Healthcare reform

‘Obamacare’ … It just doesn’t matter!

In the movie armageddon, Earth faces destruction from a giant asteroid on a collision course with our planet before it is saved by the heroic sacrifice of the character played by Bruce Willis. As 2014 hurtles toward us, brokers across the country helplessly search for a savior from the cataclysmic PPACA disaster. "Help us, Supreme Court!" No? Then, "Help us, Republicans!" Maybe. Maybe not.

Nelson Griswold
By Nelson Griswold
Founder, NextGen Benefits Mastermind Partnership

Supreme Court upholds PPACA: Final thoughts

Ever since the Supreme Court issued its ruling to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in June, family, friends and colleagues have been asking me, "What do you think of the ruling? Is it good? Is it bad? Does it matter?"

Kelley Butler
By Kelley Butler
Editor-In-Chief and Conference Co-Chair
Employee Benefit News

Full speed ahead

Employers who postponed action on health reform compliance will now be going full tilt to continue meeting the legislation's provisions that take effect this year and beyond. But even larger strategic questions loom over their roles as benefit sponsors.

Andrea Davis
By Andrea Davis
Editor-in-Chief
Employee Benefit News

PPACA ruling means opportunity

There is no question that the Supreme Court upholding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in a 5-4 ruling has solidified, for now, the change in the country's health care market that took form when President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law in March 2010.

Brian M. Kalish
By Brian M. Kalish
Online Managing Editor, Health Care Group
SourceMedia

HHS shaming power has little effect on health plans

Last September, after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act gave the Department of Health and Human Services authority to review premium rates in states that didn't have strong enough review programs, the agency began handing down decrees of "unreasonable" premium rates for insurers that proposed increasing rates by an average of 10% or more – meaning HHS can publically shame an insurer.

Lisa V. Gillespie
By Lisa V. Gillespie
Writer

Fla. governor: Dear PPACA, wish you weren’t here

After the Supreme Court upheld the so-called individual mandate and substantially all of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act following a legal challenge led by my home state of Florida, President Obama hadn't finished his victory lap before the political line was drawn in the sand. The battle is over, but war wages on until the American people take to the voting booth in November. I have a feeling this election year will be an interesting one, and with a front row seat in Florida, I'm going to be tuned in and transfixed.

Take inventory of plans to ensure legal compliance

While President Barack Obama's open support of same-sex marriage hasn't caused any immediate change in federal law, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston ruled recently that part of the Defense of Marriage Act – which denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples – is unconstitutional and cannot be enforced. Noting that a "Supreme Court review of DOMA is highly likely," however, the 1st Circuit put the ruling on hold.

Andrea Davis
By Andrea Davis
Editor-in-Chief
Employee Benefit News

PPACA’s silver lining

With health reform there's a real opportunity for brokers and consultants to truly add value to their client services. It allows them to go above and beyond just the tactical nature of health plans and step up the strategic level of advice and guidance.

Finding a seat at the table

Under health reform, state health care exchanges are slated to operate in 2014 – not much time to figure out the role a broker will play in the system. As we await more definitive information on what exactly constitutes a "navigator," one can look toward California, which is further along in setting up its exchange, as a potential model, says Neil Crosby, director of sales at Westlake Village, Calif.-based Warner Pacific Insurance Services.

Brian M. Kalish
By Brian M. Kalish
Online Managing Editor, Health Care Group
SourceMedia

The first step toward post-PPACA sales

After the June 28 Supreme Court ruling that found the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be constitutional, many group medical producers felt that their business was over. I want to begin by saying that there has never been more opportunity than there is right now and that there will be for the foreseeable future.

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