Practice and client management

Consolidation in the health insurance industry holds both positives and negatives for employer-sponsored health plans, but employers shouldn’t expect to see any major savings resulting from the Aetna-Humana merger until at least 2017, say industry experts.

Aetna’s purchase of Humana confirms analyst predictions of continued consolidation as carriers vie for market share, a trend industry experts fear will limit choice and force brokers to reinvent their business approach.

Aetna Inc. agrees to buy Humana Inc., in a deal poised to be the biggest ever in the health-insurance industry.

As small employers shift from group to individual coverage, private exchanges can be a useful tool to keep brokers competitive and maximize profits during the transition.

The merger of Willis and Towers Watson is likely just one of many to come in the next few years, as the Affordable Care Act and other factors continue to change the landscape of the business of health care, industry experts agree.

Standing out from the competition, maintaining healthy prospects and offering essential solutions can help attract prospective buyers.

Commentary: Let’s stop celebrating the financial merger of two faceless giants, and focus instead on the real work that agents, brokers and consultants are doing every day to make a difference, says adviser David C. Smith.

The DOL’s proposed definition of fiduciary advice remains worrisomely broad, according to financial and legal experts who are calling upon the industry to flood the DOL with letters of concern about the rule’s possible implications.

Plan sponsors’ loyalty to their retirement service providers is slightly down year-over-year, presenting an opportunity for advisers to advocate for their clients.

Commentary: High on everyone’s list of questions in any potential transaction is: What is the price or value given to my business? But the more important question is: What are the terms?

The landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision being cheered as a step toward equality is also poised to carry unintended consequences, including some that could make life harder for employees, gay and straight alike.

Commentary: The ACA is “unremovable,” says columnist Nelson Griswold, so advisers must learn how to leverage it.

Commentary: Chances of the industry ever being the way it was prior to the ACA are nonexistent, which we should all hail as a good thing, says columnist Wendy Keneipp following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold ACA subsidies.

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.

Commentary: By expanding our thinking and embracing technology, we have the opportunity to improve our efficiency, reduce costs and enhance the client experience. What are you going to implement in this brave new world, asks EBA Advisory Board member Andy Torelli.

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.

Commentary: Many salespeople who “do everything right” underperform. With so much focus on personal qualities and skills, the sales process doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

Commentary: Billions of dollars in federal subsidies are on the line in the Supreme Court’s highly anticipated King v. Burwell decision expected any day now. What does that mean for the benefits industry?

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.

Emerging technology platforms, an aging workforce and a turbulent regulatory environment in the employee benefits field can either be perceived as problems or opportunities. Considering I sold everything that I had to start my own practice, I opt for the latter. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “An aging population and changes in federal regulation may increase demand for agents who sell health and long-term care insurance.” It has been widely talked about that nearly…