MLR legislation gets new legs in the Senate
The Senate yesterday revived its effort to separate broker commissions from a medical loss ratio formula created by the Affordable Care Act.
Insurance
Workforce demographics increase demand for vision benefits
An aging workforce, coupled with demands for the latest eyewear fashions, is putting pressure on employer-sponsored vision benefits.
Private benefit exchange companies launch coalition
A group of industry players connected to private exchanges launched a coalition Wednesday to serve as a forum to share ideas and best practices, and to increase awareness of private exchanges.
Senate bill aims to level the playing field for brokers and navigators
Brokers and agents welcome legislation introduced Tuesday to the Senate that would enhance broker access to information about marketplace enrollment, leveling the playing field with navigators and assisters.
King v. Burwell: Understanding the Supreme Courts looming decision
Commentary: Billions of dollars in federal subsidies are on the line in the Supreme Courts highly anticipated King v. Burwell decision expected any day now. What does that mean for the benefits industry?
Exchanges give voluntary benefits a boost
No longer hiding on an intranet or mentioned in a one-off meeting, voluntary benefits are making a big impact on private exchanges, especially as high deductible plans increase and employees self-select into lower coverage.
Cigna rejects $47B bid by Anthem citing price, antitrust
Cigna Corp. rejected Anthem Inc.s $47 billion takeover bid, saying it was inadequate and not in the best interests of shareholders.
Biggest health insurers to get even bigger under ACA
Americas biggest health insurers are about to get even bigger, driven into a wave of consolidation by the Affordable Care Acts new regulations and markets.
8 public exchange states see reassuring premium increases
In the eight states that have announced their 2016 proposed rates for purchasing coverage on the public health care exchanges, the average increase for a silver plan is 5.8%.
State HIXs deny mergers, talk up transitions
Most of the 13 state-run public health insurance have collectively spent $4.8 billion in federal funding during their first 17 months of operations and face serious cash-flow problems.
HIX enrollment numbers vary based on definition of exchange
Private exchange enrollment numbers depend on how one defines a private exchange. For some, a private exchange is simply tech-enabled choice which most employers are embracing while others define it as more than technology. Despite the definition, most consultancies agree by 2018, the numbers will be huge.
Private exchanges: Not right for everyone
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants was a long time user of Liazons private exchange software, but this week launched its own exchange, developed in partnership with Hodges-Mace. Chris Duncan, EPICs chief growth officer, discusses the move and why exchanges may not be for everyone.
HDHPs cut employer costs but for wrong reasons
High deductible health plan sponsors, as well as employers considering making that switch, should review their employees health care purchasing patterns and their communication campaigns to encourage appropriate use of the plans.
Employee benefit lobbyists lay out legislative agenda
Ending the Cadillac tax, simplifying the reporting process and eliminating the automatic enrollment requirement are a few of the legislative recommendations the American Benefits Council is urging Congress to act on.
Inspector General questions accuracy of $2.8B in ACA Subsidies
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services internal controls did not effectively ensure the accuracy of nearly $2.8 billion in financial assistance payments to insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act during the first four months that the payments were made, according to a new government report.
Is Aetna eliminating commissions on small-group business?
Benefit advisers in several states have received new fee arrangements from Aetna that eliminate commissions on small-group business, causing an uproar among brokers, many of whom question the legality of such a practice.
How transparent are private exchange fees?
HR departments lack a clear understanding of fees and commissions attached to private exchanges, with many early exchange adopters uncovering fees once they start using the model.
Dental, vision benefits vital to broader employee health promotion
Vision and dental benefits can be harnessed to play a larger role in employee health than the sum of their parts.
Insurance merger mania catches on
Shares of health insurers from Cigna to Aetna surged on speculation that the industry is heading for a round of mergers to boost profits.
CMS outlines plans for year three on federal health exchange
New consumer tools are in the works for Healthcare.gov, as the federal government focuses on the exchanges long-term success.