Brokers and assisters must collaborate during 2015 ACA open enrollment
Brokers and assisters will need to work closer together to help consumers during the 2015 ACA open enrollment, but most agree that will involve overcoming some underlying issues.
Healthcare reform
Vermont drops HIX vendor CGI, broker role still in question
Vermont has cut ties with the vendor of their health insurance exchange, CGI, after continued complaints and errors with the online portal a 'debacle' further exacerbated by the fact benefit brokers and advisers have mostly been left out of the loop.
ACA reporting for employers and the IRS’ new draft forms
The IRS new draft forms for employer reporting on health care coverage unveils a glimpse of the administrative onus in store for benefit advisers and their employer clients working to comply with the Affordable Care Act.
How benefit advisers can help with the ‘nightmare’ of health care delivery
While the logistics of health care growing increasingly complex, benefit advisers could and should play a crucial role in helping employers and employees understand the new health care delivery system.
Boosting small employer benefit participation with large employer tactics
Benefit advisers working with small to mid-size employers to boost benefit participation can focus on cost-saving measures and enrollment and education activities that larger companies are more inclined or able to invest in.
IT, data challenges continue for Oregon, Connecticut
Technical glitches and data-management challenges have dominated HIX headlines at both the state and federal level, with the latest news showing how even the most widely regarded and most vilified state-run operations now share this common thread.
Employers using many tools to drive down health costs
Benefit advisers hoping to stay ahead of the trend of employers transferring some of the burden of increased health care costs to their employees, should be prepared to discuss a variety of new and old cost-sharing strategies, as well as additional cost-saving tools.
Where private exchanges go from here: 4 trends
Private exchanges are a complex tool in a complex market, but they continue to evolve as employers switch to them, and brokers learn to work with them. Panelists discussed where they will go next during at opening keynote Tuesday at EBAs Workplace Benefits Mania.
Employers consider voluntary benefits for growing part-time workforces
As the part-time workforce in America expands, a growing number of employers are considering voluntary benefit packages as a recruitment and retention tool not only for full-time staff, but their variable hour employees, as well.
ACOs make inroads with employers
Accountable care organizations promise better alignment of health care provider incentives and patient outcomes. Can ACOs revolutionize employer-sponsored health care?
Feds release draft tax forms for employer compliance with ACA
The IRS released draft forms for employers to use to report health coverage offerings to employees, unveiling a glimpse of the administrative onus in store for benefit advisers and their employer clients working to comply with the health law.
Will dueling district court decisions on ACA subsidies impact your employer clients?
Two federal appeals courts have issued conflicting decisions about the legality of subsidies on the federal exchanges a split that may have some significant impact on employer planning for ACA compliance.
ACA subsidy issues hurting broker credibility
In another blow to the health laws federal subsidies this week, the GAO says fake application information successfully yielded subsidy payouts in an undercover investigation. One broker says if consumers are able to obtain subsidies in circumstances where they shouldnt, theyre not going to trust brokers who tell them the truth.
Brokers must work for carrier commissions on ACA exchanges
As some brokers continue to wait for their payments, it seems no one carrier is better or worse at this issue across the U.S. What is clear is that advisers who previously worked in group need to learn a new system to track and monitor commissions.
Employers wont feel immediate sting from federal court ACA subsidy ruling
In another blow to President Barack Obamas signature legislation, a three-judge panel on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of the plaintiff, declaring the laws premium subsidies are invalid in more than two dozen states due to the laws specific language.
ACA subsidies on federal exchange overturned
President Barack Obamas health care overhaul suffered a potentially crippling blow as a U.S. appeals court ruled the government cant give financial assistance to anyone buying coverage on the insurance marketplace run by federal authorities.
By
Andrew Zajac
Post-Hobby Lobby: DOL requires employee notification of dropped contraceptive coverage
The DOL says employers reacting to the Supreme Courts Hobby Lobby ruling by canceling contraceptive coverage will be required to notify their employees of the change, an important administrative note for benefit advisers working with employers electing to do so.
Employers continue to shift health care cost burden to employees
With health care costs continuing to rise, its no surprise to benefit advisers that their employer clients continue to seek benefit solutions that shift some of the cost burden to their employees and new data reveals that trend shows no signs of stopping.
ACA, data security create regulatory hurdles for employers
While employers are continuing to feel the impact from a multitude of changing laws and regulations, worries about the Affordable Care Act have begun to subside, to some degree. But the jury is out on the long-term implications of the ACA, and the ways benefits managers will live up to its stipulations in coming years.
Times up: Are your clients compliant with new wellness and mental health benefits parity laws?
Benefit advisers working with employers offering medical plans take note. Two important final regulations issued jointly by the IRS, DOL and HHS apply to plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2014. Are your clients compliant?
