My conversations with brokers here over the past two days teemed with hope and untapped potential.

The bill, approved earlier in the day by the House and Senate, extends eligibility for a 15-month, 65 percent federal premium subsidy program to employees laid off between April 1 and May 31

There are increasing signs of innovation in the marketplace, as some brokers rapidly develop their business models to drive real results right now.

Employers say the "pay or play" mandate under the recently enacted health care reform bill will not drive them to drop health care benefits for their workers, according to a new survey.