The executive order has made for a noisy discussion in healthcare circles, but employers are unlikely to make any changes, given that executive departments still must weight in. As it stands, the expansion of association health plans would supposedly make coverage cheaper for some small businesses, Shandon Fowler, Principal of Four8 Insights, told HR Dive. … Continue Reading
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HR Dive: Are employers dropping the ball on benefits communication?
Shandon Fowler, senior director of product strategy at Benefitfocus, a technology platform for employers and insurers, says he avoids using the term employee “education” when communicating benefits information. Employees don’t want to learn about benefits; they just want to be assured that they are getting the information they need, says Fowler. He adds that by using technology to … Continue Reading
Employee Benefit News: Advisers seek a tech solution to financial wellness
Meanwhile, new legislation determining how wellness plans are regulated has sparked a renewed interest in finding a streamlined financial wellbeing platform. Shan Fowler, senior director of employer portfolio and product strategy at Benefitfocus, says legislation such as the Employer Participation in Repayment Act and the Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act, will help fuel the creation of a financial … Continue Reading
Employee Benefit Adviser: How the future of technology is shaping the benefits industry
According to Shan Fowler, senior director of product strategy at Benefitfocus, automation is not replacing the human touch, but the convenience of technology and mobile accessibility is requiring businesses offer electronic services on top of the face-to-face interactions. “When I think anecdotally, I think about banks and how if I need cash I will go … Continue Reading
Employee Benefit Adviser: How cloud based systems are transforming the ‘traditional agency’ approach
A big advantage that employers and brokers alike cite when they move to cloud-based solutions is the data it provides, which in a cloud is in real-time. Data has transformed other industries by connecting data between scaling technology and measuring the scale of that technology, explains Benefitfocus’ Fowler. “Data itself is a piece of snow,” … Continue Reading
HR Dive: The 2016 benefits trends employers need to know
Shan Fowler, senior director of product strategy at Benefitfocus, noted three trends in particular with benefit technology. Consumer experience and support tools. On the consumer side, these tools are helping drive costs down by helping consumers understand and pick the plans that would fit them best. “There’s been a lot of focus on understanding the … Continue Reading
Employee Benefit News: 30 benefit pros to follow on Twitter
Shandon Fowler @ShandonFowler Director of Product Management for Benefitfocus. #ACA and #PrivateExchange expert. Author of The Groom’s Instruction Manual. Dork dad. Views are my own. Selected Tweet: Analytics is a means. For them to be successful, you must understand the end you wish to achieve. #HRTechConf Why Fowler uses social media: Tweeting, retweeting, replying and … Continue Reading