Insurance

It is no coincidence that the Tibble v. Edison case, set to go before the Supreme Court this week, has made it this far at the same time the Department of Labor is submitting its proposal to impose fiduciary responsibilities on brokers.

Technology has clearly revolutionized health care – from mobile apps that help employees stay fit and eat right to telemedicine that brings operational efficiency to treatment. But perhaps most compelling is the way it is helping elevate the open-enrollment experience in keeping with the intended consumer-friendly spirit of the Affordable Care Act.

Having more choices is a priority, but most workers are confident in their employer’s selection, study finds.

Agentreview.net launches this month, aiming to give consumers one location to find and critique local insurance agents.

Health plan providers may soon face the similar detailed fee disclosure requirements as retirement plan providers under the Department of Labor’s (DOL) 408(b)(2) regulations.

Approximately 800,000 taxpayers who received health care coverage through the federal insurance marketplace Healthcare.gov were sent the wrong information on their Form 1095-A and are being urged to wait to file their taxes until the first week of March when they receive the correct information from the federal government.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday morning announced it will implement a special enrollment period for individuals who learn, at the time they file their taxes, of the Affordable Care Act-mandated tax penalty for not having health insurance coverage.

The IRS addresses questions on employer payment plans and providing limited transitional relief for small employers who are currently reimbursing employees for individual health insurance premiums.

Both the Obama administration and states that run their own health insurance marketplaces are considering an extra enrollment period for tax filers who learn they owe a fine for not carrying insurance.

Specialty drugs are costly for plan sponsors and employees. Can value-based insurance design deliver better cost and clinical outcomes?

Five years down the road, the insurance broker’s role in health insurance may be diminished, largely due to exchanges, consultants say. The role of the broker will change greatly in the process, they say, but in the near term it is a mixed story.

The Treasury Department says it will delay enforcement of an ACA prohibition relating to standalone health reimbursement arrangements until July 1.

Giving people more time to sign up for health coverage could increase costs.

Obama touts new enrollment estimates via Facebook video.

Former president Bill Clinton once conveyed messages of hope by referring to a small town by the same name, and the place of his birth, in Arkansas. Once again, hope springs eternal in the Natural State – this time for preserving and advancing a model that other conservative regions could emulate in crafting a viable political alternative to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

The definition of wellness seems to be broadening, with benefits such as vacation days, community volunteering and workplace celebrations taking the stage as top wellness initiatives,

CMS has extended the Feb. 15 ACA open enrollment deadline after technical glitches prevented some individuals from signing up for health care coverage over the weekend.

Private exchange technology platforms are the cornerstone of the new benefits administration market.

Cost of health care, confusion over eligibility cited as top reasons for not seeking health coverage, survey says.

As many brokerages offer a private exchange to their clients, carriers who run their own are working extra hard to educate customers about their offerings, says Lisa Feddema, director, exchange management, Health Care Service Corp.