News

• Health plan transparency taken to woodshed in study

  By Dan Cook  |  June 19, 2013

  Despite a growing demand from consumer and industry groups for greater transparency from health benefits providers, health plans continue to resist offering much beyond the most basic tools to evaluate pricing and related factors.

• NFIB unveils small biz health coverage partnership

  By Dan Cook  |  June 19, 2013

  Small business owners now have a strong ally in selecting health insurance for themselves and their employees.

• Workers more optimistic, but still worried about their jobs

  By Dan Cook  |  June 19, 2013

  If you’re concerned about employee morale, this might be a good time to hand out raises, but a bad time to introduce new technology into your processes.

• Higher costs for PPACA’s bronze plans

  By Kathryn Mayer  |  June 19, 2013

  Consumers who think they might be scoring a cheap health plan under PPACA might be in for a rude awakening, as new analysis shows those who chose the lowest cost health plans will be hit with higher out-of-pocket costs.

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  Fed suggests it's closer to slowing bond purchases

  By Martin Crutsinger  |  June 19, 2013

  The reduction would occur in "measured steps" and could end all together by the middle of next year, Bernanke said.

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  P&C a new sweet spot for brokers

  By Katie Kuehner-Hebert  |  June 19, 2013

  Property and casualty insurance products are really taking off now that employers are broadening their menu of voluntary products to offset reduced health care benefits.

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  Wiser medication use could save $213 billion

  By Linda A. Johnson  |  June 19, 2013

  A new study indicate the U.S. health care system could save big time from curbing medication overuse, underuse and other flaws in care.

• Generation X struggles more financially

  By Paula Aven Gladych  |  June 19, 2013

  Generation X employees struggle the most financially and are more likely to dip into their retirement savings than the Baby Boomers or Millennials.

• Mercer US Pension Index rose slightly in May

  By Paula Aven Gladych  |  June 19, 2013

  It is slightly cheaper for pension plans to retain the liabilities associated with their plan than to purchase annuities for retirees in a buyout of the plan.

• Quinn, Ill. lawmakers plan pension talks into July

  By KERRY LESTER  |  June 19, 2013

  Unable to overcome a stalemate on the state's $97 billion pension crisis, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders have agreed to form a bipartisan committee to hammer out a compromise and to reconvene the Legislature for another session in July.