A recent survey of over 400 employers reveals that employers are committed to offering health benefits to active employees, and that interest in private exchanges…
2015 Exchange Rates Impact Subsidies
With the second season of public exchange open enrollment in full swing, it is now possible to analyze changes in plan costs from year to…
More Employers Covering Maintenance Meds at 100%
More employers are treating maintenance medications, like those treating cholesterol or blood pressure, as a preventative prescription which is eligible for 100% coverage in high deductible…
SCOTUS Decision Looms Over 2015 Benefit Strategies
On November 7, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear another challenge to the Affordable Care Act. In 2012, the Court upheld the constitutionality of…
2015 Public Exchange open enrollment begins Saturday
Public exchange open enrollment will begin on Saturday November 15 for both individual and SHOP plans on healthcare.gov. The Public Exchanges allow for direct comparisons…
ACOs Improve Patient Experience
A study in the October issue of The New England Journal of Medicine found that Accountable Care Organization (ACO) contracts improved patients’ ratings of timely…
Employees in Cafeteria Plan Can Move to Exchanges Mid-Year
Until recently an employee participant in a cafeteria plan could only make mid-year changes to their elections within the plan if it fell within specific exception.…
Status Quo Health Plans Put Employers at Cadillac Tax Risk
More than half of employers with 5,000 or more employees could be liable for the Cadillac Tax in 2018 if no plan design changes are…
Employers taking steps to drive health plan value
Employers are continuing to take steps to get the most value out of their employee health plans. Responses from the 2014 Towers Watson/NBGH Employer Survey…
EEOC Wasn’t Kidding-Another ADA & GINA Lawsuit
The EEOC prioritized barriers to recruitment and hiring and emerging issues (like GINA) within its 2013-2016 enforcement plan. This latest lawsuit is a step towards…