News

Many U.S. workers hate the idea of getting health coverage from the new Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchange plans. Jonathan Easley looks at workers’ views on public exchange SHOP plan coverage for The Morning Consult, in a summary of results from a voter poll the organization commissioned. Easley found that 63 percent of […]

The media and insurance industry circles frequently mention private exchanges as an alternative to public marketplace exchanges or traditional insurance plans. A recent survey of employers by Towers Watson and the National Business Group indicated that one-third plan to move their employee benefit plans to private exchanges within the next few years. They may be […]

There are certain things we don’t like to think about. Death, serious accidents and critical illnesses are likely near the top of everyone’s lists. While one is inevitable, many bury their heads in the sand when considering accidents and critical illnesses. Most would say: “I’m safety conscious.” “I’ll take my chances.” “I take good care […]

Fall. Thoughts of the World Series, football, colorful foliage, and a new season of employee benefit enrollment abound. OK, benefits enrollment is unlikely to generate quite the stir as some of the season’s traditional activities and benchmarks. But employers that take simple, but important, steps to increase employee enthusiasm for their benefits programs will maximize […]

From everyone at Franchise Benefit Solutions, we hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Many employers believe that they offer a smorgasbord of benefits but their employees are sticking with meat and potatoes. Only 36 percent of employers are “very satisfied” with companyparticipation in voluntary benefits, according to MetLife’s 12th annual U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Study. By contrast, a record one-half of employees report being satisfied with their benefits. The primary reason […]

The days of employer-paid benefits are disappearing faster than a snow cone in July — especially when you consider that most companies are not helping to offset the costs for much more than major medical and physician care for their workers. And, the sticker shock for premium increases has just barely begun. Just wait until 2015! However, […]

As employers digest the tenets of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, most have not taken drastic measures to avoid triggering certain requirements of PPACA. Small employers have shown a stronger tendency to take actions such as freezing hiring or cutting back on fulltime workers to remain under the 50-employee trigger. But even small […]

The nation’s carrier group is urging the administration to add a new lower-cost plan under the exchanges — as well as a couple other changes to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — “to enhance the affordability, stability and accessibility of health care.” On Wednesday, America’s Health Insurance Plans proposed a series of changes to the law […]

Your employer clients have to be careful when looking at dental and vision plan options. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) now requires every new, non-grandfathered, insured small group health plan to offer an“essential health benefits” (EHB)package that includes pediatric and pediatric vision benefits. But the PPACA EHB requirements do not apply to grandfathered plans, self-insured plans […]