Blue states challenge Trump’s association health plan rules
The Trump administration's desire to end Obamacare could spell trouble for newly expanded association health plans.
Healthcare benefits
Benefits Think Transparency in healthcare: The case for an employer bill of rights
Devising benefits programs can be complex, which is why businesses need to empower themselves to select smart healthcare options.
Steve Kelly
ELAP Services
Benefits Think Move over mainstream: Alternative health options a road to better value
With healthcare spending soaring, employers may consider turning to narrow networks or alternative sites of care.
Suzanne Delbanco
Catalyst for Payment Reform
Benefits Think 3 tips to ensure clients are in compliance
Advisers who stay abreast of changing health insurance regulations and employment law increase their value to employers.
Ron Goldstein
Choice Administrators
Maintaining HSA eligibility: 8 things clients can do
For employers sponsoring high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts, ensuring that the HDHP continuously remains HSA-qualified is no easy task. But this checklist can help.
Benefits Think What clients need to know about the 2019 FPL affordability safe harbor
HHS released the federal poverty level thresholds — important info for many employers as they set their employee contributions for their health plans.
Zack Pace
CBIZ
Benefits Think Analytics are key to wellness success. Here’s why
By aggregating and analyzing different types of data, benefits managers can determine crucial correlations among preventive screenings, health outcomes and healthcare costs.
Furloughed feds’ health coverage intact, but shutdown still complicates things
Some federal employees face insurance paperwork glitches that affect their health coverage and add pressure to the stress of going without pay.
Benefits Think What employers need to know about the 2019 FPL affordability safe harbor
The HHS just released the federal poverty level thresholds — important info for many employers as they set their employee contributions for their health plans.
Zack Pace
CBIZ
Benefits Think Developing guidance could free employers from ACA mandate
An IRS notice, still in development, could allow companies to avoid penalties by reimbursing employees for a portion of the cost of individual insurance coverage through an employer-sponsored HRA.
Jessica M. Simons
Foley & Lardner
Benefits Think The baby health insurance playbook: How to help employees plan for a newborn
Pregnancy, childbirth and making the best benefits decisions can be overwhelming. But HR managers can help make the process a little easier with the right communication tools.
Eric Brewer
Corporate Synergies
Benefits Think Here’s how brokers can beat Goliath
Independent Davids are winning accounts by using strategies and techniques they call NextGen benefits. Here’s how it works.
Walmart to leave CVS pharmacy network, roiling drugstores
Walmart will leave CVS Health’s network that administers drug benefits for millions of Americans, in a dispute over costs that could roil the business of filling prescriptions.
Judge blocks Trump plan to revoke Obamacare contraceptive rule
The Trump administration’s effort to let companies with religious or moral objections opt out of ACA contraception requirements hit a roadblock on the eve of the new rules taking effect.
Travel agency books Decisely as its benefits provider
Expedia CruiseShipCenters partnered with the brokerage to provide medical and retirement benefits to its franchise owners and their employees.
Benefits Think 4 ways to support, promote employee health
Forget the health fairs and the discounted gym membership. These are the best ways clients can help their workers lead a healthier life.
Dr. Miles Varn
PinnacleCare
Travel agency books Decisely as its benefits provider
Expedia CruiseShipCenters partnered with the brokerage to provide medical and retirement benefits to its franchise owners and their employees.
8 biggest healthcare trends for employers to watch
From chief medical officers to an increased focus on behavioral health, here’s what’s shaking up the industry.
Benefits Think 3 benefits trends for brokers to watch
Big pharma disruption and healthcare challenges and legislation are just a few of the big trends that will shape the benefits industry in 2019.
Alex Tolbert
BerniePortal
Insured but still in debt: 5 jobs pulling in $100K a year no match for medical bills
An Arizona couple played by the rules and bought employer-provided health insurance. But after they had a baby this year, their out-of-pocket hospital costs and doctors’ bills climbed to more than $12,000 — and medical debt now threatens their new family.
