One-third of employers eyeing private exchanges
A survey found U.S. employers are increasingly looking at this option, following the lead of companies like Walgreen Co. seeking to reduce costs..
Healthcare reform
Exit interview: Helen Darling
The president of the NBGH, who is retiring this spring, shares her thoughts about health reform and the future of employer-sponsored health coverage.
5 compliance areas where you should be on high alert
If the last few years were an age of reform, then weve definitely entered a new era a time of compliance.
Exchange success not determined by red or blue state color
Contrary to expectations, the latest findings from healthcare researcher Decision Resources Group reveal that several of the state-based health insurance exchanges that were expected to perform the best are performing quite poorly, while some of the exchanges in Republican-dominated states openly hostile to the Affordable Care Act have fared surprisingly well to date.
Federal exchanges said to induce consumers to overspend on health coverage
Limitations with how the federally-run health insurance exchanges present information misleads consumers and induces them to spend many thousands of dollars a year more than necessary on health coverage, according to Consumers Checkbook, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization and web site.
Benefits Think Private exchanges in good position to succeed
The dissatisfaction, disappointment and frustration with launch of the federal health insurance exchange could be expected, especially with the constantly elevating level of consumer expectations for e-commerce and other online systems. Meanwhile, the number of private exchanges continues to grow and are in a very good position to succeed.
Enrollment shifts expected between exchanges and Medicaid
For millions of low-income Americans, the road to health care reform in 2014 could prove to be a jagged line as they bounce between public exchanges and Medicaid as their income fluctuates over the year.
Analysis questions value of ACA deductible cap
In a sign of just how difficult it is to rein in out-of-pocket costs, 35% of 2014 bronze-level plans in the Small Business Health Options Program exchange had deductibles that exceeded suggested annual caps under the Affordable Care Act.
Benefits Think 5 pitfalls of defined contribution health strategies
From ignoring chronic disease to failing to align vendor and employer goals, defined-contribution health strategies through private exchanges are not right for every employer.
ACA enrollment of Latinos lagging for Covered California
This is spurring a new push into communities to sell the states program face-to-face.
Long-awaited ACA regulations fuel employer work for 2014
With the issuance of the final employer mandate regulations, employers mandate can now make employee coverage decisions and prepare for enforcement beginning as early as Jan. 1, 2015.
The aftermath of the employer responsibility ruling
This week started out with the much anticipated employer responsibility ruling and first shocked us with the additional employer mandate delay. But theres much more to the ruling that advisers and plan sponsors need to be aware of in the coming months.
Fewer Americans getting health insurance through employers
Fewer people are getting their primary health insurance coverage through their employers, according to a Gallup Poll released Wednesday, which also reported the number of uninsured Americans has reached a five-year low.
HHS calls select ACA complainants
The day after Addie Wilson was quoted in a newspaper article complaining about her experience with President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act, her mobile phone rang while she was in the bathroom.
ACA exchanges gained more young adults in January
Obamacare health plans enrolled 3.3 million people through January, with young adult participants increasing 65% from a month earlier, the U.S. government said.
By
Alex Wayne
ACA raises Medicaid cost as insurers shift tax bill
Health insurers told to pay $150 billion in taxes over a decade to help fund Obamacare are now shifting at least part of that cost back to taxpayers.
Planet Fitness applies Obamacare tanning tax to members
Some locations of the Planet Fitness health club chain have begun charging some of their members a portion of the indoor tanning services tax mandated by the Affordable Care Act, whether or not they use the tanning services.
ACA delay gives time for optimal policy: Obama
President Barack Obama said a delay until 2016 in his health care mandate for mid-sized employers is an adjustment that doesnt undermine the law.
Hillary Clinton emerged as top Obama ally on health: book
Hillary Clinton, once President Barack Obamas political foe, emerged as his top ally on what would become his signature policy achievement: revamping the U.S. health care system.
Benefits industry mostly thankful for another ACA employer mandate delay
Monday's IRS decision to allow some smaller employers even more time to comply with the ACA's employer mandate has some in the industry applauding, others frustrated.