Private exchanges: a complex process
Advisers share why they entered the private exchange business and key players detail how to help employer clients chose the right exchange.
Healthcare reform
HHS partners with digital platforms to promote enrollment
More than a year after technical glitches on Healthcare.gov emboldened Affordable Care Act critics and fueled late-night talk show jokes, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has since forged partnerships with four digital platforms to help promote the current open-enrollment period.
Employers eye private exchanges for pre-Medicare retirees
The advent of private and public health care exchanges has expanded employers horizons to consider subsidizing pre-Medicare eligible retiree health benefits through the individual market.
Cadillac tax, wellness program clarity top employer priorities
Congress first week was a busy one, as new lawmakers worked to make changes to the Affordable Care Act changes employers should bear in mind as they develop their benefit plan and ACA compliance strategies in the coming year.
Brokers, employers welcome common-sense fix to ACA work week definition
Brokers and employers applaud the recent push by Congress to revise the ACA 30-hour work week definition, but the change could mean an immediate workload increase for benefit advisers.
Lavish Cadillac health plans dying out as ACA tax looms
Large employers are increasingly putting an end to their most generous health-care coverage as a tax on "Cadillac" insurance plans looms closer under the Affordable Care Act.
Push for ACA 40-hour work week definition heats up
Republicans, industry organizations and a coalition of employer groups are ramping up their efforts to change the ACAs definition of full-time employment from 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week.
Educating clients on the employer mandate: The next steps
The ACAs employer mandate is now in effect for large employers, but theres still plenty of work to do. Experts share the month-by-month updates advisers should be providing to clients this year.
‘A long way to go’ on public exchange consumer experience
Although consumer support tools were better during open enrollment year two as compared with the first go on Healthcare.gov and the state-based marketplaces, there is still a lot of progress that needs to be made.
Six states urge Supreme Court to uphold ACA subsidy challenge
Oklahoma and five other states are urging the Supreme Court to uphold a challenge to tax subsidies allowed for under the Affordable Care Act, in a case that could have major implications for the health care reform law.
UHG poised for growth following expansion plans
UnitedHealth Group Inc. is poised for HIX-related growth in 2015 on the heels of solid third-quarter revenue.
Why ACA employer mandate rules need more guidance
On Jan. 1, 2015, the Affordable Care Acts employer shared responsibility rules went live for many employers. Despite final rules and regulation from the government, here is a partial list of unresolved items that would benefit from additional guidance.
CMS names counties requiring health plan language assistance
CMS has released the 2015 list of counties where health plan carriers and some employers must provide information in a language other than English.
Oregon HIX bets on sunnier forecast in 2015
Oregon officials are pledging to avoid 2014s enrollment nightmare, which prevented the state-run HIX from fully launching online and led to the departure of six top officials connected to the exchange.
Benefits Think Expanded nurse practitioner reimbursements could lower health plan costs
U.S. policymakers have implemented major changes to the health insurance industry with the goal of improving the experiences and outcomes of patients. Yet there are still many health care consumers who express deep dissatisfaction with their plans
Benefits Think Fixing higher health premiums & ugly deductibles
Commentary: Out-of-pocket health care costs are higher than ever. What solutions can benefit advisers offer their employer clients?
Supreme Court ACA subsidy challenge to impact employer mandate penalties
Early next year, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case that labor law and health care benefit advisers say could affect the Affordable Care Acts strict employer mandate penalties.
Supreme Court ACA subsidy challenge to impact employer mandate penalties
Early next year, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case that labor law and health care benefit advisers say could affect the Affordable Care Acts strict employer mandate penalties.
Multi-year contracts suggested for exchanges
Noting how insurers have few incentives to invest in wellness and disease management programs that could take up to three years to pay off, two researchers have suggested multi-year HIX options to promote healthier living and a more efficient health care system in the face of unintended consequences from the Affordable Care Act.
Obama administration to investigate insurance discrimination
The Obama administration says it will investigate benefit plan designs for discrimination and suspect practices that discourage people with costly medical conditions from enrolling in a plan.