Broker blog

On April 14th, Game of Thrones returns to HBO for its eighth and final season. It’s said to be one of the most anticipated in the history of television. In preparation for GOT’s return, I recently re-watched the entire series. 

As I watched the previous 67 episodes, I was struck by some of the lessons that could be applied to our industry and specifically freshbenies. I’m sharing four fun parallels…

I grew up in Canada and have been speaking on the government-controlled healthcare topic throughout the employee benefits industry for 20+ years. 

Like a horror movie, the topic is screaming “I’m baaaaack!” And it is - in a big way. 

Brokers, what industry conferences will you attend this year? I’ve been to HUNDREDS over my 25+ years in the employee benefits industry. 

Some were funny, engaging, and full of ideas while others were dull, full of schlocky commercials, and an extreme waste of time. If you’ve attended more than three conventions, I’m sure you know what I mean.

Do you remember when telehealth was a new idea? Maybe it’s difficult to recall, but less than 10 years ago, we were often asked if telehealth was legal! 

Are provider sponsored health plans (PSHPs) a good move? While patient benefits could include lower costs, improved care and a more integrated experience, there can be significant hurdles to reaching those pay-offs.

Some PSHPs like Kaiser Permanente, UPMC and Geisinger have experienced long-standing success, but many others haven’t. 

As a former employee of one such PSHP, I’m sharing four challenges I witnessed first-hand that will help you strategize the best alternative plans for your groups. 

If you’re in the Employee Benefits industry, you know things are changing a LOT faster today than they did a decade ago. 

The (above) average health insurance broker is dealing with a mix of issues: commissions vs. consultant fees, Medicare For All, constant legislation and compliance changes, growing your business and building your pipeline, changing technology, self-funding, voluntary benefits, cost-containment, consumerism, shifting employee populations, new benefit plan products and ideas, etc. With all that, it’s important to keep learning and stay connected. 

As your 2018 selling season comes to an end and you finish open enrollments, I’m sure you’ve started thinking about next year: what will change, what will stay the same and what will drive client conversations? 

Over the year, I attended dozens of conferences, spoke with thousands of benefits consultants, and read hundreds of thousands of words about our industry. 

Based on all that and my “few years” in this fine industry, I’m sharing predictions for 2019.

It’s the wild west out there in healthcare! News about mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, venture capital, technology, etc. are in the headlines daily.

If you haven’t heard, Baylor Scott & White and Memorial Hermann recently announced a merger. The planned combination of Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health with Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System would form a 68-hospital system, making it the largest in Texas and among the largest nationwide, with annual revenue in excess of $14 billion.