Everything from filling prescriptions to asking primary care questions can be done via online or over the phone, which can reduce medical claims, but only if employees are engaged in their plan.

Devices and applications are impacting health care, but it’s crucial not to overlook the human aspect of technology, says Healthways’ Chris Dancy.

Enrollment season is upon us, making it prime time for benefits carriers to unveil new and different ways to engage employees and help them make their benefits decisions.

Brian Heckert, the new Million Dollar Round Table president, shares the story of how he entered the industry, as well as what he hopes to accomplish and insights on other issues facing the retirement industry.

Commentary: A new opportunity has emerged, and we have entered another inflection point in an era of change. What each of us does next could very well determine our long-term destiny, says Digital’s Mike Sullivan.

Zenefits announced today it is offering small and mid-sized employers an ACA compliance tool for free. Some industry experts say the offering raises the bar again for competing benefit brokers, but others claim it is too little, too late.

While Uber is fighting hard on all fronts to prove its drivers are correctly characterized as independent contractors, there are examples of other successful app-driven on-demand start-ups that have either converted contractors to employee status or characterized all workers as employees from the get-go.

Fitness device maker Fitbit now will enter into HIPAA business associate agreements with corporations, health plans and self-insured employers that want to offer its wellness platform to employees.

Workers value personalized benefits information yet few employers have implemented a tailored communications approach.

Commentary: Data breaches, cost transparency and telehealth rank among the Health Research Institute’s top trends plan sponsors need to pay attention to.

The IRS says employers can now do a trial run of their electronic form filing for reporting requirements under the ACA, giving nervous employers and their benefit advisers a way to test for readiness in advance of the reporting deadlines.

After a surge in consumer interest in wearable technology, which reached its peak in January, demand has been slowing for wearables over the past six months of 2015.

Employers cite cyber threats as a top risk to their company, creating an opportunity for benefit advisers to quell their fears with education and product knowledge.

As the health care landscape continues to evolve, the expanding menu of options has made navigating benefits a tricky endeavor for employees and employers alike. But one new partnership aims to help curb the confusion.

Employers looking to attract top talent are using social media to make the employer brand the focus of their recruiting efforts.

Health and wellness startup HealthiestYou promotes productivity in the workplace and enables parents to conveniently meet with doctors, according to brokers who have firsthand experience.

Commentary: Why exclude an individual if they want to sign up for short-term disability on their Xbox or refrigerator’s Wi-Fi enabled display? This is what people expect in 2015.

Jiff CEO Derek Newell discusses the role data analytics plays in reducing health care costs as well as the company’s relationship with benefit brokers.

It’s increasingly clear that employers must deliver a consumer-grade experience to employees on many levels, including benefits communication.

While the HR tech platform Zenefits offers a solution that addresses certain employer pain points, it also asks employers to dump their current broker. A new tech solution promises the same benefits without asking employers to sever their current broker relationship.