Author name: Cara Lovenson

Navigating the 2026 Landscape: Beyond the Traditional Group Plan The insurance market of 2026 is vastly different than it was even five years ago. With medical inflation projected to rise by 6–8% this year, the "standard" PPO plan is becoming a luxury many businesses can't afford. But there are alternatives that your broker might not […]

You are likely staring at a renewal notice that feels more like a ransom note than a business proposal. As 2026 unfolds, the insurance landscape has shifted, and the "standard" double-digit increases that carriers present are often treated as inevitable. We are here to tell you they are not. While your carrier might imply that

Your business deserves insurance coverage that matches the pace and sophistication of today's marketplace, yet you're likely caught between the promise of cutting-edge digital platforms and the proven reliability of traditional insurance relationships. We understand this challenge because we help businesses navigate exactly this decision every day, and the answer isn't as simple as choosing

You might think you have a handle on your employee benefits budget, but for many business owners and HR managers, there is a "black box" that quietly drains thousands of dollars every month. This box is your Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). While these entities are supposed to negotiate lower drug prices for your team, the

You have likely noticed a frustrating pattern in your annual benefits renewal: your premiums climb, your employees complain about out-of-pocket costs, and your insurance broker tells you it is simply "the market." But behind the curtain of the 2026 healthcare landscape, a multi-billion dollar shell game is being played with your money. The biggest culprit?

The calendar says 2026, but if you’re a business owner or HR manager looking at your latest health insurance renewal, it might feel like 1926: specifically, the year of the Great Depression. The costs are astronomical, the "solutions" offered by traditional carriers feel like Band-Aids on a bullet wound, and the paperwork is enough to

You have likely seen the renewal notice sitting on your desk, and if you haven’t yet, brace yourself. As we navigate the 2026 insurance landscape, the numbers are jarring: small-group health insurance premiums are projected to rise by a median of 11% this year, while overall commercial medical costs are trending toward a two-decade high.

You feel it every year. That slight tightening in your chest when the renewal notice arrives. You open the envelope (or the PDF) and there it is: another double-digit increase that seems to have no basis in reality. For 2026, the whispers in the hallways of the major carriers are getting louder, and they aren't

You open the renewal notice from your current health insurance carrier, and your heart sinks. Another double-digit increase. For many business owners and HR managers, this has become an annual tradition: one that is both frustrating and seemingly unavoidable. You feel stuck between a rock and a hard place: you want to provide exceptional benefits

Pharmacy Transparency and PBM Carve-Outs You don't have to use the carrier's "bundled" pharmacy plan. We often recommend "carving out" the pharmacy benefit to an independent, transparent PBM. This ensures that 100% of the rebates flow back to the plan and that your employees are incentivized to use lower-cost generics and preferred brands without sacrificing