http://businessinsurance.com/section/news03 http://www.businessinsurance.com en-us Thu, 23 May 2013 03:08:54 EST 10 http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130522/NEWS03/130529933 20130522/NEWS03/130529933 Willis North America, a unit of Willis Group Holdings P.L.C., on Wednesday announced the launch of its private medical and voluntary benefits exchange. Wed, 22 May 2013 15:14:18 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130522/NEWS03/130529940 20130522/NEWS03/130529940 In our latest photo gallery, Business Insurance explores how COBRA coverage has changed and developed since COBRA's passage in 1986. Wed, 22 May 2013 11:20:25 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130522/NEWS03/130529944 20130522/NEWS03/130529944 The average increase in medical costs for families enrolled in employer-sponsored preferred provider organizations was just 6.3% in 2012, according to a report that Seattle-based Milliman Inc. released Wednesday. Wed, 22 May 2013 10:08:03 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130522/NEWS03/130529945 20130522/NEWS03/130529945 Defined benefit pension plans have consistently earned higher rates of return than defined contribution plans — predominately 401(k) plans, according to an analysis released Wednesday. Wed, 22 May 2013 08:46:30 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130520/NEWS03/130529983 20130520/NEWS03/130529983 Trucking company Arkansas Best Corp. is freezing its pension plan for nonunion employees, completing a process it began in 2006. Mon, 20 May 2013 13:25:17 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130520/NEWS03/130529988 20130520/NEWS03/130529988 The Michigan State Senate has approved legislation that would extend the state's controversial 1% tax on paid health care claims for another four years. Mon, 20 May 2013 11:38:38 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130519/NEWS03/305199981 20130519/NEWS03/305199981 The need for the COBRA safety net is expected to shrink dramatically next year when the health care reform law will enable many COBRA beneficiaries to buy federally subsidized health coverage through public insurance exchanges. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:00 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130519/NEWS03/305199984 20130519/NEWS03/305199984 Despite rules that require mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse treatment be included as essential health benefits in 2014, employers say they need more clarification on the benefits that will vary greatly by state. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:00 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130519/NEWS03/305199985 20130519/NEWS03/305199985 Employers' growing adoption of consumer-driven health plans is helping to drive sales of critical illness insurance as a supplement to help with employees' higher out-of-pocket costs, experts say. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:00 EST http://businessinsurance.com/article/20130519/NEWS03/305199986 20130519/NEWS03/305199986 Critical illness insurance is one of a handful of supplemental health insurance policies that workers covered by high-deductible health plans linked with health savings accounts can purchase under Internal Revenue Service rules. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:00 EST