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One of Colorado's biggest insurers pulling out of state Obamacare exchange

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UnitedHealth Group Inc., the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, will end participation in the public health insurance exchange in Colorado and several other states. Colorado Division of Insurance spokesperson Vince Plymell confirmed that UnitedHealth will not apply to take part in Colorado's insurance exchange in 2017. UnitedHealthcare, based in Minneapolis, is one of Colorado's largest insurers, with some 687,000 commercial members in the state. Its impact on the state exchange is expected to… Reported by bizjournals 11 hours ago.

Hallberg Insurance Agency Provides Tips To Motorcyclist Preparing For An Open Road Excursion

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Before navigating the open road, novice and experienced motorcycle riders alike need to ensure they are properly insured, familiar with policy coverage and prepare for a safe journey.

Bedford Park, Illinois (PRWEB) April 21, 2016

“Especially in the Midwest, the weather is starting to break which is great news for motorcycle riders eager to hit the open road. This is also the time of year many setout to purchase their first motorcycle,“ began Tony Strimel, Executive Vice President, Hallberg Insurance Agency. “Before your bike actually meets the pavement, working with a trusted insurance professional is an essential first step to ensuring you are properly protected. After that, start planning many open road adventures and fully enjoy everything that comes from being a cycling enthusiast.”

Strimel offers the following motorcycle insurance coverage tips and guidance when preparing for an open road trip:

Review Insurance Coverage
Before heading out on a long road trip it is important to review the motorcycle insurance policy to ensure it is up-to-date and offers the best coverage options. How much motorcycle insurance is required varies but state, but standard motorcycle insurance requires at least bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. It is important to discuss with your insurance agent policy details regarding how many vehicles and riders can by insured on one motorcycle policy and if your policy covers them to ride other bikes other than their own. Also, double check to ensure the policy includes towing and labor coverage.

Excursion Diversion Coverage
Traveling, even by motorcycle, is expensive which is why riders need to be protected from unforeseen costly events that can hamper travels. Hallberg Insurance Agency is partnered with A+ rated Dairyland Insurance. Dairyland offers Trip Excursion Diversion Coverage, which is designed to help protect the cyclist against unexpected events such as mechanical breakdown or collision. The coverage can help offset lodging, alternative transportation and provides a food allotment.

Weight and Proper Loading
Before heading out an open road adventure, Strimel reminds riders to consult the “Safety First” section of the owner’s manual for guidance on proper loading and to be sure they are not exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). GVWR is included on the vehicle-identification-number (VIN) plate (usually found on or near the steering head) on all current bikes.

The carrying capacity includes whatever is loaded on the bike, including rider, passenger, and gear. Exceeding the weight limits of the machine can jeopardize the overall performance of the bike and most importantly the rider’s safety. Putting too much weight on the motorcycle compromises handling and can overtax some bike components.

Consider Investing In Motorcycle Luggage
For the long road trips, a wise investment is motorcycle luggage. Their durable yet lightweight design features many zippered expandable deep pouches and side compartments. Many feature removable interior saddleback compartments, which are convenient for hotel stay.

Insurance and Important Documents
For easy reference items such as: Insurance cards; bike registration; documents for travel and touring club memberships; IDs; maps; phone; and necessary toiletries should be kept in an accessible compartment or cross body purse.

Pack With A Purpose
Before packing, it is important the rider is prepared and think about the weather elements they might encounter. Be sure to include: helmet; gloves; rain jackets, pants and gloves; sunglasses; goggles/night eye protection; balaclava; protective light jacket; synthetic long underwear; the bare minimal amount of extra clothing and zip lock and garbage bags for wet and dirty clothing;

Emergency Items
Have a designated packing area to hold emergency and medical items. Essential times to include are: list of current medications, along with pharmacy and prescribing physician numbers; list of current medical conditions including allergies; antihistamines; insect repellant; personal first-aid kit; spare key; waterproof flashlight; cellular phone and charger; waterproof matches; and for longer open-road trips a bottle of water and energy food bars.

Bike Maintenance
Before hitting the road, make sure bike maintenance is current. For longer road trips it is important to have on-hand a few tools to preform necessary bike maintenance. Important items to pack include: motorcycle jumper cables; basic tool kit; replacement fuses; motor oil; closed/open ended wrenches and basic socket set that are used on the motorcycle; turn signal and brake-light blubs and replacement fuses.

About Hallberg Insurance Agency
Hallberg Insurance Agency provides preferred quotes and insurance offerings for all drivers regardless of accidents. Their partner companies include large national companies such as Daryland, Travelers, Hartford, Allied, Progressive and Safeco but also smaller local companies like Founders, American Access, and an affiliated company, First Chicago Insurance Company that has been servicing the Chicago area since 1920. Whether it is an auto policy, Homeowners, motorcycle, boat, etc, you can rely on the Hallberg agents to research and provide you a policy that provides great value for the price. Stop in at a Hallberg Insurance office to get an auto quote, homeowner quote, business insurance quote, life and health insurance. You can also call us and ask for an agent to quote you over the phone. Most quotes take less than 15 minutes and we believe that you will find that the service is unequaled. Call 708-730-6000. For all other questions call 708-552-2424. Corporate headquarters is located at 6640 S. Cicero, Bedford Park, IL 60638. https://www.hallberginsuranceagency.com Reported by PRWeb 54 minutes ago.

Employees of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin Get Fitbits

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Durham-based personal injury law firm, the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, is now offering $100 toward fitbit purchases for all employees as part of their ongoing health and wellness program.

Durham, NC (PRWEB) April 21, 2016

As part of an ongoing employee health and wellness program that began several years ago, the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is offering their employees $100 toward the purchase of a fitbit, a wearable electronic device that allows you to track activity, exercise, calories, weight, and sleep.

James S. Farrin, firm president, said of the program, “Our employees are our best assets, and we are always looking for meaningful ways to invest in them to give them incentives to enjoy the rewards of good health. We made a huge commitment several years ago to encourage our employees to engage in more physical activity and healthy eating. So far, the fitbit program has been very well received and the benefits are exponential. The healthier our employees are, the more productive they are likely to be, and they can potentially save money on their health insurance premiums. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

To make this community-centric wellness program fun and engaging, the firm divided into teams who support each other and compete in small challenges, which help them stay motivated. They use a fitness assessment to track improvement periodically.

Jennifer Horn, a paralegal with the firm and Wellness Committee member made the observation that sitting is the new smoking. “My fitbit makes me very aware of the number of hours I sit. We tend to get so caught up in our clients and our work, I like it when my fitbit reminds me to get up and move.”

In an effort to foster a community environment among its employees, the fitbit “exercise incentive” is just one part of the law firm’s overall wellness programs. The firm’s Wellness Committee offers Wellness Lunch and Learns, for example. These one-hour events feature all kinds of broad “everyday living” topics, such as financial information and investing, legal documents you need in your life, home organization tips, stress management, meditation, and more.

Ally Powers, the firm’s human resources manager, sees both personal and firm-wide benefits. “I enjoy the immediate positive reinforcement my fitbit offers when I reach my goals. And on a broader scale, I’ve noticed groups popping up like the run club, or a group doing a couch to 8K,” she said.

Sadie Cunningham, who is a negotiator for the firm as well as a Wellness Committee team leader, sees benefits beyond the physical, “We share great ideas for different types of activities and healthy eating tips too. I am grateful my coworkers are sharing, and we are growing closer as a group by supporting each other, no matter where our fitness levels are.”

ABOUT THE LAW OFFICES OF JAMES SCOTT FARRIN
The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is headquartered in the American Tobacco Historic District, adjacent to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, in Durham, North Carolina, with 13 additional offices statewide in Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Greenville, Goldsboro, Henderson, New Bern, Raleigh, Roanoke Rapids, Rocky Mount, Sanford, Wilson, and Winston-Salem. The firm’s 38 attorneys focus on the following practice areas: Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, Eminent Domain, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights, Mass Torts, and Products Liability. Five of the attorneys are North Carolina Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law and one is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is involved in the community, including sponsorship of local philanthropic organizations and an active employee matching donation program. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

3 ways for non-profits to lower health insurance costs

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Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ushered in more opportunities for individuals to access health coverage, it has not stemmed the inflationary trend that continues to drive up health insurance costs. Because the health reform law has not slowed the rise in health insurance-related expenses, employers will have to look for ways to do so themselves. Not-for-profit organizations, which often have tighter budgets than public or private corporations, must be particularly vigilant in how they approach… Reported by bizjournals 21 hours ago.

CDPHP opening retail location in Colonie

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One of the Albany, New York area's largest insurers, CDPHP, is opening a retail location at the Rudy A. Ciccotti Family Recreation Center in Colonie today. CDPHP Customer Connect will be a brick-and-mortar location where customers can speak in person with CDPHP representatives. Another local insurer, MVP Health Care, opened its own health insurance retail location late last year. Reported by bizjournals 21 hours ago.

PharmacyChecker.com Now in Spanish to Help Spanish-Speakers Find Lower Drug Prices

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With the PharmacyChecker.com website translated into Spanish, the Hispanic community can more easily benefit from PharmacyChecker.com's online pharmacy verification program and prescription drug price comparisons.

White Plains, NY (PRWEB) April 21, 2016

Thursday, April 21, 2016, White Plains, New York – PharmacyChecker.com, the leading online pharmacy verification and consumer drug price comparison website, has launched http://www.PharmacyChecker.com/ES -- a Spanish version of its popular website. The new website helps Spanish-speakers save as much as 90% on prescription medication. PharmacyChecker.com has been available in English since 2003 and has served millions of consumers searching for lower drug prices.

“No one living in the U.S. should have to forgo filling a prescription because of high drug prices, especially when lower prices on the same drugs are available to informed consumers,” says Tod Cooperman, M.D., CEO of PharmacyChecker.com. “We are pleased to extend our information to the Spanish-speaking community.”

According to the Pew Research Center, 38% of Hispanics living in the U.S. speak mainly Spanish. Studies show that Hispanics are more likely to forgo filling a prescription due to cost than the population at large. A Kaiser study found that while 12% of the non-elderly U.S. population doesn’t have health insurance, the figure rises to 21% among Hispanics. The uninsured often must pay the cash price of prescription medication at the pharmacy, which may be unaffordable.

The Spanish translations on http://www.PharmacyChecker.com/es are by qualified professionals and include consumer information about drug prices, buying medication online, personal drug importation, and drug discount cards.

PharmacyChecker.com is the only independent company that verifies U.S. and international online pharmacies and compares prescription drug prices. Its Verification Program evaluates online pharmacies by checking that they meet high standards of practice -- continually monitoring them for compliance. PharmacyChecker.com also enables Americans to find the lowest drug prices a local pharmacies using a prescription discount card.

PharmacyChecker.com was established in 2002 by Tod Cooperman, M.D. who saw increasing numbers of Americans looking on the Internet to save money on medication but without adequate information to protect their health.

For more information, contact Gabriel Levitt, President, PharmacyChecker.com at 718-387-4526 or gabriel.levitt(at)pharmacychecker(dot)com. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.

Another Oregon health insurer exits market amid losses

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LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon will exit the Oregon health insurance market at the end of 2016 after 22 years in business. The company is another casualty of intense competition and declining market share in the state. “It’s a decision we didn’t come to easily or quickly,” said Jeff Roe, president and CEO of LifeWise’s parent company, Premera Blue Cross, headquartered in Mountlake Terrace, Wash. “It’s a situation we’ve studied for multiple years.” LifeWise lost $35.7 million… Reported by bizjournals 14 hours ago.

Premera's LifeWise exits Oregon market amid losses

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LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon will exit the Oregon health insurance market at the end of 2016 after 22 years in business. The company is another casualty of intense competition and declining market share in the state. “It’s a decision we didn’t come to easily or quickly,” said Jeff Roe, president and CEO of LifeWise’s parent company, Premera Blue Cross, headquartered in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. “It’s a situation we’ve studied for multiple years.” LifeWise lost $35.7 million… Reported by bizjournals 14 hours ago.

Tandigm Health’s First Year Results Show Promising Quality and Cost Improvements

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• $15M total reduction in care costs • 3 percent reduction in total Medicare costs • 800 fewer emergency room visits

West Conshohocken, PA (PRWEB) April 22, 2016

Tandigm Health, a value-based healthcare company supporting primary care physicians, today announced positive first-year results, validating the model of rewarding doctors for quality of care instead of quantity. The company saw notable progress on key measures and was able to pay meaningful incentives to the more than 380 participating primary care physicians for improving the health of the 100,000 patients they serve.

Tandigm’s model focuses on engaging, enabling and empowering its network of primary care physicians with the tools and resources needed to provide the highest quality care to their patients. In its first year, this additional support enabled Tandigm’s network to reduce emergency room visits by 800 and reduce total Medicare costs by 3 percent. These positive outcomes are the result of Tandigm doctors providing proactive, coordinated care to their patients. Although final results are not yet available, early marks for doctors in the Tandigm network show high performance across industry-standard quality measures, such as the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) STARS. Driving quality, proactive care allowed Tandigm to reduce care costs by $15 million last year.

“Tandigm is a positive disruptor in the movement toward value-based healthcare,” said Tandigm President and CEO Dr. Anthony Coletta. “We recognize that primary care physicians are uniquely positioned to influence the quality and cost of care because they serve as the first line of health care for most Americans. The current state of our health care system is unsustainable. We see our value-based model as a path forward to better health for our patients, stronger practices for our physicians, and effective ways to lower healthcare costs.”

Tandigm considers primary care physicians vital in addressing health problems early and helping patients avoid costly – and often unnecessary – emergency room visits or hospitalization. Tandigm, a joint venture between Independence Blue Cross and DaVita Healthcare Partners, provides doctors the tools and resources needed to deliver coordinated, proactive care and offers meaningful incentives to enhance patient care. As a result of the improved health outcomes across its patient population, Tandigm expects to pay the physicians in its network more than $20 million in meaningful incentives above their base compensation. Of the $20 million, $8 million provided month-to-month support of Tandigm physician practices for the care of their patients and $12 million was earned by the physicians as a result of delivering quality care.

Value-based care is a growing movement in the United States which focuses on rewarding physicians for the quality of their care, rather than the volume of services they provide. Tandigm has invested in innovative technology and resources, such as population management tools to identify those patients most in need, and nurses to help coordinate care right in physicians’ offices. These and other programs are enabling Tandigm’s doctors to actively improve access, engagement and health management for their patients through telephonic support, proactive outreach, increased availability and patient education.

“Early results from Tandigm are incredibly promising,” said Independence Blue Cross President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty. “Independence is committed to leading change and innovation in health care, and making significant investments in programs which deliver superior, coordinated care and drive down costs. Just think of the potential impact if we expanded Tandigm Health’s primary care-centered model in our region – one of the most expensive health care markets in the United States.”

In its first year, the company has grown significantly. The patient population cared for by participating Tandigm physicians grew by 30,000 to a total of 100,000 patients. Tandigm expanded the number of participating physicians from 270 to 380, and increased the number of full-time employees from 27 to almost 90. Tandigm also announced in 2015 that it had formed collaborative partnerships with Holy Redeemer / Innovative Wellness Alliance and Doylestown Healthcare Partnership.

“Our commitment to Tandigm doctors from the start was to incentivize them for providing a high quality of care to patients,” said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. “In Tandigm’s first year, its primary care physicians exceeded expectations – delivering superior care through a more coordinated, effective and efficient healthcare process.”

About Tandigm Health
Tandigm Health is dedicated to enhancing primary care physicians’ ability to provide the finest possible care while lowering costs through a more coordinated, proactive model. By providing greater tools and resources to its network of over 380 doctors, Tandigm puts primary care physicians back at the center of patient care. Tandigm Health is a 50-50 joint venture between Independence Blue Cross, the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania, and DaVita HealthCare Partners, a leading independent medical group in America. To learn more about Tandigm’s approach to value-based healthcare, visit http://www.tandigmhealth.com.

About DaVita HealthCare Partners
DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc., a Fortune 500® company, is the parent company of HealthCare Partners and DaVita Kidney Care. HealthCare Partners manages and operates medical groups and affiliated physician networks in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida and Colorado in its pursuit to deliver excellent-quality health care in a dignified and compassionate manner. As of December 31, 2015 HealthCare Partners provided integrated care management for approximately 807,000 patients. DaVita Kidney Care is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, delivering dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. As of December 31, 2015, DaVita Kidney Care operated or provided administrative services at 2,251 outpatient dialysis centers located in the United States serving approximately 180,000 patients. The company also operated 118 outpatient dialysis centers located in 10 countries outside the United States. For more information, please visit DaVitaHealthCarePartners.com.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve nearly 9 million people in 32 states and the District of Columbia, including 2.5 million in the region. For nearly 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit http://www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Reported by PRWeb 1 hour ago.

Filing 1095 and 1094 Forms Is Easy with tyhe Latest Ez1095 Software and Step By Step Instructional Guide

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Businesses will not be caught off guard with misinformation when utilizing ez1095 software and quick start guide instructions for correct filing of forms 1095 and 1094. Test drive the 30 day no cost or obligation trial at http://www.halfpricesoft.com.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) April 22, 2016

Don’t be misinformed by incorrect instructions when filing ACA forms to the IRS. ez1095 This Affordable Care Act (ACA) software application, from Halfpricseoft.com adheres to deadlines and instructions for proper filing. Big businesses providing health insurance coverage are required to file Forms 1094-C and 1095-C for 2015 in accordance with the forms and these instructions to report coverage in 2015.

According to the IRS, Form 1095-C is filed and furnished to any employee of an ALE member who is a full-time employee for one or more months of the calendar year. ALE Members must report that information for all twelve months of the calendar year for each employee.

“ez1095 2015 software for printing ACA forms 1095 and 1094 gives instructions and no cost customer support for proper filing.” said Dr. Ge, the founder of Halfpricesoft.com.

New ez1095 ACA form software is easy-to-use and flexible. Developers created this software to adhere to the requirements by the government to file forms 1094 and 1095 starting in 2016. ez1095 software’s graphical interface allows customers to set up company, add employees, add forms and print forms soon after download. Customers can also click form level help links to get more details regarding the software.

ez1095 software is compatible Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP and other Windows systems. Potential customers can download and try this software at no obligation by visiting http://www.halfpricesoft.com/aca-1095/form-1095-software-free-download.asp

Features included in the application are:· Print ACA Form 1095-C, 1094-C, 1095-B and 1094-B on white paper for recipients and IRS with inkjet or laser printer.
· PDF print 1095-C and 1095-B recipient copies
· Efile version available for additional cost.
· Support unlimited companies at no additional cost.
· Support unlimited number of recipients at no additional cost.
· Print unlimited number of 1095 and 1094 forms at no additional cost.
· Fast data import feature
· Print Form 1095 C: Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Insurance
· Print Form 1094 C: Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns
· Print Form 1095-B: Health Coverage
· Print Form 1094-B: Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Return

Priced at just $195, ($295 for efile version) this ACA form filing software saves employers time and money. To learn more about ez1095 ACA software, customers can visit http://www.halfpricesoft.com/aca-1095/aca-1095-software.asp

About halfpricesoft.com
Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting the software needs of small businesses around the world with its payroll software, employee attendance tracking software, check printing software, W2 software, 1099 software and bar code generating software. It continues to grow with its philosophy that small business owners need affordable, user friendly, super simple, and totally risk-free software. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.

Caspio Offers Cloud Application Readiness for Phase 2 HIPAA Audits

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Caspio's HIPAA compliant application platform ensures health data remains secure and compliant in the cloud.

Santa Clara, CA (PRWEB) April 22, 2016

In light of new federal security and privacy audits, Caspio, Inc. (https://www.caspio.com) continues to serve as a strategic technology partner for healthcare organizations relying on its HIPAA-compliant application platform.

Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the launch of a new round of audits to more closely monitor compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The stakes are high for healthcare providers and their associates to get prepared for an audit by ensuring they have up-to-date procedures and contracts in place to meet the requirements of the HIPAA Data Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules – or potentially face fines or settlement agreements for noncompliance.

Phase 2 of the HIPAA Audit Program is officially underway, and the OCR has already started sending out letters to collect the contact information of covered entities and business associates.

Caspio has offered a HIPAA edition of its popular low-code application platform since 2014, providing a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) along with special infrastructure, features and safeguards to ensure HIPAA compliance.

Unique capabilities of the Caspio HIPAA Edition:· HIPAA-Compliant Infrastructure: All HIPAA customer accounts reside on an entirely separate infrastructure dedicated to HIPAA-compliant applications running on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
· Data Encryption in Transit and at Rest: All data is encrypted during transit and while at rest within the database.
· Audit Logs: System-wide audit logs record all user access to data and are encrypted in a separate environment.
· Business Associate Agreement (BAA): Caspio maintains BAA with its vendors and offers a BAA to its customers, partners and affiliates developing on the platform.

"The healthcare industry is facing increasing pressure and scrutiny, and Caspio is prepared to support our customers as a trusted technology partner," said Frank Zamani, Founder and CEO of Caspio. "We have invested a substantial amount of time and resources to ensure our platform and operations are HIPAA compliant and we are proud to be the leading HIPAA-compliant platform meeting this demand across the healthcare industry."

As a cloud pioneer since 2000, Caspio has helped thousands of Fortune-500 companies, universities, government agencies, and healthcare organizations build and operate custom cloud applications based on their precise requirements. Users of the Caspio HIPAA edition include state and local government agencies, large insurance providers, state insurance exchanges, hospitals, research universities, and pharmaceutical companies.

Learn More:

· Read about Caspio’s HIPAA-Compliance Edition: https://www.caspio.com/healthcare/
· Contact Caspio Sales: https://www.caspio.com/sales-inquiries/
· Sign up for a free trial: https://pages.caspio.com/free-trial/

About Caspio:

Caspio, Inc. (https://www.caspio.com) provides the leading business productivity platform to help companies shrink the development time of custom cloud applications from weeks to hours, and from thousands of dollars to a small monthly fee. Caspio’s low-code platform requires no programming skills and powers cloud applications for thousands of customers ranging from global corporations and government agencies to universities, non-profits, and small businesses around the world. Caspio’s platform is available in various editions ranging from free and low-cost plans for small businesses, to enterprise plans that meet strict security and regulatory requirements including HIPAA, FERPA and FIPS-140 compliance. Learn more at https://www.caspio.com. Reported by PRWeb 23 hours ago.

Zoom+ experiences heavy management turnover amid blistering Glassdoor reviews

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Zoom+ appears to be undergoing growing pains, as the neighborhood clinic-health insurance provider has lost several high-level managers in recent months. Among the departures, according to The Lund Report, are Denise Honzel, who was brought on to launch Zoom’s insurance products, as well as sales VP Kathy Prosser. The company also lost Dr. Brett White, who was medical director of the Zoom+ health plan, and Ellie Godfrey, who established Zoom’s member services. The Business Journal has learned… Reported by bizjournals 11 hours ago.

This exclusive report reveals the ABCs of the IoT

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The Internet of Things (IoT) Revolution is picking up speed and it will change how we live, work, and entertain ourselves in a million ways big and small.

From agriculture to defense, retail to healthcare, everything is going to be impacted by the growing ability of businesses, governments, and consumers to connect to and control their environments:

· “Smart mirrors” will allow consumers to try on clothes digitally, enhancing their shopping experience and reducing returns for the retailer
· Assembly line sensors will detect tiny drops in efficiency that indicate critical equipment is wearing out and schedule down-time maintenance in response
· Agricultural equipment guided by GPS and IoT technology will soon plant, fertilize and harvest vast croplands like a giant Roomba while the “driver” reads a magazine
· Active people will share lifestyle data from their fitness trackers in order to help their doctor make better health care decisions (and capture discounts on health insurance premiums)

No wonder the Internet of Things has been called “the next Industrial Revolution.” It’s so big that it could mean new revenue streams for your company and new opportunities for you. The only question is: Are you fully up to speed on the IoT?

After months of researching and reporting this exploding trend, John Greenough and Jonathan Camhi of Business Insider Intelligence have put together an essential briefing that explains the exciting present and the fascinating future of the Internet of Things. It covers how IoT is being implemented today, where the new sources of opportunity will be tomorrow and how 17 separate sectors of the economy will be transformed over the next 20 years, including:

· Agriculture
· Connected Home
· Defense
· Financial services
· Food services
· Healthcare
· Hospitality
· Infrastructure
· Insurance

· Logistics
· Manufacturing
· Oil, gas, and mining
· Retail
· Smart buildings
· Transportation
· Connected Car
· Utilities

 

If you work in any of these sectors, it's important for you to understand how the IoT will change your business and possibly even your career. And if you’re employed in any of the industries that will build out the IoT infrastructure—networking, semiconductors, telecommunications, data storage, cybersecurity—this report is a must-have.

Among the big picture insights you’ll get from *The Internet of Things: Examining How the IoT Will Affect The World*:

· IoT devices connected to the Internet will more than triple by 2020, from 10 billion to 34 billion. IoT devices will account for 24 billion, while traditional computing devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.) will comprise 10 billion.
· Nearly $6 trillion will be spent on IoT solutions over the next five years.
· Businesses will be the top adopter of IoT solutions because they will use IoT to 1) lower operating costs; 2) increase productivity; and 3) expand to new markets or develop new product offerings.
· Governments will be the second-largest adopters, while consumers will be the group least transformed by the IoT.

And when you dig deep into the report, you’ll get the whole story in a clear, no-nonsense presentation:

· The complex infrastructure of the Internet of Things distilled into a single ecosystem
· The most comprehensive breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks of mesh (e.g. ZigBee, Z- Wave, etc.), cellular (e.g. 3G/4G, Sigfox, etc.), and internet (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.) networks
· The important role analytics systems, including edge analytics, cloud analytics, will play in making the most of IoT investments
· The sizable security challenges presented by the IoT and how they can be overcome
· The four powerful forces driving IoT innovation, plus the four difficult market barriers to IoT adoption
· Complete analysis of the likely future investment in the critical IoT infrastructure: connectivity, security, data storage, system integration, device hardware, and application development
· In-depth analysis of how the IoT ecosystem will change and disrupt 17 different industries

*The Internet of Things: Examining How the IoT Will Affect The World* is how you get the full story on the Internet of Things.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the IoT universe, choose one of these options:

1. Purchase an ALL-ACCESS Membership that entitles you to immediate access to not only this report, but also dozens of other research reports, subscriptions to all 5 of the BI Intelligence daily newsletters, and much more. >> *START A MEMBERSHIP*
2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> *BUY THE REPORT*

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of the IoT.

Join the conversation about this story » Reported by Business Insider 3 hours ago.

Obamacare works, even for Trump voters

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To the editor: Virginia resident Peggy Hayes, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, complains that the Obama administration has “un-babysat” the country and blames it for the loss of her health insurance several years ago. ("Virginia voter, struggling to make ends meet,... Reported by L.A. Times 19 hours ago.

CEOs Are Hopeful But "Looking For A Macro Curveball"

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CEOs Are Hopeful But Looking For A Macro Curveball It's not just Halliburton (*"What we are experiencing today is far beyond headwinds; it is unsustainable"*) and Intel (12,000 layoffs amid re-evaluation of programs) that are facing up to a new normal very different from expectations. As Avondale Asset Management notes, having poured over 100s of earnings transcripts, while most CEOs don’t see signs of an imminent downturn, the *environment still feels a little fragile*. It seems that *almost everyone is on high alert for a macro curve-ball*...

There are some green shoots that capital markets are opening back up, but there are also signs of sluggishness. Overall the economy appears to be ok, not deteriorating, but not robust either.

*The Macro Outlook:*

*Even though things have gotten better, people are still waiting for a curveball*

“I’m a superstitious person and I think the minute I think this is starting to go well, for some reason we’re going to get smacked down with some change in the market…Call it the curve ball discount there, I’m just waiting to see another quarter. And right now, I’d say all indicators are looking favorable for improvement as the year goes on. I actually want to see some of that improvement sustained; meaning, economic conditions and exchange.” —Abbott Labs CEO Miles White (Healthcare)

*The environment still feels a little fragile*

“many of the factors that were impacting the market in the first quarter…seem to have abated and although the market feels a little fragile from all that, it feels like – for the most part, that’s behind us. But we’ll see how the year progresses.” —Goldman Sachs CFO Harvey Schwartz (Investment Bank)

*But while many are uneasy, few see signs of a downturn*

“We believe that the global economy will continue to be uneasy…at this time we don’t see any signs of a broad-based global downturn. In fact, many companies expressed difficulty finding the right talent as evidenced by the findings of our 2015 talent shortage survey published late last year” —Manpower CEO Jonas Prising (Temp Staffing)

“the economy. It is what I would call good but not great. It’s okay…We see no practical possibilities of recession, notwithstanding the fact there’s been a lot of conversation about that. And the reason is because we think there is a very, very strong solid pent-up need for continuing investment. When I talk to business people…they’re not excited enough about the future to go out and make major expansions and so forth. But they’re driving trucks that have 250,000 miles on it. They got ten-year old equipment, and so stuff just wears out. And so, that’s why you have to keep investing.” —BB&T CEO Kelly King (Regional Bank)

*Most agree that the economy isn’t great, but it hasn’t deteriorated*

“things haven’t deteriorated, but things haven’t improved” —Visa CEO Charles Scharf (Credit Cards)

*There are some green shoots*

“The M&A pipeline is strong and some green shoots suggest the equity underwriting calendar may open up. The S&P level at the end of the first quarter will help with asset pricing in our Wealth Management business” —Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman (Investment Bank)

*The second quarter is feeling robust for loan growth*

“we already know what quarter two is starting to look like, and it’s feeling pretty robust…we are on all cylinders on loans. Mortgages particularly are growing nicely as they – they didn’t a year ago” —US Bank CEO Richard Davis (Regional Bank)

*But there are also a lot of areas that just feel sluggish*

*Intel projected a greater than expected decline in PC markets*

“We now expect the PC markets to decline in the high single digits in 2016 versus our prior forecast of mid-single-digit decline. Our projection of the PC market remains more cautions than third-party estimates.” —Intel CFO Stacy Smith (Semiconductors)

*Qualcomm lowered its expectations for mobile phone growth*

“We are adjusting our estimate of calendar 2016 global 3G/4G device shipments to 1.625 billion to 1.725 billion devices, with year-over-year unit growth of approximately 8% at the midpoint, down from our previous midpoint estimate of approximately 10% growth.” —Qualcomm President Derek Aberle (Semiconductors)

*Steel industry capacity utilization is only 71%*

“For the steel platform as a whole, driven by the our flat roll operations, our production utilization rate for the first quarter 2016 increased to 88% as compared to overall industry utilization of approximately 71%.” —Steel Dynamics CEO Mark Millett (Steel)

*Union Pacific expressed some doubt about whether the auto industry could meet sales expectations*

“Turning to autos, light vehicle sales are forecasted at 17.8 million vehicles, a 2% increase above the 2015 seasonally adjustable annual rate of 17.5 million vehicles…While we expect low gasoline prices will continue to sustain demand, we remain cautious with respect to auto sales supporting these levels.” —Union Pacific EVP Eric Butler (Railroad)

*Venture lenders are focusing a little more on credit quality*

“There’s been a lot of discussions about things actually pulling back a little bit in [Technology & Life Sciences]…Today, we’re probably focusing more on credit quality, more on granularity.” —Comerica CEO Ralph Babb & EVP Patrick Faubion (Regional Bank)

*The market for IT jobs may be slightly softer*

“I would describe the demand for IT skills to still be healthy, maybe slightly softer.” —Manpower CEO Jonas Prising (Temp Staffing)

*The market may be a little slower to open all the way back up*

“I think after a tough first quarter like the whole market has experienced, I think that there may be a slow reaction function in terms of how various market participants engage the marketplace. But it feels like, as I said before, the most significant factors impacting the first quarter seem to have abated, at least for now.” —Goldman Sachs CFO Harvey Schwartz (Investment Bank)

*International:*

*The weakened dollar is turning into a slight tailwind for companies*

“Last year, we had a lot of headwinds, especially on the international revenue line…This year, we’re seeing the reverse of that with the weakening of the dollar…International contribution margin is benefiting from that.” —Netflix CFO David Wells (Movie Studio)

*The dollar is still high in any relative sense though*

“I’m not a central banker, but I would say the dollar is still very high in any relative sense. It has dropped a little from the peak, but it still is very high…The dollar is still a headwind. The strong dollar is still a headwind to U.S. exports.” —Union Pacific EVP Eric Butler (Railroad)

*Pepsi is incrementally less optimistic about South America and Eastern Europe*

“I think the two places where we’re probably incrementally less optimistic, number one is South America…And then number two is Eastern Europe.” —Pepsi CFO Hugh Johnston (Sugar Water)

*Canadian Pacific said that it feels like the Canadian economy is bottoming*

“So that said the Canadian economy though on a positive note appears to be stabilizing and recessionary fears seem to be subsiding. So we do feel that the second-quarter is going to be the bottom. Q3, Q4 obviously are going to be stronger on a demand standpoint.” —Canadian Pacific Railway COO Keith Creel (Railroad)

*March was a disappointing month for Las Vegas Sands in Macau*

“March was obviously disappointing. We had a really great January, February. March certainly softened up. Worldwide, I think Chinese tourism and consumer numbers are pretty depressing across the globe. And certainly, it was a little bit soft than we hoped in Macao. That was not the case in Singapore, but in Macao, we saw a downturn.” —Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson (Casino)

*Low cost labor will continue to struggle vs. automation*

“As you know, call centers are a very high turnover rate for employees. And with our decrease in calls coming in from our Wireless customers because of more online, more chat, more self-service, we will not hire as many customer call centers…So there’s opportunity to reduce force just through the attrition rate.” —Verizon CFO Fran Shammo (Telecom)

*Financials:*

*It’s not easy being a bank these days*

“Before getting into our quarterly results, I’d like to directly address the recent discussions of our fundamental performance. I’ve talked to many of our shareholders over the past several months…I want to make sure everyone recognizes that…[we] hear and understand the desire for improved returns…I know that we must earn our right to remain independent every day, and our management team and board are committed to doing what is in the best interest of our shareholders.” —Comerica CEO Ralph Babb (Regional Bank)

*BB&T had been strategically acquiring banks, but is now applying the brakes*

“I’m not trying to say that we wouldn’t dare do any tiny little bitty something. But as a practical matter, we are just not focusing on M&A now in insurance or bank…there’s a time to buy, and there’s time to run. And the last 24 months was a time to buy, because the times were right…now is the time to take time and to adjust” —BB&T CEO Kelly King (Regional Bank)

*The flattening yield curve negated the benefit of higher short term rates*

“make sure you guys are watching the slope of the curve too…the moment – the short end came up, the long end came down. And that has the same kind of impact on interest income that you would see on lack of rate movement.” —US Bank CEO Richard Davis (Regional Bank)

*It’s not easy being an asset manager either*

“the asset management industry in its current form is no longer a growth industry for a majority of traditional active asset managers. Overcapacity, chronically poor investment performance, high fees, competition from passive strategies, growing barriers to entry for access to distribution and the rapidly growing cost of regulatory compliance, taken together will challenge future growth and profitability for most legacy investment managers.” —Coen and Steers CEO Bob Steers (Real Estate Investment Management)

*Consumer:*

*We have now lapped the sharp declines in gas prices, which should impact retail sales comps*

“We have now lapped the sharp gas declines from last year…we had hoped that this would provide a tailwind for U.S. domestic volumes in the second half of fiscal 2016. This has not happened, as gas prices remain below the lows of last year.” —Visa CFO Vasant Prabhu (Payments)

*Technology:*

*Technology startups have done a great job of marketing, but are still working on proving their business models*

“the technology companies that I’m aware of, they have done a good job of sizzle in terms of the marketing but I don’t think that they have done as well a job in the execution of the plan where they are able to make money over a period of time.” —Brown and Brown CEO Powell Brown (Insurance Broker)

*Data is the new oil*

“data is the new oil. Like those who have the data, those who have the understanding of the consumer, we believe are the ones that are going to win.” —Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank (Apparel)

*Google’s CEO says that they’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible*

“Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. And after 17 years, we have just scratched the surface of what’s possible.” —Google CEO Sundar Pichai (Internet)

*Reed Hastings thinks that VR will probably be primarily a gaming format for at least a couple of years*

“I think it’s mostly going to be an intense gaming format for a couple of years…So think of it like the PlayStation 5 or the XBox 2 or something…I think the center point for VR will be other sorts of things than watching a TV show in a VR headset. I don’t think that’ll be very popular” —Netflix CEO Reed Hastings (Movie Studio)

*China is more digitally advanced than one might expect*

“I’m constantly amazed at how advanced China is digitally. It’s got twice the number of cell phones, smartphones, as the U.S. population. And even in our offices, people go up and down the elevator to go to lunch, they’re looking up where the offers are available and where they can book a table, et cetera.” —YUM! China CEO Micky Pant (Restaurants)

*Healthcare:*

*UnitedHealth is pulling out of a number of public exchanges*

“The smaller overall market size and shorter-term higher risk profile within this market segment continue to suggest we cannot broadly serve it on an effective and sustained basis. Next year we will remain in only a handful of states, and we will not carry financial exposure from exchanges into 2017.” —United Health CEO Stephen Hemsley (Health Insurance)

*Industrials:*

*Flat rolled steel prices are rising thanks to positive trade case filings to prevent Chinese dumping*

“for the first time in well over a year, we’ve begun to experience rising metal pricing for carbon steel products as well as stainless steel flat-rolled products. This pricing improvement, which accelerated towards the end of first quarter, was mainly result of the recent trade case filings by U.S. steel producers.” —Reliance Steel CEO Gregg Mollins (Steel)

*Materials, Energy:*

*Core Labs believes that we will see a V bottom in oil markets*

“Core believes crude oil markets rationalize in the second half of 2016…our second quarter 2016 results should mark the bottom of our anticipated V-shaped commodity recovery that should lead to increased crude oil prices followed by increased industry activity levels.” —Core Labs CEO David Demshur (Oil Service)

*However, overbuilt industries don’t alway enjoy V shaped recoveries*

“We have believed since the outset of this housing recovery that it would be more gradual than the V-shaped rebound, typical of most housing cycles. Our thesis is unchanged as we expect an extended recovery will continue to unfold for the next several years.” —Pulte Home CEO Richard Dugas (Homebuilder)

*Distressed oil companies have been able to sell assets rather than make “defensive draws” on credit lines*

“the vast majority of our borrowers are doing the opposite. They’re selling assets. They’re raising capital to make sure that they are staying within the confines of what they expect the new borrowing base to be. So we’re really pleased to see that.” —Comerica CCO Peter Guilfoile (Regional Bank)

*Surprisingly, they are even able to sell assets at significant premiums to where lenders have them marked*

“Since really last summer, our borrowers have sold about $1.7 billion of assets…on average the premium has been 93% above what we have those assets valued at in the borrowing base and in 2016 that premium is even higher. It’s about a 120%. So not only is there a lot of opportunity for our borrowers to sell assets to raise liquidity, but it’s a very accretive process when they’re doing it.” —Comerica CCO Peter Guilfoile (Regional Bank)

*Oil companies are eager to turn production back on, but cautious*

“I think that they’re being cautious about their next move. I think they want to see generally they wanted to see some additional recovery and see some stability in that recovery. I also think that as a group they’ve made themselves very, very flexible. I mean they are updating their outlook and updating their decision making. It’s no longer an annual process. It seems like it’s a biweekly process or something now as they’re looking at things which suggests that when they do decide to turn things back up, they’ll be able to turn it back up relatively quickly” —Kinder Morgan CEO Steve Kean (Oil Pipeline)

*Miscellaneous Nuggets of Wisdom:*

*Have the courage to go after the right customers, not just any customer*

“[we worked] to have the courage to go out there and get the right customers. I think there might have been a mentality here and maybe perhaps in other companies, where you’re trying to show some number to Wall Street, but at the end of the day it hurts you long term financially.” —Dish CEO Charlie Ergen (Satellite Television)

*Laziness can help create an effective moat*

“Our biggest enemy is inertia. The issue is that most people with a brokerage account do not want to bother with switching it. So therefore, even if they are — even if we succeed in convincing them that they would have a financial advantage, a large financial advantage, by bringing their account to us they still don’t want to do it, because of just laziness.” —Interactive Brokers CEO Thomas Petterfly (Retail Brokerage)

*There are a finite number of experts in a given field*

“if the world created 5,000 cognitive experts, we would hire 5,000 cognitive experts…But there is a rate at which it doesn’t make sense for us to keep putting money into these because the world doesn’t create them anymore. It’s not a problem that can be solved by spending more money. It’s a problem that is constrained by the kinds of skills the world’s creating. So we have a global search on for talent.” —IBM CFO Martin Schroeter (Enterprise Tech)

*The best organizations have a gravitational pull to attract those experts*

“What we find is that skills have gravity and highly skilled people want to work with others in their fields who are also highly skilled. So they come here to work with our unique data sets, with our unique technologies, with our unique industry expertise, in order to change the way the world works in order to change the way industries operate, in order to change professions.” —IBM CFO Martin Schroeter (Enterprise Tech)

*  *  *

Source: Avondale Asset Management Reported by Zero Hedge 15 hours ago.

IDC Offers Insurance Companies New CRM Vision

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IDC Offers Insurance Companies New CRM Vision IDC Health Insights on Monday outlined best practices for customer engagement strategies to help health insurance companies adopt a semiretail approach to interacting with members or patients. Health insurers need an integrated customer engagement strategy enabling automated interactions, shared communications, and appropriate transaction and information transparency, IDC said. Reported by CRM Buyer 8 hours ago.

Fully understand the IoT with this report

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The Internet of Things (IoT) Revolution is picking up speed and it will change how we live, work, and entertain ourselves in a million ways big and small.

From agriculture to defense, retail to healthcare, everything is going to be impacted by the growing ability of businesses, governments, and consumers to connect to and control their environments:

· “Smart mirrors” will allow consumers to try on clothes digitally, enhancing their shopping experience and reducing returns for the retailer
· Assembly line sensors will detect tiny drops in efficiency that indicate critical equipment is wearing out and schedule down-time maintenance in response
· Agricultural equipment guided by GPS and IoT technology will soon plant, fertilize and harvest vast croplands like a giant Roomba while the “driver” reads a magazine
· Active people will share lifestyle data from their fitness trackers in order to help their doctor make better health care decisions (and capture discounts on health insurance premiums)

No wonder the Internet of Things has been called “the next Industrial Revolution.” It’s so big that it could mean new revenue streams for your company and new opportunities for you. The only question is: Are you fully up to speed on the IoT?

Research analysts John Greenough and Jonathan Camhi of BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, spent months of researching and reporting this exploding trend and have put together a report on the Internet of Things that explains its exciting present and the fascinating future.

It covers how IoT is being implemented today, where the new sources of opportunity will be tomorrow and how 17 separate sectors of the economy will be transformed over the next 20 years, including:

· Agriculture
· Connected Home
· Defense
· Financial services
· Food services
· Healthcare
· Hospitality
· Infrastructure
· Insurance

· Logistics
· Manufacturing
· Oil, gas, and mining
· Retail
· Smart buildings
· Transportation
· Connected Car
· Utilities

 

If you work in any of these sectors, it's important for you to understand how the IoT will change your business and possibly even your career. And if you’re employed in any of the industries that will build out the IoT infrastructure—networking, semiconductors, telecommunications, data storage, cybersecurity—this report is a must-have.

Among the big picture insights you’ll get from *The Internet of Things: Examining How the IoT Will Affect The World*:

· IoT devices connected to the Internet will more than triple by 2020, from 10 billion to 34 billion. IoT devices will account for 24 billion, while traditional computing devices (e.g. smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc.) will comprise 10 billion.
· Nearly $6 trillion will be spent on IoT solutions over the next five years.
· Businesses will be the top adopter of IoT solutions because they will use IoT to 1) lower operating costs; 2) increase productivity; and 3) expand to new markets or develop new product offerings.
· Governments will be the second-largest adopters, while consumers will be the group least transformed by the IoT.

And when you dig deep into the report, you’ll get the whole story in a clear, no-nonsense presentation:

· The complex infrastructure of the Internet of Things distilled into a single ecosystem
· The most comprehensive breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks of mesh (e.g. ZigBee, Z- Wave, etc.), cellular (e.g. 3G/4G, Sigfox, etc.), and internet (e.g. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.) networks
· The important role analytics systems, including edge analytics, cloud analytics, will play in making the most of IoT investments
· The sizable security challenges presented by the IoT and how they can be overcome
· The four powerful forces driving IoT innovation, plus the four difficult market barriers to IoT adoption
· Complete analysis of the likely future investment in the critical IoT infrastructure: connectivity, security, data storage, system integration, device hardware, and application development
· In-depth analysis of how the IoT ecosystem will change and disrupt 17 different industries

*The Internet of Things: Examining How the IoT Will Affect The World* is how you get the full story on the Internet of Things.

To get your copy of this invaluable guide to the IoT universe, choose one of these options:

1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> *START A MEMBERSHIP*
2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> *BUY THE REPORT*

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of the fast-moving world of the IoT.

Join the conversation about this story » Reported by Business Insider 6 hours ago.

Providence Insurance Group: Small Businesses See Big Hikes in Health Plan Costs

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Survey Reveals Group Health Plan Costs and Options by State and Industry

Marietta, Georgia (PRWEB) April 25, 2016

Providence Insurance Group, Health insurance premium renewal rates increased an average of 6.2 percent for all plans in 2015, up from the previous year’s 5.6 percent increase, according to new survey data released from United Benefit Advisors (UBA), the nation’s leading independent employee benefits advisory organization. Small businesses with fewer than 25 employees, which account for five million U.S. employers, were hit the hardest, finds UBA.

“In 2014, employers overwhelmingly utilized early renewal strategies to delay moving to higher cost ACA- compliant plans and keep increases in check,” says Les McPhearson, CEO of UBA. “These delay tactics ran out in 2015 and, as a result, these small businesses (that make up the majority of American businesses), were forced into higher-cost, community-rated ACA plans. Without the negotiating power of bigger groups or the protection from grandmothering, many small employers were left with no cost containment strategies other than reducing coverage.”

Nearly a quarter of Georgia’s small employers who offered group health insurance explored level funded plans in 2015. This new program was introduced by several major insurance carriers to avoid the high risk pool of community-rated ACA plans. “Our clients who qualified saved an average of 20% over the community-rated plans by electing this new strategy,” states Tyler Horton, Vice President of Providence Insurance Group in Georgia.        

COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY INDUSTRY
Total costs per employee for the retail, construction, and hospitality sectors are 8.6 percent to 21.2 percent lower than the average, making employees in these industries among the least expensive to cover. Surprisingly, the finance industry eclipsed the government sector—the perennial leader in the highest costs per employee— and now pays, on average, $11,842 per employee, a 16 percent increase from 2014. Government plans still have the third highest average cost per employee ($11,817), yet employee contributions are 45.2 percent ($2,105) less than the average employee contribution of $3,333.

HEALTH PLAN OPTIONS
UBA finds that more than half (53.7 percent) of all employers offer one health plan to employees, while 28.7 percent offer two plan options, and 17.6 percent offer three or more options.

“The percentage of employers now offering three or more plans is of particular interest since it represents nearly a 28 percent increase over the past five years,” says McPhearson. “More and more, employers are offering expanded choices to employees either through private exchange solutions or by simply adding high-, medium-, and low-cost options, a trend we believe will continue to increase. Not only do employees get more options, but employers can introduce lower-cost plans that ultimately may attract enrollment and lower their costs.”

Contact Providence Group Health Insurance for a customized 2015 benchmark survey based on your industry, region, and business size.

About Providence Insurance Group

Providence Insurance Group is one of the nation’s leading independent employee benefits advisory firms with more than 450 corporate clients throughout the United States. Providence’s new PG50 platform is bringing our clients the best of both worlds: trusted benefits expertise and cloud based onboarding technology for new hires and open enrollment. Employers interested in obtaining powerful results from the shared wisdom of our affiliation with UBA should visit Providence Insurance Group. UBA empowers partner firms to pool their expertise, insight, and market presence to provide best-in-class services and solutions. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Mindcrest Inc Creates New Compliance SVP Role and Welcomes Mitch Hoppenworth

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Mitch Hoppenworth brings years of compliance management experience to Mindcrest.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) April 25, 2016

Mindcrest Inc., a leading legal services firm, is pleased to welcome Mitch Hoppenworth, a strategic leader skilled in compliance risk identification and mitigation. Coming from the financial services industry, he has experience with Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations.

“We are excited to welcome Mitch to the team,” says CEO and Founder, Ganesh Natarajan. “Many of our clients are in heavily regulated industries, including the life science and financial service industries. The compliance risks these companies face seem to increase every day.”

Hoppenworth will lead Mindcrest in pairing the right compliance solutions to their client’s needs. “Having been the Chief Compliance Officer for a Fortune 500 company and building a compliance management program in a highly regulated environment, I know the day-to-day pressures our clients face,” shares Hoppenworth. “Chief compliance and risk officers have challenging jobs. Assuring board of directors that risks are properly identified and effectively mitigated. Demonstrating return on investment of compliance resources and the additional value for the company when so much of what the GRC team does requires investing in resources. That’s where Mindcrest comes in. We strictly govern our programs and provide transparency throughout the engagement with robust reporting.”

Mindcrest is headquartered in Chicago, IL with a large delivery center in Pune, India. Hoppenworth is based in the Chicago office and has been with the company since February.

About Mindcrest
Since its founding in 2001, Mindcrest has been committed to providing best-in-class legal services to our corporate and law firm clients. We have combined the best of technology with a specialized workforce and our proprietary processes to assist our clients in meeting their obligations.

Our mission at Mindcrest is to be the trusted partner to our clients by providing innovative solutions and services that transform the legal services industry. Global corporations and law firms have relied on Mindcrest for 15 years to provide advanced support in the areas of contracts lifecycle management, compliance, legal analytics and litigation support. Mindcrest is ISO 27001 certified.

Mindcrest has been consistently recognized as a leader in legal process outsourcing by Frost and Sullivan, The Black Book of Outsourcing, International Association for Outsourcing Professionals, Chambers Global and India Business Law Journal. For more information, please visit http://www.mindcrest.com or call +312 467 9744. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

Reclamere Announces Data Security Educational Series With Top Philadelphia Law Firm

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Cyber Breach Experts to Discuss Pressing Privacy & Security HIPAA Concerns in Today’s Post Affordable Care Act Environment

Tyrone, PA (PRWEB) April 25, 2016

Reclamere, the company that positions businesses to implement secure data processes in the workplace, and safely and securely dispose of their IT assets announced it will be joining with Dilworth Paxson, LLP to present a free three-part breakfast series in Philadelphia this spring.

Reclamere CEO and nationally recognized data security expert, Angie Singer Keating, will be joined by top cyber coverage and healthcare attorneys Renee Martin and Jordan Rand from Dilworth Paxson to discuss the current state of affairs in data security and the need for organizational risk assessment and proactive preparedness.

The first panel on Thursday, April 28th will be held from 7:30 – 9:00 AM at Dilworth Paxson’s office located at 1500 Market St, 3500E in Philadelphia, and is titled, “Prepare, Respond, and Rectify – Know What is Happening in the Realm of Privacy and Security Incidents”.

Key issues will include:· How to work with business associates in today’s heightened state of compliance surrounding HIPAA
· The most recent pronouncements by the Office of Civil Rights regarding HIPAA enforcement and audit activities
· How to contextualize the need for cyber insurance by exploring recent significant data breach events in the health and education sectors

Upcoming Sessions in this three part series will explore:

May 5th – A breach has happened, now what?
May 26th – Root Cause Analysis, remediation, and learning from your incident

To RSVP for one or all three of these sessions, please contact: upatel(at)dilworthlaw(dot)com.

About Angie Singer Keating
Ms. Singer Keating is chief executive officer at Reclamere, Inc. She has a broadly diversified background with over 20 years of experience specializing in computer forensics, data destruction, security incident response, information technology risk management and systems auditing. Ms. Keating and the Reclamere Data Security Experts team provide consultancy in: eDiscovery & litigation support, forensic analysis, data breach response, notification & compliance, and compliance & risk management services (HIPAA, PCI, GLB, SOX). Miss Singer Keating holds a number of high-level certifications from global information systems standards body ISACA, and is a board member of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), and an adjunct faculty member of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

About Renee Martin                                                                                                        
Ms. Martin is a recognized leader with extensive experience in the compliance and data breach response industries, providing and coordinating a variety of legal and professional services and audit products to identify, manage and remediate risk vis-à-vis the privacy, security and breach notification regulations promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH).

About Jordan Rand                                                                                                            
Mr. Rand is an insurance coverage attorney with the Philadelphia-based law firm Dilworth Paxson. Jordan litigates complex coverage disputes across a variety of contexts, advises insurance carriers on coverage issues and specializes in counseling those that are procuring or renewing cyber insurance coverage. Jordan often presents to lawyers and industry groups on cyber insurance coverage issues, and he maintains the Cyber insurance Law Blog at http://www.databreachninja.com.        

About Reclamere
Reclamere, Inc. is a data security company that offers 360 degree data security and breach prevention, and a full range of data destruction services to its clients many of whom are in highly regulated sectors including healthcare and finance. Founded in 2001, Reclamere provides client-focused, environmentally compliant management solutions for end-of-life computer equipment and data destruction services. As an industry leader, Reclamere is known for its robust data security assessments, expert consulting capabilities, and proprietary data breach prevention processes. Reclamere guarantees protection of its clients' sensitive information against data breaches and data theft. Reclamere also works with clients on-site at their locations throughout the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.reclamere.com. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
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