If you have ever been told “you can’t access your own portal” or “don’t worry, we’ve got great PPO discounts,” this episode is for you. Today host Chelsea unpacks real stories employers have shared with me and the costly myths behind them. Names and details are changed, the situations are real. Use this as a checklist to protect your plan, your data, and your people.


In this episode

• The red flag no one should ignore: being blocked from your own carrier portal
• No access to your ben-admin system and why that traps you from shopping the market
• Asking for compensation disclosures under CAA 2021 and getting a flat “no”
• Fear tactics about big carriers and how to verify before you trust
• Sticker shock: $125 PEPM broker fees and how to benchmark what is reasonable
• Perks over performance: NHL boxes, steak dinners, and fiduciary duty
• “Broker severance” and the myth of 250 years of benefits experience
• “Local” vs. “large” broker labels and what actually matters
• Being told you are a “small client” and why that is never an excuse
• Shiny value-adds vs. real cost and quality outcomes

Key takeaways

• It is your plan and your data. Own the logins, the reports, the invoices.
• Verify before you trust. Ask for proof, not talking points.
• Benchmark compensation and services against outcomes, not perks.
• Hold every vendor accountable to frequency and severity of claims, not swag.

If you are an employer, CFO, or CEO who is tired of trend increases and status quo advice, this conversation will give you a path to real savings and better outcomes. 

If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it.  Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy?

Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

Connect with our guest today at: 

Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.