Smartphone activity apps as accurate as wearables
Smartphone-based activity and fitness apps are just as accurate as those found on dedicated wearable devices, and may be a more economical alternative for most people.
Technology
What the Anthem breach means to employers
The cyber attack might affect group health plans, and plan sponsors need to identify if and/or how they are affected and what they need to do in response.
Benefits Think 5 ways your employee communications can break through the noise
As employees are inundated with communication from every direction, the reality of message overload poses a challenge for employers who need to get essential information through to their workforce.
Keith Kitani
Guidespark
State insurance commissioners to probe Anthem security in hacking
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners will investigate the security posture of health insurer Anthem following its huge hacking breach.
Brokerage offers tech solution for clients dropping health coverage
Employers opting to drop or forgo health care coverage for employees are still eager for ways to help their staff manage health care needs. Benefit firm FirstPerson has unveiled a unique solution to do just that.
No broker information breached in Anthem cyber attack
Broker information was not compromised as part of a cyber-attack on Anthems IT system and the carrier says it is working with brokers to assist and inform their clients about the breach.
SEC warns about high threat of cyber attacks
Financial advisers and most stock brokerages have been the target of a cyber attack, the SEC says, and insurance brokerages can be prime targets as well.
Phoenix Companies puts wearable wellness into practice
It may still be too soon to tell how widespread wearable fitness trackers will become in corporate wellness programs but for Phoenix Companies, a life insurance and annuity company based in Hartford, Conn., wearable wellness is anything but a fad.
Even in a blizzard, teleworking offers higher productivity, employee engagement
As the first blizzard of 2015 blanketed the northeast in wind and snow this week, many employees were still plugged in and made it to work like it was any other day.
Tech startups look for piece of employer health care market
While employers deal with ACA reporting requirements and communication campaigns that explain the public health insurance exchanges, some have turned to health care technology startups in hopes of elevating the open-enrollment experience for their employees.
CMS adds security tools to Healthcare.gov
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is adding security tools to Healthcare.gov after reports last week raised concerns about personal information shared on the governments website to buy health insurance.
Private exchanges to become new normal?
When it comes to private exchange operators, Array Health differs from most, in that the technology company powers many insurers private exchanges, including Highmark Blue Shield in Pittsburgh and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. The companys CEO shares how private exchanges are changing the way health care is sold in the United States.
Researchers use Fitbits to predict back surgery recovery time
Researchers are starting to monitor physical activity through FitBit trackers to better predict recovery times following spinal surgeries.
Homeland Security warns of phishing attempts on Healthcare.gov
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a warning that cybercriminals are using phishing e-mails that appear to come from Healthcare.gov ahead of the upcoming final deadline to apply for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
VSP deal with Google Glass intact
It was just a year ago that VSP Global and Google, Inc. teamed up to offer Google Glass prescription lenses and frames at a subsidized price. But Google Glasss announcement last week that it was halting sales of the product raises questions about VSPs future role.
Obama cybersecurity plan could change healthcare processes
Proposed legislation the White House is sending to Congress to fight cyber attacks includes more protections for consumers than new requirements on companies to better protect the data that they hold.
Experts say wearable wellness alone won’t change habits
Theres little evidence that wearable fitness tracking device technology alone can change behavior and improve health for those that need it most, according to University of Pennsylvania researchers.
Private exchanges: ‘A proxy for an industry-wide revolution’
Benefitfocus' Shandon Fowler shares about his company, which provides the technology behind the private exchange offerings of top players like Aetna and Mercer.
Walgreens partners with WebMD on wellness
Walgreens and WebMD have announced a new partnership that will create a virtual wellness-coaching program on Walgreens.com.
Benefits Think Dont get caught in the benefits technology arms race
Commentary: How to win the game by exiting the technology arms race and saving money in the process. Tech expert Joe Markland shares 8 guiding principles.
Joe Markland
Nfor1