State health insurance exchanges

Advisers serve on the front line in educating employers about these platforms, says Ron Goldstein, head of CaliforniaChoice.

With the first presidential debate taking place tonight, now’s a good time to look at where the presidential candidates stand on the Affordable Care Act, prescription drug costs, Medicare and more.

Importing provider networks, increasing deductibles and cost sharing are just a few proposed ways to make private benefit exchanges more efficient.

Insurer will reevaluate its approach to the Affordable Care Act after suffering significant losses under the U.S. program and will pull out of Dallas and New Jersey markets next year.

Importing provider networks, increasing deductibles and cost sharing are just a few proposed ways to make private benefit exchanges more efficient.

The insurer warned the government in a July letter that it would be financially forced to step back its participation in the individual insurance exchanges if the DOJ tried to block its $28 billion purchase of Humana. Guess what happened, writes Max Nisen.

Aetna will stop selling individual ACA plans next year in 11 of the 15 states where it had been participating in the program, joining other major insurers that have pulled out of the government-run markets in the face of mounting losses.

More than half are optimistic that the marketplaces will be an alternative to coverage they now offer their pre-Medicare-eligible retirees by 2018.

With the market condensing to a few big carriers, such as Anthem, adviser Vinnie Daboul predicts the health insurance system is entering a new phase.

With the market condensing to a few big carriers, such as Anthem, adviser Vinnie Daboul predicts the health insurance system is entering a new phase.

Plan sponsors must stay ahead of emerging trends or risk exposing themselves to additional costs, says Hodges-Mace’s Eric Helman.

Advisers must stay ahead of emerging trends or risk exposing clients to additional costs, says Hodges-Mace’s Eric Helman.

To reduce healthcare prices and improve care, a better approach would be to invest in technology that makes cost and quality data more transparent, says adviser Mark Gaunya.

To reduce healthcare prices and improve care, a better approach would be to invest in technology that makes cost and quality data transparent to consumers, says Mark Gaunya.

In another ACA irony, carriers seek to discourage sales of money losing policies by denying consumers the professional advice they need, says NAHU president Don Goldmann.

Citing increased risk and low profits, the health insurer says it will exit a ‘handful’ of state exchanges.

These tax breaks for employees account for the lion’s share of what the federal government spends on healthcare for Americans under age 65.

These tax breaks for employees account for the lion’s share of what the federal government spends on healthcare for Americans under age 65.

While the presidential election is still a year away, employers must be mindful of smaller elections that take place across the state and municipal levels. Elections, however small, may trigger an employer’s obligations to give employees leave to vote.

Commentary: Hundreds asked adviser Eric Silverman for the secret to his prospect-winning thank you note. Now, he shares the formula to his success.