Healthcare plans

New innovations gained ground in the benefits industry in 2016, but there’s work to do with employee engagement.

The Affordable Care Act, the new HHS head, drug costs and exchanges all had a big impact on employers in 2016. The debates are far from over for the coming year.

Presidential election unsettles notions of healthcare, regulation and public policy, while benefit offerings become increasingly customized.

New innovations gained ground in the benefit adviser space in 2016, but there’s work to do with employee engagement.

Before Obamacare is repealed or replaced, benefit advisers must be aware of the rules that are still in place, advises Jenny Riley of Hodges-Mace.

High deductible health plans are vulnerable to out-of-pocket costs, according to a new report

From drug management and reference-based reimbursement to worksite primary care clinics, employers are pursuing new approaches that deliver strong health outcome returns and savings.

An increase in retail clinics and high-performance networks will play a major role for employers in the coming year, says industry expert Don Antonucci.

An increase in retail clinics and high-performance networks will play a major role for employers in the coming year, says industry expert Don Antonucci.

The potential ERISA status of health savings accounts can cause confusion for advisers, says attorney Shelby George.

While many market forces contribute to rising costs, there are ways to take control over these expenses, says Castlight Health’s Dr. Giovanni Colella.

With an ever-changing benefits landscape, having an inside look from industry experts is crucial to best strategize how to tackle any oncoming challenges. Over the course of the year, these were some of the top blog contributions received at EBN.

The 21st Century Cures Act, signed by President Obama, re-opens the door for companies with fewer than 50 employees to offer money to purchase individual health policies

Strategic use of data is the next frontier for savvy advisers to more accurately zero in on how employers can best spend healthcare benefit dollars, says Businessolver’s Rae Shanahan.

More workers would use the service if it were offered by their healthcare provider, says One Medical Group’s Sandeep Acharya.

The potential ERISA status of health savings accounts can cause confusion for advisers, says attorney Shelby George.

The 21st Century Cures Act, signed by President Obama earlier this week, re-opens the door for companies with fewer than 50 employees to offer money to purchase individual health policies

NADP research shows that 75% of employees feel having dental coverage is very important

While employers wait around for impending ACA changes, they would be well-served to provide robust education to employees around benefits basics.

Employers weighed on the future of the Affordable Care Act, the new HHS head, drug costs and exchanges in 2016. The debates are far from over for the coming year