Insurance regulators in Oregon and Alaska now think Moda Health Plan Inc. has a shot at raising the cash it needs to keep its health insurance operations stable for the rest of the year. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development have agreed to orders that let Moda […]
Category: News
The ACA: Know your number
Commentary: When it comes to benefits management, the most important number for any small to mid-sized business to know is how many full-time employees plus full-time equivalent employees it averaged in calendar year 2014. This solitary, unassuming number is the primary determining factor regarding: 1. If the employer is subject to Affordable Care Act employer […]
House votes unanimously to repeal ACA small group market expansion
In a unanimous vote, the House passed legislation today that would rescind the Affordable Care Act’s expanded definition of a small employer. The bipartisan bill has had strong support from employers and benefit industry insiders who feared the expansion could lead to premium increases and jeopardize the ability for small and mid-sized businesses to compete […]
Democrat proposes PPACA small-group definition alternatives
A House Democrat has proposed two alternatives to H.R. 1624, a bill that would let each state decide whether to set the maximum size of a small group at 50 employees or 100 employees. Rep. Fran Pallone, D-N.J, says he would like to see Congress adopt a bill postponing the effective date of the small-group […]
Support heats up for Cadillac tax repeal
Commentary: I’ve learned a lot in recent months about the importance of civic responsibility. A vacant church property in my largely residential neighborhood has been sold to a private developer who is determined to tear down the church building and erect in its place a six-story housing development for college students. Community members have rallied, […]
Workers shouldering bigger health cost burden
Employees are increasingly bearing the burden of higher employer-sponsored health plan costs, as employers revise plan designs to shift costs from the premiums that they pay to the deductibles paid by employees. Overall, however, health plan costs appear to be better managed than in the past, with the exception of prescription drug costs. These are among […]
Don’t get the Medicare equation wrong: What employers should know
Many employers are providing employees with financial wellness benefits to improve their personal balance sheets. The objective, similar to physical wellness programs, is assisting employees to achieve well-managed financial lives so they will be more focused and productive at work. However, these programs may not be effective if they are not relevant to the demographic […]
IRS unveils health care page for large employers
The new ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers page on IRS.gov features information and resources for employers of all sizes on how the health care law may affect them if they fit the definition of an applicable large employer. The page includes such sections as trends and resources for ALEs; how to determine if you are […]
Health care premiums up, employers look for Cadillac tax curbing measures
If an employer says they don’t have concerns about the Affordable Care Act’s looming excise tax set to go into effect in 2018, they’re probably fibbing. One in five employers with 200 or more employees say their health plans will exceed the threshold limits which begin in 2018, according to the latest report from the […]
Many employees regret choosing high deductible plans
Are U.S. employees at last beginning to realize that insurance premiums may not be the best, or only, way to pick a health plan? An Aflac study suggests that is exactly what is happening. As enrollment time rolls around, Alfac reports that while most employees continue to evaluate plans based upon premiums, more are starting […]