by Tom Barrett | Oct 20, 2014 | Employer Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform
Here is my final post in the Obamacare…Did you know? series… Many low-income consumers who bought bronze plans with low premiums but high deductibles in order to comply with Obamacare’s individual mandate are discovering they still can’t afford...
by Tom Barrett | Oct 16, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform
I’m doing a series on things I think you should know about Obamacare. Here is installment #3… There’s a major glitch or loophole in the healthcare law that actually allows large employers to avoid health-law penalties by offering stripped down plans...
by Tom Barrett | Sep 27, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Providers
Despite the fact that narrow networks continue to come under fire, we believe they will remain an integral part of the fabric of health plan options. Narrow network strategies are employed by carriers as a means to control costs, offer lower-priced health insurance...
by Tom Barrett | Sep 19, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, Healthcare Issues, Managed Care - Group Health, Pharmacy Costs, Providers
Last week I wrote about improving healthcare literacy. It’s an important and worthy goal. However, I always juxtapose this with something a highly respected physician colleague and friend said to me a few years back. It really resonated with me back then and still...
by Tom Barrett | Sep 12, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Providers
We can all agree that our healthcare system is difficult to understand. Have you considered the confusion for people who have never had health insurance, or perhaps have not had it for a really long time? According to Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser...
by Mike Barrett | Aug 28, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs
Recently the Obama Administration compromised to allow waivers for religious organizations to restrict paying for contraceptives on their health plans. What does that mean for most religious groups that offer health benefits? Unless a group is self funded and writes...