Healthcare – Five Tips on How Businesses Can Prepare for the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act Reporting Requirements
by Michael Gomes • Starting in 2015, brokers need to be prepared to help clients with 50 or more full time employees in understanding their responsibilities under the new rules. Don’t let them navigate the ACA alone. The regulations are far too numerous and changeable so they’ll need your professional advice to ensure they are fully compliant.
Healthcare –Three Easy Ways to Rethink Benefit Plan Design
by Scott Sanford and Pat Sir • Brokers who have embraced telehealth and complementary benefits are growing their business, retaining clients, and most importantly, providing the best solutions for their clients.
Healthcare –CAHU Summit 2014
by Leila Morris • Executives and government officials educated brokers at CAHU’s annual Health Care Summit in Los Angeles.
Dental and Vision – Fitting Dental and Vision Benefits Into the Wellness Puzzle
by Kelly Wieseler, FSA, LLIF • Employers and brokers have significant opportunities to help employees understand the value of wellness programs. Invest time to explain what good health and wellness means; identify wellness programs that can improve lifestyle habits; and emphasize the importance of prevention programs including dental and vision benefits.
Self Funding – Life After SB-161: Is Self-Funding Still Viable In California?
by David L. Fear, Sr. RHU
SB-161 had the desired effect in that few, if any, small employers have moved into self-funded programs in 2014. Given the fact that the stop-loss prohibition will apply to employers with 51 to 99 employees beginning January 1, 2016, there is a lot of work to be done to find a legislation resolution to this matter in 2015.
PPO Power, Our Annual Survey
by Leila Morris • Seven PPOs in California diligently answered direct questions about their plans. Our readers, who are savvy health brokers, suggested many of the questions. We hope this information will help the professional agent or broker better serve sophisticated healthcare clients.
Helping Long-Term Care Planning Clients Believe in Themselves
by Wendy Boglioli • Now is the perfect opportunity to suggest that your clients talk with their loved ones and put into place a strategy to deal with the emotional, physical and financial possibilities of those issues.
Nine Things Your Clients Must Know About Long-Term Care Planning
by Brian Vestergaard and Jesse Slome • Don’t let your clients wait until it’s too late. Talk to them about LTC planning.
Acupuncture & Chiropractic – Keeping Employees and Budgets Healthy with CAM Benefits
by Leila Morris • At one time, acupuncture and chiropractic were considered fringe medicine. But the use of complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) has gained growing acceptance among employers and consumers as it has proven to be effective in treating a range of conditions.
Small Plan 401(k): What’s Working and Not Working for U.S. Small Businesses?
by Douglas Dubitsky • Adding access to a workplace retirement plan, such as a 401(k), continues to be one of the most appreciated benefits of any company. Yet many small businesses are still without a 401(k) plan.
Linked Products Gain Consumer Acceptance – Putting More Life in Long-Term Care
by Sue Devlin • The price tag on individual LTC policies has been too high to win over the public in any numbers, particularly as rates continued to go up, sometimes dramatically. But, to its credit, the life insurance industry came up with an answer that realistically addresses the need for sufficiently robust protection: the long-term care rider.