2012 family PPO cost posted smallest increase since 2004: Milliman

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 22, 2013 - 10:08am CST

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.

Health care reform law will enable subsidies, may slash COBRA usage

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

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.

Employers seek clarity on health reform law mandate on essential benefits

By: Louise Kertesz

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

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.

Critical illness sales spike with adoption of consumer-driven health plans

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

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.

HSAs cover critical illness insurance

By: Joanne Wojcik

Published May 19, 2013 - 6:00am CST

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.

Senate bill would end 'use-it-or-lose-it' FSA rule

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 17, 2013 - 1:43pm CST

Legislation introduced in the Senate would end a decades-old Internal Revenue Service rule that requires the forfeiture of unused health care flexible spending account contributions.

House once again votes to repeal health care reform law

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 17, 2013 - 9:49am CST

For the third time, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to repeal the health care reform law, but it again looks highly unlikely that the Democrat-controlled Senate will follow suit.

Business Insurance's Benefit Manager of the Year® for 2013 named

Published May 17, 2013 - 9:15am CST

CHICAGO — Business Insurance announced Friday that Matthew Harmon, senior director of benefits at J.C. Penney Co. Inc., is the 2013 Benefit Manager of the Year^®.

Grandfathered health plans dwindling: Analysis

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 16, 2013 - 12:48pm CST

The percentage of employers with grandfathered health care plans continues to dwindle, according to a survey released Thursday.

Future health care to cost 2013 retirees $220,000: Fidelity estimate

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 16, 2013 - 11:01am CST

A 65-year-old couple retiring in 2013 without employer-provided retiree health insurance will need about $220,000 to pay future medical-related expenses, Fidelity Investments said in an analysis released Thursday.

Genetic test that saved Angelina not widely covered

By: Gale Scott, Crain's New York Business

Published May 15, 2013 - 3:10pm CST

Angelina Jolie's revelation that she had a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of getting breast cancer was hailed as a brave move by patient advocates.

Measure to repeal health care reform will be vetoed: President Obama

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 15, 2013 - 2:54pm CST

President Obama will veto legislation that would repeal the 2010 health care reform law, the administration said Wednesday.

CBO lowers health reform 'Cadillac' tax, employer penalty estimates

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 15, 2013 - 2:25pm CST

The Congressional Budget Office has nearly halved the revenue it expects the federal government to collect from employers through the health care reform law's so-called “Cadillac tax.”

JLT buys Jakarta-based health management companies

By: Sarah Veysey

Published May 14, 2013 - 9:31am CST

London-based brokerage Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C. has acquired two employee benefits businesses in Indonesia.

HHS approves new health insurance exchange coverage approach

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 14, 2013 - 9:05am CST

Utah will continue to operate its two-year-old health insurance exchange for small employers, while the federal government will start one for individuals under an agreement reached by federal and Utah officials.

Mass. health insurance exchange enrollment sets record in April

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 13, 2013 - 2:19pm CST

Enrollment in Massachusetts' Commonwealth Care health insurance exchange has hit another all-time high with 205,475 covered lives in April.

Employers turn to penalties to drive wellness participation: Study

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 09, 2013 - 2:08pm CST

Employers are taking an ever-harder line with their workforces when it comes to incentivizing engagement in health and wellness management, according to a study published Tuesday by the Midwest Business Group on Health.

Model notices for health insurance exchange notification released

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 09, 2013 - 1:33pm CST

Federal regulators on Wednesday released model notices that employers can provide to employees to satisfy a federal health care reform law requirement that employees be notified about the availability of public health insurance exchanges.

House vote to repeal health care reform law set for next week

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 09, 2013 - 10:37am CST

The House of Representatives will vote next week on legislation to repeal the 2010 health care reform law, says House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va.

CMS data shows wide variation in hospital billing

By: Rich Daly, Modern Healthcare

Published May 08, 2013 - 2:38pm CST

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released data showing U.S. hospitals charge widely varying amounts for the same services and also illustrating the significant variation in how much Medicare pays for those services.

Business Insurance BROKER BEAT Video: Keenan & Associates

Published May 08, 2013 - 6:00am CST

In this episode of Broker Beat, sponsored by FM Global, Managing Editor Paul Bomberger discusses industry trends pertinent to the West region with John Stephens, senior vice president, public agency property/casualty practice leader at Keenan & Associates.

Small-business owners sue to prevent IRS' premium subsidy expansion

By: Matt Dunning

Published May 07, 2013 - 2:43pm CST

A group of small-business owners and individuals have asked a federal judge to block the government from handing out premium subsidies for health care coverage purchased through federally run insurance exchanges.

Republicans to launch another push to repeal health care reform law

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 07, 2013 - 11:48am CST

Republican leaders in the House of Representatives say they will make a new effort to repeal the 2010 health care reform law.

Proposed IRS rules clarify health reform issues related to wellness incentives

By: Jerry Geisel

Published May 05, 2013 - 6:00am CST

Newly proposed Internal Revenue Service regulations provide employers long-sought guidance on key health reform law issues related to corporate wellness and early retiree health plans.