Moving forward.

"PPACA will go forward and the 100 and under market will continue to decline as more and more employers send their employees to the state and federal exchanges. The large national brokers will continue to grow and will slow down acquisitions as small group brokers that have failed to diversify their block with worksite and voluntary will lose more income making it harder for them to survive. Conversation will open again and go nowhere again regarding the federal government taking over regulation of the insurance industry. Enrollment companies will continue to grow as they take on more of the benefit enrollment and administration burden from HRs of over 1,000-person companies. Platforms will make major improvements as all models will need to be "plug and play" and employ decision making tools."

—Jim Christenson, field vice president at Allstate Benefits; Philadelphia

Survival game.

"Advisors will see the small group market fade away as more small businesses abandon group-sponsored health insurance and send employees to the public exchanges. Instead, they will either sell their practices, merge with larger organizations or focus the necessary resources on developing tools, strategies and expertise in the mid-sized to large markets. Those who choose to innovate and adapt will survive—at least for another five years or so."

—Aaron Davis, president of NextLogical Benefit Strategies; Benefits Selling's 2013 Broker of the Year; Westminster, Maryland

Consumerism growth.

"Everyone will have a high-deductible plan/HSA/HRA or some type of plan that forces the employee into consumerism. Worksite or voluntary plans like accident/critical illness/gap plans will become more prevalent. I also expect more brokerage consolidation, and think most brokers will have in-house compliance managers/attorneys."

—Jani De La Rosa, senior vice president, Heffernan Insurance Brokers; San Francisco