Private benefit exchanges

Vermont is the first state to divulge rates for public health insurance exchanges. EBA spoke with Mark Larson, commissioner of the department of Vermont health access.

Willis North America announces the creation of its own private exchange and InsureXSolutions adds ancillary benefits to its existing product list.

Mercer’s private exchange now has more than 20 carriers signed on to provide benefits, including dental, vision, life and disability products. Find out what carriers were added.

Mercer has announced an initial group of insurance carriers that will offer benefits through Mercer Marketplace, the company’s private benefits exchange for employers’ active employees and their families.

EBA Exclusive: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services took a firm stand on the discussion after a U.S. Senate HELP Committee hearing Thursday in Washington.

The emerging private HIX model for active employee populations will learn valuable lessons about how this approach has been applied to the retiree marketplace in recent years. One issue worth closer examination involves the prospect of hosting an off-cycle benefits enrollment.

Can’t decide which way to go on a public or private health insurance exchange, or how those two models even differ? Stumped by the merits of a single-carrier vs. multi-carrier exchange? Want to know which of the industry’s many players will turn out to be the right HIX partner?

A close observer of the health care consumerism movement was somewhat surprised by the reaction to his bold prediction that a proposed elimination of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) from private health exchanges for most active employees would sabotage this model.

It is estimated there are more than 100 private exchanges in existence, with each one promoting unique or distinguishing characteristics in a crowded marketplace. Given the enormity of services offered to employers of many shapes and sizes, there are bound to be some conflicting claims that require an asterisk to eliminate any confusion for prospective customers.

Sam Smith, a member of California’s SHOP exchange advisory group and president-elect of CAHU, predicts a bright future for adviser involvement in PPACA’s state health insurance.

Buck Consultants is the latest benefit and consulting firm to form a private exchange. The move aims to reduce employer uncertainty about 2014 by reducing costs and increasing employee health care options.

Mercer is one of the latest companies to enter the private exchange game, and the consulting giant gave employers an opportunity to check out the service during a conference call Thursday. Company executives revealed some of those specifics during the call, especially during the Q&A period for the audience.

What employers and brokers need to know and do to success under the new health care reform model.

With the core of PPACA set to begin in 2014, employers need to start making decisions now. UBA CEO Thom Mangan says that while the “pay” option might be worth considering, there are strong reasons why employers should look carefully at all of their options and do their best to calculate the actual outcomes of each.

EBA editor Elizabeth Galentine on how 2013 is shaping up to be year of the health exchange

With PPACA implementation in full swing, NAHU, NAIFA, IIABA, CIAB talk exclusively with EBA on 2012 and looking toward 2013.