Practice and client management

When the government announced last summer that it was delaying the employer mandate, many employers let out a sigh of relief. They relaxed. However, now it’s time to pick up the pace again. Before you know it, 2015 and 2016 will be here and the ACA will be an everyday reality for employers.

One brokerage has gone as far as to create a position internally to only analyze claims. Why you need to get on the data bandwagon, too.

Benefit advisers should be familiar with certain grace periods when employers can avoid penalties.

IRS issues annual health spending account contribution limits and out-of-pocket maximums.

Only a little over half of small businesses understand and are prepared for the changes required by the Affordable Care Act, according to a new survey.

Commentary: Blogger Andy Torelli says after the first ACA enrollment, we’re still years away from knowing the true efficacy of the law. What can advisers learn from this limbo period?

Julie Jennings, vice president at Sylvia Group of Insurance Agencies in Darmouth, Mass., shares a day in her life.

When the public exchanges were first envisioned, some industry analysts thought most employers eventually would head for the exits on financing health benefits and simply steer their employees into the nascent online marketplace. That hasn’t happened, of course, and it’s far too early in the HIX rollout to expect any meaningful change to occur.

Commentary: Blogger Wendy Keneipp advises how to grow your business with services outside the scope of insurance you likely already have the skills for.

While no public exchange was without troubles during the first ACA open-enrollment period, one state in particular put unique efforts into its SHOP component and saw results.

As Covered California announces the rate at which agents enrolled consumers on the state-run public exchange, two different realities are emerging from agents throughout the most populous U.S. state.

Commentary: Blogger Sam Fleet reminds benefit advisers that religious institutions need benefits, too. Here are some special considerations to take into account:

While just over half of employers in a recent survey said it was very important for a private exchange to accept ERISA fiduciary responsibilities for the plans purchased on the exchange, the reality is employers cannot offload their fiduciary responsibility by moving to a private exchange, say legal experts.

Nearly half of newly insured Americans signed up for coverage off the ACA’s public marketplaces and benefit advisers have several theories as to why.

Brokers may be the best intermediary to communicate a matter of pediatric dental compliance to employers and medical carriers operating in numerous states as regulations shift.

Commentary: Blogger John Graham says to doubt everything you do with marketing. Then, follow these tips to revamp the way you take care of clients.

Taking an entirely generic approach to health plan communications is no longer a winning strategy. Personalized communications that offer a holistic look at plan benefits will do more to engage participants.

Commentary: Advisers should know about options for employers to get help in the ever-changing regulatory environment.

Viewpoint: The advising business can be deeply personal when it comes to engagement with clients, says one industry communications professional. Here are some tips to strengthen those ties.

As employers begin to look at private exchanges as a means to provide health care benefits to their active employee population questions are being raised about potential conflicts of interest for consulting firms that also act as exchange purveyors.