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Benefits brokers are urged to plan ahead of group health renewals
The article says some fully insured groups in the broker’s market saw 17% premium increases in their latest cycle, making a multi-year strategy important.
Insurance Business America highlights a push for benefits brokers to start renewal planning well before notices arrive, arguing that treating renewals as a once-a-year event leaves employers with limited options.
Jennifer Schaefer, founder and chief executive officer of JS Benefits Group in Newtown, Pennsylvania, said that waiting until renewals are released can result in double-digit premium increases and missed opportunities to change outcomes for employees. She emphasized that businesses need a multi-year blueprint, not a last-minute approach.
Schaefer said a significant number of fully insured groups in her market received premium increases of 17% in their most recent cycle, and she noted the scale of the problem is reflected in broader employer cost trends. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, average family premiums for employer-sponsored coverage rose 6% that year to nearly $27,000 annually, with workers contributing an average of $6,850 from paychecks.
The article recommends brokers set monthly or quarterly touchpoints with clients and focus on more than claims review, using ongoing engagement to build trust for more complex funding arrangements over time, including options such as health reimbursement arrangements, level-funded plans, self-insured structures, and captives.