BenefitsPRO Magazine-October 2013

Enrollment source list

Charlene Harris

Half of Americans can’t define basic health insurance terms

Kathryn Mayer

Whats a premium again?

“What if you had to?”

Brian Hicks

We once had a new agent on our team who landed a huge group just two doors down from the regional sales office.

Mobley: What I’ve learned

Denis Storey

Randy Mobley of Resource Seven has been in the benefits industry for more than 22 years and continues to be one of the most successful brokers in the greater metro Atlanta area.

The social network

Greg Glasgow

These days, if youre not connected, youre not relevant and youre not reaching clients and potential clients.

Man on a Mission

Denis Storey

Since even before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act started to take shape, the public at large voiced strong opinions about itboth in support and opposition.

Confused by PPACA? Join the Club

Ingrid Case

Benefits Sellings annual employer survey shows that 80 percent of benefits professionals see health care reform as their biggest challenge. What do they face and how are they coping?

Death of a broker?

Kathryn Mayer

After six years of selling health and life insurance plans, Boise, Idaho, based agent Patricia Somers decided she was sick and tired of the insurance business.

Read between the lines: Disclosure rules help bring down 401(k) fees

Paula Aven Gladych

Gone are the days when a plan could charge 2 percent or even 2.5 percent in fees. The average today is somewhere between 1 percent and 2 percent.

Critical (illness) thinking

Marty Traynor

Im sure youve seen articles touting critical illness insurance as one of the fastest growing voluntary products.

CDHP satisfaction rises again

Kathryn Mayer

Move over, traditional health plans. Consumer-driven health plans might be moving on up in the insurance world.

Texas, Florida still leading in voluntary sales

Kathryn Mayer

Brokers looking to score some serious voluntary business might want to consider moving to Texas and Florida.

Brokers vital for cheaper health coverage

Kathryn Mayer

Brokers who need a self-esteem boost after lingering doubts about their future and their overall value can look to a new report for some validation.

Are you the ostrich or the panther?

Bonnie Brazzell and Gil Lowerre

The latest Aflac WorkForces Report claimed 51 percent of brokers are only slightly, or not at all confident about the future of their firm and their industry.

Exchanges losing low-cost plans with carrier departures

Kathryn Mayer

As some big name carriers decide to opt out of the exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, consumers might be missing out on some much cheaper plans.

Tea time with Harley

Denis Storey

My dad had heart surgery a couple of weeks back.

What (should) really scare plan sponsors

Christopher Carosa

Despite all the noise about fees and investment performance, the key metric of every retirement plan should be retirement readiness.

We don’t need no education

Kathryn Mayer

I didn't learn anything about finance or health insurance in school. But I'm so glad I learned that Pythagorean Theorem.

Feds nix pay-to-play plans

Denis Storey

So much for pay to play. Thats what Ive been calling the controversial strategy some employers considered as the Oct. 1 date for open enrollment creeps closer.

Seven reasons HSAs are taking off

Kathryn Mayer

Despite reports that health care spending is slowing down, health costs are still incredibly high.