Sebelius and Beshear: Key decisions led to ACA success
Former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear discuss what key factors led to Obamacares 8 million enrollees
Healthcare reform
Whats your ACA enrollment advertising strategy?
Several benefit brokers share their experiences with using TV ads during open enrollment 2014.
Mass. repeals state pay-or-play regulations
The state of Massachusetts officially repealed the employer pay-or-play regulations that were part of its landmark 2006 health care reform law. Similar to the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act, the state statute required employers of a certain size to either offer health care coverage to their employees or pay a fine.
Private exchange enrollment hits 3M
Estimated enrollment is three times the number consultancy predicted last year.
New ACA delay limits employee choice on SHOP exchange
CMS has granted 18 states a delay in enacting employee choice on the SHOP exchange, which some advisers feel is the only incentive for employers to enroll on the exchange at all.
Open enrollment is all about ACA this year
Benefit brokers should be prepared to communicate ACA updates and answer questions both in-person and via new technology to reach employees.
Choice a major disruptor to health care system
The emergence of public and private health insurance exchanges, as well as the ongoing shift toward placing more responsibility on workers for health plan decisions, is creating a new normal for employers and employees alike.
Health plans starting to beef up narrow networks
Potentially a result of complaints from consumers and increased competition on the ACA exchanges, benefit brokers may be pleased to find more options on the 2015 plans.
Are we headed for a national ACA exchange?
With some state-run exchanges struggling, brokers and agents contemplate whether a national Healthcare.gov is possible and whether that would be a good or a bad thing for the insurance community.
Whats next for big data?
Benefit brokers should be turning their sights to the capabilities of health care data to improve employer clients employees health. There are doctors asking for even more potential from computer algorithms to interpret such data and could provide a glimpse into the future.
Brokers are best ACA exchange resource, survey says
Despite all the technical glitches with Healthcare.gov and state-run exchanges during open enrollment, a large majority of Americans researching health plan options relied on websites for information, but supplemented their research with other outlets for answers, including brokers and advisers.
How business can save America from health care
Commentary: One of Americas most enduring mysteries is why the organizations that pay for most health care dont work together to force better value from the health care industry.
4 million may pay ACA penalty for lacking insurance
This figure is about one-third less than previously estimated, after the Obama administration created exemptions from the fine.
By
Alex Wayne
Advisers question ACA income calculation in light of slew of discrepancies
Millions of ACA application inconsistencies come as no surprise to benefit advisers and could trigger an influx of business to brokers from confused 2015 ACA enrollees.
Enter into an engagement letter: Protect your client, protect yourself
Advisers looking to protect themselves and their clients from professional negligence or malpractice suits need to enter into an engagement letter, according to an ERISA attorney.
Burwell approved as new HHS chief to lead ACA
Sylvia Mathews Burwell was confirmed Thursday by the U.S. Senate as the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, replacing Kathleen Sebelius and signaling a new stage for Obamacare.
By
Alex Wayne
Benefits Think Rolling on the private exchange train
Commentary: Blogger Rob Lieblein offers insight as to why private exchanges really are the future of benefits and where benefit brokers and advisers should be in the process of hopping on the exchange train.
Could voluntary products see rate hikes?
Industry experts say that while unlikely, the historically stable product line may have the potential for price changes as its sales continue to rise.
Online SHOP enrollment expected to be operational for advisers this year
CMS says benefit brokers and advisers are expected to be able to enroll their small business clients on the federal SHOP exchange online by sometime later this year.
Adviser training for 2015 SHOP enrollment to begin in July
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced training and registration dates, along with requirements, for benefit advisers and brokers who want to enroll small business employers on the federally facilitated SHOP exchange.