Insurance brokers and agents act as intermediaries between insurance companies selling insurance and consumers seeking to purchase insurance. There are several insurance options and insurance organizations from which to choose. Brokers and agents help navigate the many choices of insurance available to meet the needs of their clients at a fair price. If you’re in the market for personal or business insurance, you might be wondering what the differences are between an insurance agent and an insurance broker.  

Health insurance is one of the top benefits that employers can offer to employees. Providing health insurance to employees requires employers to stay on top of the ever-changing legal landscape focused on employer benefits. Do you know both the current and new federal and California health insurance regulations for 2020? In the content below, we explore how this year's health insurance regulations impact employers and employees.

One of the first considerations for candidates when evaluating job prospects is the company's employee benefits. Medical expenses can be costly, and employees want to know that they and their families will be taken care of if medical needs arise. Many employees would even consider a job with lower pay for a job with better health benefits, as 88% of the respondents in a 2,000-person study by research firm Fractl indicated. Offering healthcare benefits is essential for employers to attract, hire, and retain top talent. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has updated the model notice for employers to use to inform employees about the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). All employers with group health plans are required to distribute a CHIP notice at least once a year to employees living in certain states. There is no need to send another notice to workers who received the prior version in the past year, but employers should use the updated notice going forward. This also is a good time for employers to review their procedures for distributing CHIP notices.