Employee Benefit News

Most states fail transparency scorecard

The report card, developed by Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Health Care Incentives Improvement Initiative (HCI³), examined multiple transparency factors on a 100-point scale.

Insurers unprepared for climate change

The insurance industry is not very prepared for climate change, according to “Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey: 2012 Findings & recommendations,” from the Ceres Coalition.

Why small businesses should keep offering health care

In this new age of health insurance, VSP Global’s CEO provides some tips on what pitfalls to avoid and how to lower cost while still managing care.

Uninsured Americans get hit with biggest hospital bills

By the time Astra Augustus left Virtua Memorial Hospital in New Jersey after the last of four surgeries, she’d run up about $255,000 in bills.

How to prep employers for 2014

National Financial Partners' Suzanne Spradley shares how companies should be preparing their medical plan now for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's employer mandate and answers questions ranging from tax credit availability in exchanges to concern over high-risk pools.

Fast-food calorie consumption declines in U.S., CDC says

Americans say they’re filling up less on fast food and pizza, according to a U.S. survey.

Pentagon extends same-sex benefits short of health care

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who is preparing to retire, extended benefits such as child care, commissary privileges and transportation to military bases to same-sex partners of service members.

The new age of EAPs

Its time to take a closer look at employee assistance programs .

Health account balances on the rise, but 2014 could see a dip

Americans are again taking advantage of health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements. According to new research, average account balances across the nation in 2012 were up 4% from the year before.

Oklahoma rebuts U.S. in state’s challenge to health care act

Oklahoma opposed a request by the U.S. that a judge dismiss the state’s lawsuit challenging President Obama’s 2010 health-care reform legislation.

WellPoint profit beats estimates on lower medical spending

The second-biggest U.S. health insurer’s 2013 forecast reflects “uncertainties” that include a flu outbreak, U.S. budget negotiations and implementation of President Obama’s health care overhaul.

Employers at the Intersection of Public and Private Exchanges

With the final provisions of the Affordable Care Act slated to take effect in 2014–including the implementation of public exchanges—employers are taking a hard look at the impact these changes may have on their benefit programs for 2014 and beyond, and are evaluating the possibility of engaging private exchanges.

Don’t miss this web seminar for a lively discussion on the status of public exchanges, the rapidly developing private exchange market, and what it all means to employers.

Topics of discussion will include:

• State exchanges, partnerships, and federally facilitated exchanges: their differences and the players behind them
• Critical decisions for states and the impact on employers
• Whether or not employers can offer group insurance and send low wage workers to the public exchange
• Emerging exchange models for different employer types and sizes
• Opportunities for employers within different exchange types

Speakers:

• Brett Graham
  Managing Director
  Leavitt Partners

• Don Garlitz
  Executive Director
  Exchange Solutions, bswift

Featuring:

CVS, Rite Aid see flu shot shortages amid demand surge

Two of the largest U.S. drugstore chains, said they are running short of influenza vaccines as an earlier and more severe flu season drives up demand from Michigan to New Jersey.

UnitedHealth joins Mayo Clinic in pact to improve care

UnitedHealth Group Inc., the largest U.S. provider of medical coverage, will join the Mayo Clinic in a research alliance designed to merge insurance records and medical data to find more efficient ways to deliver care.

Methods to overcome enrollment barriers

The majority of employees still report a lack of confidence in their benefit decisions after open enrollment. Trustnode CEO Kevin Dunn shares ways to improve the process and increase satisfaction with benefit choices.