Insurance

The Senate has begun debate on a controversial effort to redefine a full-time employee under the Affordable Care Act from one who works 30 hours per week to one who works 40 hours per week — a move that could release many employers from having to offer health care coverage to their employees.

While employers deal with ACA reporting requirements and communication campaigns that explain the public health insurance exchanges, some have turned to health care technology startups in hopes of elevating the open-enrollment experience for their employees.

The tool, designed to help covered employees find doctors, understand health care finance, and meet health goals. is being piloted JPMorgan Chase and will expand to a select number of U.S. employers in 2015.

A useful platform that protects employee information is critical; is your firm prepared to meet client demands?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is adding security tools to Healthcare.gov after reports last week raised concerns about personal information shared on the government’s website to buy health insurance.

When it comes to private exchange operators, Array Health differs from most, in that the technology company powers many insurers’ private exchanges, including Highmark Blue Shield in Pittsburgh and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. The company’s CEO shares how private exchanges are changing the way health care is sold in the United States.

As the Affordable Care Act’s Cadillac tax looms, a majority of organizations in the U.S. are looking ahead to ways they can cut down on the costs of providing health care.

Understanding where employees have gaps in their retirement literacy can help employers craft better education programs.

A new guide is available to help employers ensure their health plan vendors stay compliant with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and includes updated information on the ACA.

Several state-run public exchanges got a shot in the arm from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which awarded $187 million in grants to help develop their respective operational visions before federal funding runs out.

Russ Blakely’s partnership with a Tennessee physician network is strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and saving scores of money in the process

North American employers may take some – but not much – comfort in the knowledge that medical trend rates are a lot worse in other parts of the world.

In State of the Union, the president says he won’t ‘refight past battles’ on the ACA

John R. Graham, a senior fellow of the National Center for Policy Analysis, recently lauded the elimination of taxpayers’ liability for risk corridors made available to health insurers participating in the public exchanges.

Lack of transparency and confusion for plan participants are just two reasons white-labeling 401(k) plan investments is a bad idea.

President Obama will use tonight’s State of the Union address to revive previously announced proposals intended both to spur greater retirement savings and to limit retirement plan tax benefits for higher income earners.

This relatively inexpensive voluntary benefit is not only highly-appreciated by employees, it can act as a differentiator in a benefit adviser’s sales portfolio.

Growth of high-deductible health plans continues to outpace other medical plan types – even in the face of lower employer contributions to health savings accounts.

Commentary: Boomers are redefining what it means to be aging in the workforce, and redefining senior benefits in the process.

Potential fixes to Affordable Care Act exchange enrollment and tweaks to the law itself are recommended by industry insiders at Washington panel.