Health insurance

The high court rules Vermont cannot force self-insured health benefit plans governed by ERISA to release data on the amount paid on health insurance medical claims.

Eyecare is the second most popular benefit this year, according to a just-released research report, and the type of lens material covered is a key consideration in workers’ selection.

The private marketplace provides a group insurance alternative and promises benefit cost cutting.

Employers hoping to attract and retain workers need look no further than their vision plans, as new research shows vision benefits have high engagement with employees.

New marketplace says it provides a group insurance alternative and helps plan sponsors fix their benefits costs.

As costs continue to grow, employers should focus on utilizing smart benefits technology to create individualized programs that appeal to every employee.

Advisers can educate employers about carrier choice and plan options to create the comprehensive plan their workers are seeking.

An increased awareness about the correlation between these benefits and overall health is improving engagement.

Even as employers increasingly shift the cost of these programs on to employees through voluntary plans, workers are seeing value in them.

Workers are more comfortable buying a car or a home than they are managing their healthcare, finds a new report.

Bundled disease management programs on a private exchange may boost employee engagement better than carved out programs.

Joe Laurin, president of Fidelity Health Marketplace, discusses how the company’s newly launched private exchange will integrate with its 401(k) recordkeeping business.

Dependent eligibility verification audits are sometimes tough to communicate to employees, but as employers look for financial savings in their health plans, many are contemplating them.

The U.S. Senate voted Thursday to repeal the core of the Affordable Care Act, bringing Congress closer to sending legislation to President Barack Obama for the first time that would dismantle his signature domestic achievement.

Commentary: This week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., which has vital implications for employee benefit plans — and for future attempts to impose state-specific regimes to gather health data from those plans.

As LIMRA celebrates 100 years in the industry in 2016, the association will renew its focus on retirement research, education and training and continue to evaluate the impact of the DOL’s pending fiduciary rule.

ACA reporting becomes mandatory in 2016. Preparing employers to be compliant with reporting requirements is a core service that advisers should be offering, industry experts say.

Deficits rose for both single-employer and multiemployer programs, a new report finds. Yet, the pension community is hopeful the new PBGC director will create a better future.

Commentary: The benefits community should pay close attention to this ERISA case and should be prepared to quickly adapt procedures according to the Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling, which is expected by June 2016.

The benefits industry is awaiting several rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States expected in 2016 that could have far-reaching effects on the administration and cost of operating employee benefit plans.