Benefits Breakdown: Recent Episodes
Brown & Brown
It’s no secret, employee benefits are complicated. We’re here to break things down and help you build a roadmap for your approach to benefits. Together with our expert guests, we’ll explore complex, counterintuitive, and compelling topics that give you a better understanding of the “whys” of the industry.
Jared and Adam dive into strategies for Open Enrollment and expand on innovative ideas seen in the marketplace. From an Open Enrollment Rap Song to a Branded Benefits Experience, the discussion focuses on turning off the ‘autopilot’ for Open Enrollment and adding the human element that best shares the company’s culture. In addition, the team goes into compliance considerations for everyday enrollment to help ensure the organization is protected.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by the head of AGIS Network, Kevin Sypniewski. The team leads a discussion around strategies and best practices for employers to help understand the evolving Long-Term Care industry. With 14 states looking at legislation and eight carriers launching new or improved products, employers are now evaluating the launch of new programs. Kevin helps guide this strategic discussion about what employers can do to understand and evolve in the Long-Term Care space.
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Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared and Adam are joined by Gina Schreiber, Brown & Brown's Medicare Advocacy Leader, to discuss ways employers can help manage Medicare Advocacy for their organizations. With an employee over 65+ costing 3.5x that of an employee under the age of 65, understanding the risk to a health plan is essential. The team speaks with Gina about how employers can best deploy strategies and educate employees (and their families) about navigating the Medicare space. Spoiler alert...companies can WIN, and employees can WIN by saving money and time!
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by Dr. Louise Short, Brown & Brown's National Clinical Leader, to discuss cancer. This disease remains at the top of the list for large claims and plan spend. Dr. Short dives into the prevalence of cancer within organizations, cancer care and best practices to consider. The team then goes into genomic vs. genetic testing and employer strategies that involve everything from second opinion services through supporting behavioral health that integrates with cancer care.
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by National Benefits Leader Robyn Piper with Piper Jordan, a recent addition to the Brown & Brown team of companies. Robyn discusses how to help build winning health plans and solve issues that employers and employees face. The team tackles a plethora of topics including Pharmacy Contracts, Social Determinants of Health, Food Deserts, Plan Discounts, High-Performance Networks, Low-Wage Plan Design and more! This fast-paced discussion will help you drive new ideas and conversations within your organization.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam lead a discussion around strategies and best practices for employers during open enrollment. Building off the recent article titled ‘Six Ways to Improve Open Enrollment’ from Brown & Brown, the team expands on the impact when joining technology with the human element during open enrollment. The team covers open enrollment strategies including highlighting mental and behavioral health, increasing financial wellness education and sharing company messages to help build culture.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by Brown & Brown's National Behavioral Health Leader, Dr. Joel Axler. Building on his recent white paper on Behavioral Health Trends, the team expands on the pandemic's impact and effect on our mental and behavioral health. The team will discuss behavioral health trends, employer concerns and actionable items for employers to consider. Dr. Joel also explores a reimagined employee assistance program to help drive engagement and support employees wherever they might be on their journey.
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Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam dive deeper into the recently released Brown & Brown Employee Benefits GAP Analysis and go 'BEYOND MEDICAL BENEFITS' to discuss emerging trends with non-medical plans, ancillary benefits, fringe benefits, health services and family-friendly benefits. With so many services and offerings in the marketplace, the team focuses on products that can help reach and engage employees. Finally, the team discusses actionable ways that businesses can align coverages and contracts to support employees (and families) when they need it.
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Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by their teammate, Rebecca Shipley, to discuss emerging trends within employee total rewards. Rebecca and the team examine how employers are finding new and innovative ways to expand the different forms of compensation, and how the world of total rewards has evolved in the last 24 months. They will also share areas where employers should be careful and pay special attention when creating a total rewards program. Finally, the team addresses areas of low-hanging fruit that any sized employer can focus on within their total rewards package.
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Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa and Adam are joined by Dr. Eric Bricker to discuss Virtual Primary Care and how employers (and employees) can control costs and improve quality of care. Dr. Bricker dives into Virtual Primary Care, which focuses on 24/7 urgent care, chronic care and preventive screenings. These services provide quick, convenient access to a trusted doctor, helps improve access equity and promotes medication adherence. Virtual Primary Care can also reduce high-cost claims through coordinated referrals and chronic condition management.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by three industry specialists, Steve Maike, Laura Birkel and Frank Bacon, to talk about some of the emerging trends in pharmacy spending. Our panel jumps into all things pharmacy benefits, with the basics of what is a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and the difference between carved in vs. carved out. They also address complicated items like managing specialty drug spend and what a copay maximizer program is.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Abinue Fortingo to discuss emerging trends in population health. They dive into the difference between a program that will help create an ROI and one designed solely for culture. Abinue also discusses his passion and knowledge on behavior health and how employers can make improvements to their mental health offerings.
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Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Dave Ross. Dave is a seasoned insurance professional specializing in the self-funded space. Together they discuss self-funding from the basics to elements that even experienced professionals may not focus on.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Powell Brown, CEO of Brown & Brown, Inc. joins Jared, Vanessa and Adam to talk about the challenges many employers faced during the last two years and how they can approach the future. Powell shares what it takes to create a culture to recruit and retain talent, and how work-life balance is crucial. As an avid reader, he talks about his passion for reading and shares his all-time favorite books.
The Employee Benefits team discusses emerging trends in the employee benefits space and how employers can structure a winning strategy. They also talk about what employers should be focused on in 2022 and short-term trends versus areas every employer should have on their radar.
Thank you for your support in listening to our monthly episodes. We want to wish you happy holidays and a fantastic new year. We look forward to bringing you new episodes in January, where we'll continue to cover the complex and compelling topics of Employee Benefits. Look forward to seeing you in 2022!
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by James Slotnick from SunLife. James is a true Washington insider that focuses on the employee benefits world. James dives into several pieces of evolving legislation and how these law changes may have a big impact on employers and their current benefit offerings.
Jared, Vanessa and Adam are joined by Rich Babcock from the Brown & Brown Population Health team. In this episode, the team breaks down the changing world of population health. They also dive into how COVID-19 has put mental health care on the forefront for all employers, EAP, and how other services have stepped up to fill this need.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Tom Goeltz to discuss the real dangers of distracted driving and how employers can play a part to reverse the trend we are seeing in the United States. Tom shares his personal story and some useful tips employers can utilize to help their employees and others on the road safe.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Steve Piccolino to talk about the continuing advancements of benefits enrollment technology. The process for employees to enroll in benefits has evolved and it has never been more important for employees to have an easy experience to enroll in benefits.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Terry Adams to talk about all things data and analytics. The data conversations are everywhere, but how can employers utilize data so it can have a real impact on their spend?
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Nick Karls to talk about the recent rules and regulation changes coming out of Washington D.C. that employers need to be focused on for their benefit plans.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam talk about the latest trends and ideas in employee benefits. How can employers evolve to offer creative benefits that their employees need in an ever-changing environment?
Jared, Vanessa, Adam are joined by Scott Horton of Delta Concepts Consulting to discuss ways employers can create a more inclusive and diverse culture in the workplace.
Jared and Adam are joined by Pete Kranz from Beecher Carlson to discuss all things captives and address many of the common questions in the market.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Melanie Payton from Pacific Resources to discuss the ins and outs of employee leave management and address many of the common questions in the market.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined again by Dave Ross to discuss several myths and misconceptions about employee benefits.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Dave Ross to discuss several myths and misconceptions about employee benefits.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Rebecca Shipley to discuss compensation, pay equity, and all things total rewards.
Jared, Vanessa, and Adam are joined by Gina Schreiber from Absence Services Group to discuss the ins and outs of Medicare and answer common questions that arise when enrolling.
Jared and Vanessa are joined by Nathan White from RxBenefits to discuss the latest trends in the world of prescription drugs.
Jared and Vanessa give a rundown on Business Group on Health's 2021 Large Employers Health Care Strategy and Plan Survey.