Consumer Driven Health Care

Brokers will prove their value if they can advise clients on how self-funding consumer-directed health plans, combined with stop-loss coverage, can help manage rising costs, and also suggest reliable stop loss partners to provide protection.

Given the uncertain impact of health care reform and a rocky economy, theres a lot for a broker to worry about these days. And its all having a big effect on how they are looking at the benefits industry.

Perhaps people living in the Bay State area should move south if they want a little health care cost relief. Massachusetts and Vermont led the nation in 2010 with average, individual market health insurance premiums topping $400 per person per month, according to new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

A new survey of more than 200 U.S. health care professionals reveals costs will rise significantly with health care reform, but will be balanced with increased access to care and new organizational efficiencies that will improve patients quality of care.

Walgreen Co., the largest drugstore chain in the U.S., said Monday it is now offering seasonal flu vaccinations at all of its stores during pharmacy and clinic hours.

Doctors in the United States spend almost four times more on health insurance administrative costs than their Canadian peers, according to new data.

The Obama administration says it has good news for seniors: The average monthly premium for Medicare's popular prescription plan won't go up next year.

The number of health savings accounts (HSAs) – and the average amount of contributions per account – increased between 2008 and 2009.