Employer-Paid

Republicans have been building their case against the "failed presidency" of Barack Obama for nearly four years and this week's convention is prime time for making the charges stick.

Another week, another study, survey or whatever that sounds the death knell for employer-paid health planslike some kind of ragged medieval prophet gnashing his rotted teeth in the town square as he limps around in circles crying about the end times.

The cost of health insurance is what's keeping small employers up at nightstill.

Despite an improving U.S. job and housing markets, consumer confidence fell to the lowest level it's been since November 2011.

After several years of losses, industrial employment in Wisconsin grew 0.5 percent in the last year and now provides 573,782 jobs by 11,453 manufacturers, according to the 2013 Wisconsin Manufacturers Register, an industrial directory published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc.

Enrollment season will be here before any of us know it, but way too many employees remain woefullyif not embarrassinglyin the dark about their benefit offerings. And its certainly not for a lack of information.

Pharmacists and other consumer advocates have often been skeptical of PBMs real value.

Despite dealing with uncertainty in the countrys health care system and rising costs, most employers say they plan to keep offering their employees health benefits, though theyll look for other ways to cut costs, according to new research.