As we kick off 2025, employers have an opportunity to rethink their approach to health insurance. The focus has long been on short-term savings in 12-month renewal cycles, but it’s time to zoom out and consider a strategic health plan overhaul.
Think Beyond the Renewal
If your company spends $1 million on premiums today, over the next decade, that translates to $13.8 million in spend—a staggering figure that demands more than just a “wait and see” approach. Instead of trying to shave off a few percentage points year after year, ask yourself: What would it take to truly bend this cost curve over the next decade?
Healthcare Premiums Are Employee Dollars
Your health insurance dollars are essentially reallocated employee compensation or potential company profit. Every dollar paid to insurers, providers, and others in the healthcare chain is money that could otherwise be invested in your business or workforce. Employers must ask themselves if those dollars are being spent wisely or simply out of habit, necessitating a strategic health plan overhaul.
The BUCA “Easy Button”
BUCA carriers (Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Aetna) make health insurance simple—especially for them. They bundle pre-selected “best-in-class” solutions into packages designed to fit the masses. While this approach “works” for millions, it’s hardly customized. Their “easy button” solution may not account for your specific workforce’s needs or may leave your members occasionally feeling left out in the cold. A strategic health plan overhaul can better tailor solutions to unique workforce needs.
Build Your Own Best-in-Class Solution
What if you could offer a health plan designed specifically for your employees? By curating your own set of point solutions—high-quality telehealth, alternative Rx sourcing, second opinion services, centers of excellence, mental healthcare resources, and care navigation tools—you can deliver a plan that aligns with the needs of your workforce. This strategy takes effort. It requires time to collect and analyze data, implement new tools, and execute a thoughtful plan. But the rewards? Lower long-term costs and a healthier, more engaged workforce, all achieved through a strategic health plan overhaul.
It’s Not Just About Cost—It’s About Care
Every dollar spent on healthcare could otherwise enhance employee compensation. By taking control of your health plan, you can redirect those dollars into better access to care. Imagine offering your employees solutions that connect them to higher-quality, lower-cost providers—conveniently and effectively. That’s not just a financial win, it’s a morale and productivity booster.
Better Benefits, Lower Costs: 2025 and Beyond
This year, we encourage you to challenge the status quo. The “easy button” has its appeal, but true progress takes a willingness to innovate. Employers who commit to building a better plan will see the value—not always immediately, but in ways that matter most over time.
After all, doing the same thing year after year while expecting different results? Well, you know what they say about insanity… Make 2025 the year you prioritize better benefits and lower costs for your employees. It’s not just a resolution—it’s a strategy.
