The Provider Data Action Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit cross-section of healthcare leaders, in July 2017 began work on a wide-ranging effort to improve the accuracy of provider data for industry stakeholders and patients. The alliance, which represents health, dental and vision plans; provider organizations, health systems, government and health information exchanges, has developed a roadmap that articulates actionable strategies and vision for obtaining and sharing high-quality provider information that

Pan-American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) in June 2017 acquired HolaDoctor, the leading digital provider of health and wellness solutions for Hispanic audiences, in a significant strategic initiative by PALIG that both expands its presence in the U.S. Hispanic market and strengthens its position as a healthcare leader in Latin America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1999, HolaDoctor is an online resource for Hispanic consumers interested

Advocacy organization Cross Border Benefits Alliance-Europe (CBBA-Europe) in July 2017 was launched to promote cross-border/pan-European employee benefit plans in Europe, including pensions, healthcare, disability, long-term care, and well-being/wellness programs. The Alliance “is strongly convinced that the current national barriers to the creation of cross-border employee benefits represent a useless burden and foolish costs for sponsor companies and future beneficiaries”. CBBA-Europe will lobby E.U. institutions and member states to remove

The reinsurance and capital advisory division of Aon, Aon Benfield, in June 2017 announced the appointment of Andy Marcell as its president, based in New York and reporting to Aon Benfield CEO Eric Andersen. Since 2015, he was Aon Benfield’s head of strategy, joining from the position of CEO of Guy Carpenter’s U.S. operations and head of its global facultative business. He had joined Guy Carpenter in 1990 as

Global relocation services provider Cartus in July 2017 announced the appointment of Mark Sonders as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, based in Cartus’ worldwide headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut. He joins the company with over 20 years in business-to-business sales and leadership roles, coming from Vertafore, a provider of technology solutions for the insurance industry. Prior experience included roles at eMind and Thomson Reuters. He earned a Bachelor

Cyber risk analytics firm Cyence and specialty insurance market Lloyd’s of London in July 2017 published a joint report that explores the financial impact on insurers of two specific cyber scenarios in terms of dollars and probabilities. Cyence’s economic modeling platform for cyber risk identified and quantified the potential outcomes that could affect insurance companies’ cyber portfolios. The report focused on two increasingly common cyber events: a cloud service provider

Vaccines manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur in July 2017 announced that its first doses of its range of influenza (“flu”) vaccines for the 2017-2018 flu season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Shipments will begin in early August to support fall immunization campaigns. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the single best way to prevent the flu is to get an

Lockton Chairman David Lockton in July 2017 announced that Vice Chairman Ron Lockton will expand his role to become President and CEO of Lockton. He succeeds Glenn Spencer, who has resigned effective immediately. Ron Lockton will work closely with David Lockton, U.S. President Peter Clune, International CEO Neil Nimmo, and Lockton leaders around the world. Ron Lockton joined Lockton Companies in 1990 after working with Aetna as a casualty

Cheryl H. Johnson in July 2017 was appointed Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and a member of the executive office at Caterpillar, reporting to CEO Jim Umpleby. Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in HR leadership positions. Most recently, she was executive vice president of human resources for Textron, a very large global and diversified manufacturing company. Her 20-year career with Textron has included a number of

Amber Kennelly in July 2017 joined global insurance brokerage Hub International as Chief Human Resources Officer, in charge of talent acquisition and management, learning and development, employee relations, compensation, employee benefits and payroll. Kennelly reports to Martin Hughes, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and is a member of the Hub Executive Management Team. Most recently she was Vice President of compensation and benefits for Allstate Insurance

Global insurance brokerage Hub International (Hub) in July 2017 acquired HR technology consultants MillsonJames for an undisclosed sum. Based in Florida, USA, MillsonJames advises brokers and employers on HR and benefits technology.  MillsonJames principal Scott Millson now reports to Chris Gardner, President and CEO, Hub Florida.

The Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies in July 2017 passed a reform of the long-term nursing care (LTC) insurance plan provided by Social Security, officially known as “assurance dépendance”. The new provisions that come into force on 1 January 2018 allow for higher individualization of the range of – mainly nursing – services to better meet the daily needs of LTC beneficiaries. New standards and controls and simplified procedures are

For those who have been away there is a momentous change taking place in the workforce that you may have missed. A generational transition is introducing new values to the workplace, creating a seismic shift in culture and the way in which employers are interacting with their employees.

After much secrecy and no public deliberation, Senate Republicans finalized release their “draft” repeal and replace bill for the Affordable Care Act on June 22. Unquestionably, the released “draft” will not be the final version.

A universe of organisms living inside you may affect every part of your body, from your brain to your bones, and even your thoughts, feelings and your attempts to lose weight.

Swiss Re 2017 Group Watch – and now for the bad news! Why is it that insurers are never happy? An additional 4.5% increase in employees covered and 3.8% increase in premiums means that at the end of 2016 we insured 12,029,790 people and £2.106bn in premiums.

Global Benefits Vision: Looking at the concept of multinational pooling, which has been around for about five decades, what has changed over the decades, and what has changed recently, in terms of insurance markets and the way multinationals manage benefits and ultimately utilize the concept of pooling?

There is increasing international emphasis on patient-centered care at all levels of health services. This shift recognizes that it is the patient, not the doctor, who should drive health care decisions. Patient-centered care involves acknowledging that each patient is unique and health care decisions should be guided by individual needs, values, and preferences (Table).

Earnings rose in 2016 for the U.S. health insurance industry, with net income for those companies filing a health annual statement rising by 46% to $13.1 billion compared with $9.0 billion in 2015. This, according to an A.M. Best special report titled, U.S. Health Insurance Industry Earnings Up in 2016.  The report notes that net income was supported by a second year of improving underwriting income, which is owed

The Immigration Industry Association (IIA), in July 2017 officially launched as a non-profit, professional association for the global immigration industry and the wider migrant and expat community. The association provides a forum for the immigration community to come together to network, share ideas, information, research and experiences. Its core objectives include: Linking the immigration industry together and providing opportunities for collaboration Creating a supportive forum for individuals, companies, non-profits

Crossing the U.S. border often is a time-consuming and sometimes even an unpleasant experience. Sixteen years after September 11, 2001, which marked the beginning of much-heightened security at U.S. border crossings, the government presses ahead with accelerated entry procedures for nationals of certain countries meeting certain requirements. It does so through at least five programs: Global Entry; NEXUS (U.S., Canadian, and Mexican nationals); SENTRI (all countries); the Visa Waiver

As it expands its employee benefits practice in Asia, global consulting and actuarial firm Milliman in July 2017 announced that Mark Whatley will join their ranks as a consulting actuary in Singapore, where he will focus on further developing the firm’s employee benefits business across multinational, local, and government-linked organizations. Whatley previously directed Willis Towers Watson’s benefits practice in South East Asia. A member and Fellow of the Singapore

In a long overdue move, the European Commission in June 2017 unveiled a proposal for a pan-European personal pensions product (PEPP). PEPPs are designed to complement – not replace or harmonize  – existing state-based occupational and national personal pensions throughout the European Union. The PEPP forms part of the Commission’s plan to build a Capital Markets Union (CMU), wherein the Commission believes the new pension product will help to

The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) in 2016 issued work permit fines to over 52,000 organizations for a total of 141,000 fines for incomplete work permit registration or late renewals, hitting approximately 15 per cent of UAE companies. The fine is Dhs100 per day, capped at Dhs2,000 (USD 544 or EUR 476 at June 30, 2017 exchange rates). An organization cannot not receive any further work

Actuarial firm Milliman in June 2017 released a white paper: The 2016 US Group Disability Market Survey, which discusses employer-paid and employee-paid short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance products, and includes an analysis of premiums, cases, and covered lives from new sales and in-force business in 2015 and 2016. The white paper determined that the combined STD and LTD in-force premium among contributing companies in 2016 was

U.S. banking group Wells Fargo in June 2017 announced that it had sold Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA (WFIS) to USI Insurance Services. Wells Fargo group is refocusing on core banking products and services. Wells Fargo’s Personal Insurance business remains with Wells Fargo group and will report to its Consumer Lending division. WFIS provides small business, middle market, large corporate and high net worth clients with property and casualty,

Joos Louwerier, current CEO of Allianz Life Korea, in June 2017 was named Country Manager and CEO for Allianz Life Indonesia, replacing Joachim Wessling. Louwerier will oversee the growth strategy and have overall management responsibility for all Allianz operations in Indonesia. A graduate of the University of Amsterdam, Louwerier also holds two Executive MBAs from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the National University of Singapore. He brings