Exchanges

The Supreme Court heard arguments in Montanile v. Board of Trustees of the National Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan and will determine if, under ERISA, a reimbursement to an employee benefit plan can be recovered if the beneficiary has already spent the funds he or she recovered from a third party.

Single-employer premiums are set to increase, which could lead to fewer pension plans, resulting in less demand for DB consultants, ERIC CEO says.

A new hotline for agents and brokers will not be able to answer specific questions from agents about their clients, disappointing broker organizations, which expected a hotline similar to what navigators have.

To date, adoption of private benefit exchanges by employers has been modest, but Holley Maher, partner at St. Louis-area brokerage MRCT, sees them as a highly relevant solution. And, despite issues Healthcare.gov has caused for brokers and consumers alike, the site is changing the health care landscape, says Maher, whose company operates its Smart Benefits Marketplace using bswift technology.

The Private Benefit Exchange Index was up again last month and all indications are that it will increase more quickly in the months to come.

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, passed Wednesday by the House of Representatives, is causing concern in retirement circles after a pension provision was added that raises the amount of money employers must pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. for pension insurance.

While the presidential election is still a year away, employers must be mindful of smaller elections that take place across the state and municipal levels. Elections, however small, may trigger an employer’s obligations to give employees leave to vote.

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Insurers believe value-added services such as tools and advocacy programs, in addition to being an incumbent carrier, make a consumer choose them. But, a new analysis reveals what really drives choice.