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Jeri Hawthorne, CHRO at Aflac, breaks down the gap between employer-provided benefits and employees' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heath insurance brokers and industry suppliers have been courting the C-suite in hopes of deepening their footprint with self-insured employer clients. Lemer notes that the auto dealership is very intentional with every employee interaction, which correlates to customer interaction. [Extracted from the article]

These programs, coupled with a robust communications plan, can encourage participants to use their health plans more wisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christine Cooper, CEO of Aequum, explains why premiums are on the rise and how employers can combat it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If a married client couple lives in a separate property state and they have unused losses carried over from investments in a joint account, what will happen to these carried-over losses if one of the spouses dies? How much is a married client couple allowed to deduct in net capital losses per year against their ordinary income if they are filing taxes jointly? • 25% of the carried-over losses will be erased • 50% of the carried-over losses will be erased • 75% of the carried-over losses will be erased • None of the losses will be erased; the remaining spouse will get the full benefit of carrying over the losses From: 10 pro tips for advisors working with private foundations 4. [Extracted from the article]

Several charts and graphs are presented that show trends in health plans for employees in the U.S. in 2008, including medical premium increases, average annual premiums for single and family coverage and average annual firm and employee contributions to health coverage.

The author discusses how health care (HC) reforms could affect the way financial benefit advisers do business in the U.S. He shares his perspectives about the provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which mandates the part of premiums insurance carriers must spend on HC. He also comments on the way brokers in the small - and medium-sized markets are being compensated.

The article relates the story of two companies, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and AZCO Inc., which managed to keep their health insurance premiums from increasing in 2011. The companies employed similar strategies to control health insurance costs, though they operate in different industries. Keller is a publishing and services firm that offers services to a variety of markets while AZCO is a contractor in heavy industrial construction. Wellness is an integral part in Keller's company culture.

This article assesses the impact that the health care reform law would have on the dental benefits market in the U.S. It references a survey which shows that people with employer-sponsored family dental insurance would drop their dental benefit if premiums were taxed. It commends the proposed tax exemption for dental insurance. The article also notes that dental plans and dentists are disappointed with the health care reform law.

The article focuses on the changes in the Part B of Medicare for high-income retirees in the U.S. Doctor bills, laboratory tests and other outpatient services for which participants pay a monthly premium are covered by the Part B. High income participants will pay more than 25% of the cost due to the provisions in the 2003 Medicare Act. The estimated monthly cost of the standard Part B premium will increase from $93.50 in 2007 to $112.50 by 2009.

2. Once a student earns income beyond FAFSA levels, what percentage of that money must go toward the expected family contribution for college? 5. Which IRS ruling allows for lump-sum annuity payments from employers to retirees who have already begun annuity payments (otherwise known as the lump-sum window?) IShares Short Term National Muni Bond ETF. [Extracted from the article]

Provides information on the findings of a survey regarding the change in the employee share of health care costs in the U.S. Rate of increase in health insurance premiums in 2003; Average cost of a group benefit plan premium; Economic implication of the change in health care costs for employees.

May 27, 2021 BNY Mellon plans to use mundane but voluminous transactions like utility bills as a primary use case for real-time payments. BNY Mellon's rollout comes as PNC works on a bill-pay feature that powers real-time payments, and an almost simultaneous request for payment, disbursement and account availability. [Extracted from the article]

It's time to choose: status quo or disruption: Advisers must choose either to actively disrupt the status quo or to support it. Only by disrupting the status quo and applying next-generation healthcare and benefits strategies can brokers and advisers begin to reclaim control over employer health plans and reduce the cost of healthcare for employers and employees. With control, these advisers are leveraging other disrupters to begin to cut the cost of healthcare by managing the supply chain of healthcare services that employees purchase. [Extracted from the article]

How two very different types of employees can reap the benefits of using health savings accounts as a way to save for the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost one in five adults selected a HDHP with an HSA in 2017, up from just 4% a decade ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewal rates in 2017 exceed five-year average, suggest employees shouldering greater cost-shifting burden, according to UBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of Monday, small employers looking to offer tax-free plans to cover workers' insurance premiums and healthcare expenses will have to follow extensive new compliance rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare groups say the move would destabilize the health insurance market and raise premiums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how employers need assistance from employee benefit advisers to navigate the private exchange marketplace in the U.S. Topics covered include the broker's main role of bringing the exchange solution to clients, the very little innovation in health insurance as premiums continue to rise, and the understanding that health care reform was about access and affordability.

The article discusses rise in premiums for the U.S. Affordable Care Act expected in 2017 in various U.S. states led by Arizona due to rise in medical costs as warned by Cynthia Cox, associate director of health and private insurance for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

The article offers the author's insights on the importance of health care savings account (HSA) in the future health care expenses of employees. The author discusses the 10th anniversary of HSA since its foundation in 2004 and the average savings by both employees and employers in HSA-qualified health plan premiums. She also mentions the importance of HSA in the health care enrollment process and growth of account holders.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of charging lower health insurance premiums to nonsmokers and high ones for smokers in the U.S.

The article discusses the increase in retirement savings in the U.S. due to increasing medical costs. According to the First Command Financial Behaviors Index, the average monthly savings for healthcare costs during retirement increased to 245 dollars in the U.S. in July 2010, a 42 percent increase from the previous year. According to a study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a couple retiring at the age of 65 in 2018 will need more than 1 million dollars to cover Medicare premiums.

Statistics related to employee healthcare benefits in the U.S. are given, including the increasing expensive premiums, alternative health plans, and building and designing a unique plan.

This year, for the first time ever, employers will begin receiving notices from the Federally Facilitated Marketplace indicating that one of their employees signed up for health coverage through the Marketplace and received advanced premium subsidies for that coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article relates the story of two U.S. companies which have succeeded in managing health care costs but had not been able to increase employee health care premiums since 2004. The first firm, referred to as Company A, established an onsite health clinic as well as implemented a consumer-driven health plan. The second enterprise, called Company B, achieved total cost-avoidance of over 34% through its outcomes-based health promotion program. Company A and B have contained such costs by concentrating their efforts on reducing employee health risks.

The article focuses on the need for U.S. employers to curb the rate of obesity among employers to reduce insurance costs. Based on the 2008 statistics, she says that Colorado was the only state with obesity rate of below 20%. She stresses that obesity is one of the risk factor of various diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, cancers and gall bladder disease. She urges employers to conduct wellness programs that would encourage employees to be conscious of what they eat, exercise, reduce weight and stop smoking.

The article suggests guidelines for evaluating a Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health insurance claims administrator in the U.S. It says an experienced administrator is expected to have sufficient expertise to advise when an issue really needs legal attention. Also noted are services that a full-service COBRA third party administrator (TPA) will provide, one of which is to collect and reconcile premiums. It stresses the need for due diligence when choosing an administrator.

The article reports on a modest increase in health insurance premiums in the U.S. in 2008, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Education Trust. The survey of about 2,000 employers shows that premiums rose a modest 5 percent this year, compared to 6.1 percent in 2007. The percentage of employers offering health benefits increased slightly from 60 percent to 63 percent this year.

The article reports on forecasts by Hewitt Associates that health maintenance organization (HMO) premium rates would increase by 11.8% in 2009. This shows an increase lower than the 13.2% prediction in 2007, However, rates will still be higher than inflation and health care cost trends. According to Jeff Smith, senior consultant and co-leader of Hewitt's HMO rate analysis project, more companies are expected to veer away from traditional employer strategies.

Reports on the status of employee health care cost in the U.S. as of October 2004, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust. Increase in employer-based health insurance premiums; Outlook on health care costs; Factors that influence health care costs and health insurance premiums.

Reports on an increase in the health insurance premiums of federal government employees, according to a report issued by the U.S. Office of Personal Management (OPM). Factors that affected premium rates; Strategies developed by OPM to help employees cope with the increase; Details on the adoption of health reimbursement arrangements by the American Postal Workers Union.

Focuses on the impact of the conditions in the stop-loss health insurance market on self-insured employers. Increase in insurance prices; Need for the evaluation of third-party administrators and benefits brokers; Factors which influenced the state of the insurance market.

Pinnacle employees who are screened and take part The wellness program is popular, with 84% of employees. [Extracted from the article]

"Health care prices are increasing at levels that significantly exceed overall inflation," an expert warns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There can be benefits in enrolling simultaneously, but there are also incentives to consider in waiting on Social Security, instead of claiming benefits at 65 when Medicare kicks in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premiums appear to be stabilizing finally and even dropping in some states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently announced mergers of four of the nation's largest health insurance companies threatens to decrease competition in multiple markets, a threat the American Medical Association says will exceed federal antitrust guidelines and warrants regulatory review. Experts agree brokers will need to work with employer clients to find creative solutions to work with limited plan choices and keep premium costs down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doctors think insurance cards in Texas that identify HIX enrollees could serve as a reminder to pay their monthly premiums and reduce the number of unpaid bills. Critics, however, counter that they are akin to a Scarlet letter and could be used to deny treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the Supreme Court affirming that the Affordable Care Act's current structure won't change, health insurance IT pros can focus on other pressing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite nearly 9-in-10 enrollees through California's state-run public exchange receiving a subsidy to help pay for their insurance, almost half say it is difficult to afford the monthly premium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses how the U.S. Supreme Court case King v. Burwell could affect the stability of the health insurance market. Topics covered include the legality of subsidies for people buying health insurance on the federal exchange under the Affordable Care Act, the affordability of health insurance premiums, and how a ruling to invalidate tax credits could impact industry stakeholders.

The article presents several statistics showing the faster increase in health care premiums than median incomes for employees 65 and below from 2003 to 2013 based on a Commonwealth Fund report.

The article reports that customers of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, who prefer to re-enroll in insurance plans would automatically default to cheaper coverage during sign-up periods. Topics discussed include the number of people covered by Obamacare insurance plans through October 15, 2014, an increase in premiums by 10 percentage on average in 2015 according to consulting firm Avalere Health, and an increase in the number of people insured under Obamacare in 2015.

The article reports that Covered California expects health care premiums to increase an average of 4.2% in 2015. It notes that the said increase for the largest state-run public exchange is modest compared with other proposed increase in premiums. It also notes that the price increases are similar to those implements by employer-sponsored health plans.

The article explains the impact of the Walmart part-time worker healthcare coverage removal towards benefit advising to clients on health insurance. Topics discussed include Walmart Stores revoking healthcare coverage to workers working below 30 hours per week due to rising costs since the Affordable Care Act implementation, the importance of empathy when assisting employers on healthcare cost concerns, and cost-effective offerings for part-time workers like subsidies and low monthly premiums.

The article discusses the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin case EEOC v. Orion Energy Systems which deals with the wellness program. Topics include EEOC's definition of wellness requirements under the Affordable Care Act's and Americans with Disabilities Act, Orion's wellness program which impose penalty for paying 100 percent of the health insurance premiums on employees who did not participate in the program, and two forms of wellness programs such as activity-only programs.