Benefits Broker

In the five years since Massachusetts' landmark health care initiative was signed into law, it has served as a blueprint for national health care, a political football in last year's elections and a talking point in the 2012 presidential contest.

Last week the Senate approved a bill that would eliminate the controversial 1099 provision from the Affordable Care Act, and just three days later another important piece of the legislation went down with Friday night’s budget agreement. This time the “employee free choice” voucher program emerged in the cross-hairs.

There are a few instances where an HSA account holder might be required to pay a penalty, and they all have to do with contributing more than the allowed amount to the account.

Details of last week's hard-won agreement to avoid a government shutdown and cut federal spending by $38 billion were released Tuesday morning. They reveal the budget cuts, while historic, were significantly eased by pruning money left over from previous years, using accounting sleight of hand.

The market for dental plans is gigantic. Scores of Americans (more than 100 million people) need a product you can sell them.

Patients with high-deductible plans significantly cut back on preventive health care, even though they end up saving dramatically on costs.

The Affordable Care Act allows for multiple states to jointly operate health exchanges. Linda J. Blumberg, writing for for the Urban Institute, says there are four reasons why states should take this route.

Brokers and their clients face numerous challenges given the changing benefits landscape.