GLG News by Life & Health Insurance Consultants

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Florida Legislators Research on PBM Business Model

March 28, 2007

Analysis of:Legislature Could consider Options to Address PBM Business Practices | www.oppaga.state.fl.us

The attention of state legislators to PBM business practices has implications for investors in the healthcare sector as well as the business models PBMS will use in the future.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

The War on Drug Costs

March 28, 2007

Analysis of:Why Generics Do not Always mean Cheap | online.wsj.com

While the Wall Street Journal has done an admirable job exposing many of the ways PBMS have boosted profits at the expense of their customers they have not yet arrived at the flaws which make the current business models of PBMS susceptible to competition.

Titus BocseriManaging DirectorUmbrella Solutions

Is this (really) a surprise?

November 3, 2006

Analysis of:Suit Reveals Fraudulent Scheme in Life Settlement Industry | www.oag.state.ny.us

Considering the nature of the life settlement deals is anchored in arbitrage, this secondary market is filling a gap between the insurance industry and capital markets. However, given the growth of the industry - the estimated market size in 2015 is around 130 billion dollars - there will be players that are willing to go the 'extra mile' in order to get more business. In particular, it is not unusual that life settlement companies to participate in 'co-brokering fees' with brokers that are supposed to represent the interests of the policy holders - especially when the commision is 50% or more of what the (former) insured received.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Outsourcing In Insurance

September 12, 2006

Analysis of:Insurance Outsourcing Focuses on India | www.insurancejournal.com

Insurance companies have been slow to outsource because management can be quite conservative when it comes to changing the status quo. Actuaries are not risk takers--they want sure things. Billing, Premium collection, IT support, web based enrollment, Policy issue and document management services all lend themselves to outsourcing. Initial forays into outsourcing by insurers seeking IT support were often resisted by inhouse IT departments with turf to defend and actuaries who wanted access to their data in real time. Compliance with 50 different state insurance  departments to satisfy was also a barrier to outsourcing.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Deja Vu All over Again

September 7, 2006

Analysis of:Willis given OK to take some insurer payments | www.businessinsurance.com

The short answer to your question is yes-- brokers are again headed down the slippery slope.

At issue is who is the brokers client and the extent to which full disclosure occurs?

Whom does the broker represent? Does anyone actually believe Willis calls on a company who thinks Willis works for the insurance companies they broker coverage through? I would argue the company who hires Willis ( or Marsh or AON ) believes their broker works for them alone.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

The Truth About Universal Healthcare

September 7, 2006

Analysis of:Stethoscope Socialism | www.washtimes.com

 Not a day goes by without a call from a new interest group calling for Universal Healthcare in the U.S. media. At a time when US investors are making  healthcare  their top sector ( Barrons 9/4/2006 http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-stocks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin  )rarely do the advocates of universal healthcare consider the impact such a change could have on our economy as well as on our nation's families as the population ages. Should healthcare decisions in the US ever move from the realm of doctor-patient to government -citizen perhaps investors should consider the consequences on biotechnology as well as the political fallout of rationing care in a graying America.

Understanding the economic incentives of the US market based healthcare system and the positive contributions to the US economy and its citizens our healthcare system produces should be at the core of any debate on change and this article contains a valuable perspective.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

The High Cost of Presenteeism Is Noticeable

September 1, 2006

Analysis of:The Lights are On, But Nobody's Home: Preventing Presenteeism | www.ceridian.com

According to a Cornell University study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine in 2004, presenteeism costs employers $2,000 per employee annually.

Presenteeism is defined as the measure of productivity lost due to an employee who shows up for work but is not fully engaged due to untreated personal health or work life imbalance.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Marsh after Spitzer

September 1, 2006

Analysis of:Investors join calls for Marsh break-up | www.thebusinessonline.com

From an employee benefits perspective, Marsh is today a shadow of its former self in my markets.

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Great Info For Healthcare Investors

September 1, 2006

Analysis of:2007 Segal Health Plan Survey | www.segalco.com

This survey presents detailed data on current cost trends for HMO, PPO and Pharmacy benefits for 2007. The data is complete and provides some regional distinctions where statistically significant data allows a conclusion.

This survey confirms several trends effecting healthcare in 2007;

•     PPO trend is 11.6%

•     HMO trend is 11.1%

•     mail order pharmacy trend will decline 3% in 2007

Daniel BucklePrincipalEmployee Benefit Resources of South Texas

Are You Willing to Pay More For Healthcare To Live Longer?

August 31, 2006

Analysis of:Study Finds Healthcare Good Value Despite Costs | www.washingtonpost.com

Rarely does the phrase good value find its way into the same sentence with healthcare in America today which makes this Harvard based economist a voice of reason in todays media coverage of the Healthcare crisis.

Healthcare investors should read this survey and ask whether higher healthcare costs than Britain or Canada is ultimately a bad thing for the citizens of the US.

Previous Page : 12345Next11 to 20 of 43