Voices

Commentary

When an ownership mentality hurts you

Kevin Trokey | August 09, 2018

For some, ownership is a “free pass” that allows them to not be accountable to anyone and therefore to not have to perform.

Q&A

Employees still searching for connection, empowerment

Dan Cook | August 07, 2018

Meredith Ryan-Reid, senior vice president for group benefits at MetLife, shares some insights into employee benefits.

Expert Opinion

Changing the basis of payments: Driving sustainable innovation in health care

Adam Beck | July 26, 2018

In health care, too, the most transformative innovations are behind the scenes.

Editor's Letter

Health care hot potato

Paul Wilson | July 02, 2018

Democrats' and Republicans' argument over the high health care costs rages on; who will be left with the blame this time?

Dental and vision trends focus on preventive health

Mike Estep | June 11, 2018

Given the positive impact that preventive care can have on oral and eye health, brokers and consultants should encourage employers to consider the following steps.

Commentary

Education, communication and collaboration

Kevin Trokey | June 08, 2018

We are on the cusp of addressing one of the most challenging issues facing our country and economy today.

3 ways health insurers can win over millennial business owners

Sally Poblete | June 08, 2018

The millennial generation — which generally refers to individuals born between 1980-1996 — continues to fascinate businesses. Millennials are now the…

Recruiting college grads? Focus on the 401(k)

Alex Tolbert | June 01, 2018

Why a 401(k) option is a valuable part of a competitive recruitment strategy for your clients, especially for groups trying to attract younger workers.

How do millennials make benefits enrollment decisions?

Jennifer Beck | May 31, 2018

What exactly do millennials want from their benefits? And how do they go about deciding which benefits to choose? The results of a new study may surprise you.

3 steps to cross-sell voluntary benefits

Nash Skiles | May 25, 2018

Why aren’t brokers cross-selling these benefits? It comes down to a lack of understanding and a fear of voluntary.

Commentary

Beauty in the pain

Latrica Schooley | May 16, 2018

Plan design is the answer; it is an upward climb, it is not an easy path, it requires an expert with experience, it is not going to be an instant fix, and the climb to the top may require training and muscle memory, but it is beautiful.

Reference-based pricing: where do carriers go from here?

Alex Tolbert | May 10, 2018

  Back in 2015, the big topic in health care was insurance company consolidation. This was the year Anthem announced plans to acquire Cigna,…

AI: the new guy on the health care team

Doug Dvorak | May 07, 2018

How will this new player change the game? Keep reading to find out how AI will hit some big home runs for the health care industry.

Lessons learned during my week at BenefitsPRO Broker Expo

Bret Brummitt | April 30, 2018

I was recently given the fantastic opportunity to participate in two outstanding panels and share center stage with some of our most decorated peers in…

The power of 'coopetition'

Curtis Colbert | April 11, 2018

I recently attended the Ascend Conference in Nashville and Q4Live in Tampa and was pleasantly surprised to find an enormous amount of collaboration and discussion among industry leaders who were freely giving away their special sauce.

Overcoming 3 common employer objections to reference-based pricing

Alex Tolbert | April 11, 2018

Reference-based pricing plans can result in significant savings, but there are a few common concerns employers have when they first hear about self-insuring and reference-based pricing.

Why I’m leaving a hospital-owned PCP

Rachel Miner | April 06, 2018

It’s exciting for me. I get to practice what I preach. Better care; better outcomes.

3 approaches to reference-based pricing

Alex Tolbert | March 30, 2018

There are multiple strategies for employers to implement cost containment concepts in their self-funded plans. Here are a few of the approaches we’ve seen self-funding vendors use.

CI insurance doesn’t have to be critical

Christin Kuretich | March 26, 2018

Critical illness insurance was born due to the soaring medical bills people found themselves shackled with after surviving a critical health event, such…

5 tips on promoting a culture of health

Brian Latkowski | March 12, 2018

OK, I’ll admit that promoting a culture of health within the workforce is not exactly like pressing the “easy button.” But there are solutions which…

5 technology trends every broker needs to know about

Sally Poblete | March 02, 2018

Here are the top trends and innovations we believe will shape insurance brokerage business in 2018.

Editor's Letter News

Welcome to the newly redesigned BenefitsPRO website

Paul Wilson | February 28, 2018

Take a look at our newly redesigned BenefitsPRO.com website. We're excited about it and hope you will be too.

The evolution of cancer insurance

Stephanie Shields | February 21, 2018

Cancer insurance is evolving to help meet the needs of modern-day patients and their families.

8 things to know about telehealth this year

Dan Trencher | February 15, 2018

Read on, for eight predictions for virtual care delivery in 2018.

The bright future of non-traditional benefits

Amy Christofis | February 05, 2018

Employees are working longer hours than ever before, which has led to an increase in mental burnout, pushing employees to switch jobs more frequently -- that's where non-traditional benefits can play a key role.

5 predictions for consumer-driven health care in 2018

Steve Auerbach | February 05, 2018

We have identified five trends for consumer-driven healthcare (CDH) that are sure to be at the forefront of the conversation in 2018.

Keep an eye on these 5 benefits trends in 2018

Gerry Leonard | January 29, 2018

Which trends will dominate and continue to define the benefits landscape in 2018? Here are few hot topics to watch in the new year.

5 financial wellness trends to watch in 2018

Elizabeth Halkos | January 16, 2018

Employers, and the benefit brokers who advise them, are going to have to take a deeper dive into financial wellness benefits in 2018.

Help employers see the value of voluntary

Dennis Healy | January 16, 2018

Once employers understand the true value of voluntary benefits, they will be more willing to increase their offerings.

Three small group trends to watch in 2018

Alex Tolbert | January 10, 2018

More small employers will be looking for new ways to bend the cost curve in the new year, including adopting new funding strategies and innovative payment models. Here are three trends to watch in the small group space next year.

What's a certified PEO and how can they help your brokerage?

Michael Altiero | January 05, 2018

Many brokers and small business leaders have heard of professional employer organizations (PEO). However, it is still common within the industry to not fully understand how to distinguish one PEO from another.