by Mike Barrett | Aug 7, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Reform, Humor
I wonder how much time and money employers have spent planning on the various dimensions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that died on the vine, have been changed, pushed back or remain so cloudy that no one really knows the correct answers. Do you think it’s enough...
by Tom Barrett | Aug 4, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, National News
If the healthcare picture wasn’t already muddy enough, now we have more bumps in the road ahead. Most of the press coverage and discussion over this past week has been focused on the subsidy ruling and where that’s headed. And, rightly so. However, the domino effect...
by Mike Barrett | May 30, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Reform
The IRS is trying to keep employers in the group health market. The new ruling is somewhat complicated. What a big surprise, huh? The IRS is saying that the ACA requires that plan sponsors ensure that there are no limits on the mandatory essential health benefits ACA...
by Mike Barrett | Mar 20, 2014 | Employer Issues, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs
Some insurance policies remind me of pay-day lending. People are strapped for cash and prescriptions are expensive. So, we buy insurance policies with “baked-in” prescription co-pay plans. Is it efficient? NO. Is it expensive? YES! It is like pay day lending. You...
by Mike Barrett | Dec 18, 2013 | Employer Issues, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Reform
Do you ever wonder what goes on behind closed doors between president Obama and insurance company executives? I sure do. We’ve all had to work with people we don’t like or organizations we don’t align with philosophically at some point. It happens....
by Tom Barrett | Dec 4, 2013 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, Providers, Uncategorized
With healthcare reform and the Affordable Care Act almost in full bloom, more potentially game-changing unintended consequences are starting to emerge. One such consequence stems from the introduction of “narrow networks.” Initially intended for healthcare.gov...
