economists believe spending could soon take a hit if worker pay holds steady.

New legislation begins this month in Massachusetts, a state ahead of the country on “health care reform,” says EBA Blogger Mark Gaunya. But what can others learn from this new law, a “a state-based, cost control experiment that may prove to be a glimpse of the future in your state?”

Leading insurers come together for an education campaign in light of research showing LTD claims are rising as group coverage drops.

Most people believe the current economic climate has made life insurance more relevant, but a majority has not calculated their need and many avoid discussing the topic at home, according to a survey by ING.

A Benz Communications survey shows that while employers believe more frequent communication about benefits is desirable, few are achieving this goal.

Flexibility with rollovers and investments are cited as key advantages to health savings accounts, causing them to become valuable retirement plan assets.

Tesla benefits manager Nate Randall, speaking at Benefits Forum & Expo, details how his company is changing the benefits landscape on a budget.

Scottsdale Health adds a telehealth service to its benefits plan and sees dramatic costs savings because the service keeps non-life-threatening illnesses out of the emergency room.

Customer satisfaction with mail-order pharmacies declined for the second year running, according to a survey from J.D. Power and Associates, and that could spell trouble for health plans that insist on their usage.

Political pundit Meghan McCain addresses attendees at Benefits Forum & Expo and explains why she believes neither Republicans or Democrats have the answers to fixing America’s broken health care system