Highlights from Linton & Associate’s 2011 Annual Benefits Update Presentation

One of the main objectives at Linton & Associates is to provide up-to-date and comprehensive information for clients to help them make better decisions about their employee benefits. We do this through many channels, but our regular presentations on benefits offers an overview of the current trends and information that impacts employee benefits.

Radical Changes Coming in 2012

As more employers are concerned with what they feel will be radical changes this year, it is more important, now more than ever, to give companies the right information that they can understand and that will help them. For instance, a June 2011 McKinsey Quarterly article, entitled, “How US health care reform will affect employee benefits,” some interesting findings were noted in their research:

Our research suggests that when employers become more aware of the new economic and social incentives embedded in the law and of the option to restructure benefits beyond dropping or keeping them, many will make dramatic changes.

These changes will then spillover into the insurance marketplace, causing further changes and need for guidance. As the article stated:

To serve employers, insurers must retool their business models to provide more consultative support during the transition and develop innovative approaches to support employers’ new benefit strategies (see sidebar “Implications for health insurers”). For employers and insurers, success after 2014 will require a better understanding of employee and employer segments, and the development of the right capabilities and partnerships to manage the transition. 

Topics of Interest Covered

Now available is Linton & Associates’ 2011 annual benefits presentation found on our current website. In it, we have covered a wide range of topics that may interest you. Topics covered in the presentation include:

• New Mexico health carriers.
• Health reform update news for what happened in 2010 and throughout 2011 to provide a snapshot of how these changes impact employers and employees in terms of health insurance as well as other types of employee benefits.
• An insight into what kinds of changes and impact will occur in 2012 related to health care reform.
• Heath reform in New Mexico and how these state changes impact on employers, including the potential advantages and information on the Consumer Assistance Program.
• Local New Mexico legislative updates in terms of the balance of power and the overall political climate as it affects local businesses, large and small, related to redistricting and local decision-making.
• Federal legislative updates that also impact on local New Mexico employers as well as those located in nearby states.
• Information on the American Jobs Act 2011 and what it means for employers.
• Outline information about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
• A list of resources and links to find additional information that relates to these topics and helps businesses and individuals understand the issues involved in employee benefits today.

Our Consultative Approach

We are here to answer your questions about how health reform and other legislative changes will impact upon your business and the type of employee benefits you can offer so you stay within your budget but do so without losing your top talent. Please leave your questions here or contact us directly so we can provide personalized consulting about your employee benefits challenges and needs.