White House concessions to unions panned

President Obama struck a deal with labor leaders and others Jan. 14 to increase the thresholds of the proposed 40% health care plan excise tax for family plans valued at $23,000 to $24,000 and individual plans from $8,500 to $8,900, delay the effective date of the tax by five years for collectively bargained plans and public employers, and make dental and vision plans exempt starting in 2015. In return, the labor leaders agreed to support the legislation. EBA asked our health reform panelists to weigh in on the situation.

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Wellness programs’ role in retention cited by nearly half of U.S. workers

Are wellness programs an effective employee retention tool? The results of a poll released Jan. 14 suggests that they are. In all, 45% of the employees surveyed said they would stay at their jobs longer because of the wellness programs their employers offered.

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Podcast: Employees need follow up to be satisfied with CDHPs

So says OptumHealth’s Kathleen Frey. The vice president of client engagement shares why it’s crucial to keep communication on consumer-driven plans flowing long after open enrollment ends and how to avoid the common dip in satisfaction new HSA participants experience after six months on the plan.

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Industry association offers free voluntary video series

Maybe there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but worksite markers are eligible to receive something even tastier: a complimentary nine-part video course on the marketing of payroll-deducted insurance plans.

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PacificSource poised to acquire Clear One

Medical and dental insurance carrier PacificSource Health Plans recently signed a merger agreement to acquire Clear One Health Plans, Inc., which offers life, disability, dental, vision and voluntary benefits programs.

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