Private benefit exchanges

Linking health and wealth at the workplace, the platform accelerates the need for brokers to provide employers with a holistic strategy.

Employers this year seen turning more to advisers for health incentive and private exchange guidance

More employers embracing growing benefit distribution alternatives in an effort to reduce employee healthcare costs.

Bundled disease management programs on a private exchange may boost employee engagement better than carved out programs.

In the three years since private health insurance exchanges have reshaped the landscape for managing active employee populations, attention has shifted from enrollment numbers to changes in employee behavior.

Attention has shifted from improving enrollment numbers to changing employee behavior on these fast-growing delivery systems.

The wealth management company launches an online benefit marketplace, seeing an opportunity to serve small to midsized employers that are increasingly looking for health and retirement alternatives.

Joe Laurin, president of Fidelity Health Marketplace, discusses how the company’s newly launched private exchange will integrate with its 401(k) recordkeeping business.

This move sends a signal to advisers that things are no longer business as usual, says Joe Markland.

Fidelity is introducing a shopping website for health insurance and other employee benefits called Fidelity Health Marketplace.

The Private Benefit Exchange Index increased for the sixth straight month and operators expect the numbers to jump now that open enrollment season is here.

The work ahead can seem daunting for those running a private exchange. Nonetheless, they have big visions for the future that come with a fair amount of patience as the employer-sponsored benefit system adjusts.

Bring many of the industry’ leading minds together with brokers and advisers from across the country who are eager to learn and share insights on the latest market trends and best practices, and you’ve got some of the year’s most thought-provoking conversations. For those who missed out, here are the highlights from EBA’s 2015 conferences.

The provider of benefit outsourcing solutions adds new tools to its private benefit exchange in collaboration with ConnectedHealth.

Private benefit exchanges expect massive growth in the next few years. These executives from all parts of the industry are leaders in the space, forecasting trends and serving as ushers for what some are calling a new era of health care.

Traffic to company’s private benefit exchange in first week of open enrollment exceeds entire first month of 2015 season.

After massive growth from 2014 to 2015, the carrier expects lives covered to double again in 2016 as open enrollment begins on the carrier’s private exchanges, says Patty Fontneau, president of Cigna's private exchange business. Fontneau discusses the structure of Cigna’s exchange and the distribution model is here to stay.

To date, adoption of private benefit exchanges by employers has been modest, but Holley Maher, partner at St. Louis-area brokerage MRCT, sees them as a highly relevant solution. And, despite issues Healthcare.gov has caused for brokers and consumers alike, the site is changing the health care landscape, says Maher, whose company operates its Smart Benefits Marketplace using bswift technology.

The Private Benefit Exchange Index was up again last month and all indications are that it will increase more quickly in the months to come.

Insurers believe value-added services such as tools and advocacy programs, in addition to being an incumbent carrier, make a consumer choose them. But, a new analysis reveals what really drives choice.