Due to the continuing climb in unemployment numbers and the attendant increase in the loss of health care benefits, lawmakers are considering changes in COBRA that could result in subsidization of costs and, less likely, an extension of eligibility beyond the usual 18 months. But while insurance policy makers view COBRA changes as a possible temporary solution for workers who suddenly find themselves uninsured, some observers doubt that it would be much of a panacea for the majority of the newly unemployed — and it could result in higher costs for employers. more

Cigna’s recent announcement that it would reduce its workforce by over 1,000 positions, about four percent, to strengthen the company’s competitive position during the economic downturn, signals the importance of vendor solvency issues in employer plans. “Concerns over vendor solvency will continue to emerge, leading to increased scrutiny of carrier ratings, service disruption and quality of service,” said Dean Hatfield, Senior Vice President and Health Practice Leader, Sibson Consulting. more

Like it or not, health care reform is on the front burner in Washington and a sea change in how individuals obtain health insurance may come soon. It’s still way too early to speculate on how it will all play out, says Dean Hatfield, Senior Vice President and Health Practice Leader at Sibson Consulting, because a number of proposals are under consideration. more

The biggest challenge for President-elect Barack Obama may not be the economy or the war in the Middle East, but the battle to stop smoking.

Every year in January, people who have made New Year’s resolutions involving healthy lifestyle changes board the weight loss and tobacco-free bandwagons as they fight to break addictions and improve the odds of a long life. Health clubs are awash in new members, diet plan and nicotine patch sales rise — but for most people, those good intentions quickly fall by the wayside. more

The holiday season is a time of symbols — jolly old bearded men, snowmen, and reindeer. But this year, it’s hard for me to think about festive images because so many of the faces I see in the media remind me of the economic crisis. Greedy CEOs looking for handouts, grandstanding politicians, failed regulators, and unemployed factory workers fighting for severance from companies that shut their doors without warning, replace visions of sugarplums that danced in my head during happier holiday seasons. more