Benefits Selling Magazine February 2012

Does retirement income even exist anymore?

By Kathryn Mayer

There’s a common misconception about how people plan for their retirement: They don’t. And while it used to be something that would often “work itself out,” that’s no longer the case.

ACOs: The fix to a fragmented system?

By Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Accountable care organizations aim to directly address the problems plaguing health care, including cost, quality and satisfaction. They’re also an integral component to health care reform. But are ACOs the way to go?

Tech Power

By Nancy Sansom

Agents, consultants and brokers who offer a technology platform can provide a new and better way to communicate and manage benefits programs.

The power of the matrix

By Bob Heston

Infrastructure is strength, and companies without an interlinking matrix design are empty shells.

A day in the life of document management

By Michael Bewley

In an era where brokers are under increasing pressure to add value to client relationships, it’s become a business imperative to streamline administrative tasks and focus on service.

You say you wanna resolution?

By Denis Storey

For the first time in a while, I passed on making any New Year’s resolutions this year.

Obese adults pay much higher premiums

By Kathryn Mayer

Obesity has long been a source for health problems, but new data shows the epidemic is also taking a heavy toll on wallets.

Employers skeptical of health reform

By Kathryn Mayer

Employers are still torn on how they will respond to health care reform and at the very least, skeptical of its potential.

5 money saving tips for buying health insurance

By Kathryn Mayer

With consumers looking for ways to save wherever they can in today’s economy, here are five tips from UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance Company to help individuals and families shopping for their own health insurance for 2012.

Small but steady changes in 2011 health insurance plans

By Kathryn Mayer

There have been some changes in 2011 health insurance plans.

Preventable chronic disease on the rise

By Kathryn Mayer

Increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths, according to the United Health Foundation’s 2011 America’s Health Rankings.

Choosing the best enrollment method – part 2

By Bonnie Brazzell and Gil Lowerre

What is the best method for enrolling voluntary products?

Resolved to ethical benefit selling

By Marty Traynor

There are plenty of ways we can fall into ethical lapses in the world of selling benefits. Know how to avoid it.

What is a fiduciary (and why should we care)?

By Christopher Carosa

What better topic for the month of Valentine’s Day than that of fiduciary duty?

When the new wears off

By Brian Hicks

What happened? You succumbed to The Creep. You were committed to a goal until it became inconvenient.

Arguing over AD&D

By Benefits Selling staff

Accidental death and dismemberment policy values remain debatable—for some.

Johnson: What I've learned

By Interview by Denis Storey

When Benefits Selling launched eight-and-a-half years ago in the late spring of 2003, Rich Johnson graced the cover. To say that he’s done all right since then might be considered something of an understatement.

AD&D source list

By Charlene Harris