COMMENTARY: Use gamification to engage workers in wellness

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published June 16, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Like most baby boomers, I grew up playing board games. My favorites were Monopoly, Risk and Chess. While some of you might think of these as “bored” games — intended to keep us kids from getting bored on a rainy day — they sparked such sibling rivalry in our house that we would have marathon matches that sometimes carried on for days.

Employers should avoid discrimination in evaluations

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published June 16, 2013 - 6:00am CST

There is a potential to violate anti-discrimination laws when employers require job candidates to undergo post-offer physical ability testing, experts say.

Employers put job seekers' physical ability to the test

By: Roberto Ceniceros

Published June 16, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Post-recession hiring and rising workers compensation costs are driving employer interest in physical ability testing, which proponents say reduces the chances of worker injuries by evaluating a potential employee's ability to do the job.

Employers need to communicate health reform changes to workers

By: Matt Dunning

Published June 16, 2013 - 6:00am CST

As mid-market employers adapt their health benefit plans to new realities under the health care reform law, developing benefit communication strategies that inform and engage employees is more critical than ever, experts say.

Ways to improve employee benefits communications

Published June 16, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Benefit management experts' recommendations for improving employee benefit communications

Information leak shows government contractor liability exposures: Paper

By: Judy Greenwald

Published June 14, 2013 - 10:36am CST

Errors and omissions, directors and officers and employment practices liability insurance all may come into play in instances where employees leak confidential government information, broker Lockton Cos. L.L.C. says in a white paper.

Focus on mid-market commercial lines fosters broker resilience: Study

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published June 14, 2013 - 10:26am CST

Agents and brokers who focus on commercial lines products for small and midsize businesses are better positioned to survive and prosper than those who primarily sell personal lines products, a report by New York-based research firm McKinsey & Co. has found.

Record enrollment in Mass. health insurance exchange

By: Jerry Geisel

Published June 13, 2013 - 2:54pm CST

Enrollment in Massachusetts' Commonwealth Care health insurance exchange has hit another all-time high, with 206,393 covered lives in May.

California official recommends Anthem units be barred from exchange

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published June 13, 2013 - 2:41pm CST

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is recommending that Anthem Blue Cross Life & Health Insurance Co. and Anthem Blue Cross of California be barred from participating in the Small Business Health Options Program exchange, which is to begin enrollment in October.

Bill to separate agent compensation from medical loss ratios introduced

By: Mark A. Hofmann

Published June 13, 2013 - 2:31pm CST

A bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives to clarify the treatment of agent compensation under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is winning praise from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.

Large employers won't cut worker hours due to PPACA: Towers Watson

By: Jerry Geisel

Published June 13, 2013 - 1:56pm CST

Nearly all large employers are not considering reducing the number of hours employees work in response to the health care reform law, according to a survey released Thursday.

Digital Benefit Advisors launches private insurance exchange

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published June 13, 2013 - 1:35pm CST

Digital Benefit Advisors Inc., a division of Atlanta-based Digital Insurance Inc., is launching a private insurance exchange to help employers of all sizes control rising health benefits costs through the use of defined contributions and consumerism.

Impose no rules limiting stop-loss insurance: Lawmakers to Obama

By: Jerry Geisel

Published June 13, 2013 - 12:24pm CST

Two Republican lawmakers have asked top Obama administration regulators for assurance that they will not issue rules affecting the use of stop-loss insurance.

U.S. charges 8 for cyber crime targeting banks, government

Published June 13, 2013 - 11:00am CST

(Reuters) — Federal prosecutors in New Jersey on Wednesday unveiled criminal charges against eight people accused of trying to steal at least $15 million from U.S. customers in an international cyber crime scheme targeting accounts at 15 financial institutions and government agencies.

Brokerage Lockton opens Boston office

By: Kate Shepherd

Published June 12, 2013 - 1:36pm CST

Brokerage Lockton Cos. L.L.C. has expanded its commercial insurance operations by opening an office in Boston.

Employers up estimated costs of health care reform law: Mercer

By: Jerry Geisel

Published June 12, 2013 - 1:19pm CST

Employers are upping their estimates of how much the health care reform law will increase costs, according to a Mercer L.L.C. survey released Wednesday.

Mid-market firms lag in adopting property risk best practices: Analysis

By: Matt Dunning

Published June 12, 2013 - 12:45pm CST

Mid-market companies slightly lag the national average in their adoption of property risk management best practices, according to an Advisen Ltd. analysis.

USI names South Florida employee benefits practice leader

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published June 12, 2013 - 12:25pm CST

Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.-based USI Insurance Services Inc. has named Susan L. White as employee benefits practice leader for South Florida.

Marsh sets up unit for financial institution credit and political risk

By: Bill Kenealy

Published June 12, 2013 - 12:03pm CST

Marsh Inc. has established a unit that will help financial institutions manage their exposures through credit and political risk insurance.

Hartford management liability policy targets small, midsize firms

By: Kate Shepherd

Published June 12, 2013 - 11:50am CST

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. has launched Private Choice Ovation, a comprehensive management liability policy with updated and expanded coverage options.

Willis launches all-risks insurance for commercial crime

By: Kate Shepherd

Published June 12, 2013 - 11:23am CST

Willis Group Holdings P.L.C. has unveiled a new policy, CRIMEstar, that offers commercial crime coverage using all-risks wording.

Most nonprofits operate without a risk manager: Survey

By: Mike Tsikoudakis

Published June 11, 2013 - 12:29pm CST

Most nonprofit organizations operate without a dedicated risk manager, according to a survey by insurance brokerage Crystal & Co.

William Gallagher launches wholesale insurer Wright Insurance Brokers

By: Bill Kenealy

Published June 11, 2013 - 11:27am CST

Boston-based William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers Inc. has launched a wholly owned wholesale property/casualty operation called Wright Insurance Brokers.

Ace launches contractors OCIP for U.S. health care clients

By: Kate Shepherd

Published June 10, 2013 - 2:50pm CST

Ace Ltd. is launching a new contractors pollution liability owner-controlled insurance program specifically for the U.S. health care industry, the insurer announced Monday.