Broker Regulation

Millions of U.S. residents are supposed to pour into new health insurance distribution exchanges in 2014, but only 3% say they are very or extremely familiar with the exchange concept.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is giving members of the public until Halloween to comment on any dangers that may be haunting a health insurance exchange proposal and a health insurance risk management proposal.

One crisis averted, on to the next. The day after Congress managed to avoid a government shutdown again Republicans and Democrats stared ahead Tuesday at major fights over spending that underscore a deep divide that's sure to define the fast-approaching national elections.

This pharmaceutical direct-to-consumer approach might look like some kind of threat to the traditional broker role, and I wonder if maybe, just maybe, carriers really are trying to circumvent brokers altogether.

State insurance regulators are wrestling with questions about whether the benefits insurance company employers have offered employees are promises or heartfelt wishes.

Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage in 2011 increased to $15,073, a 9 percent jump from 2010, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust 2011 Employer Health Benefits Survey.