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© 2021 Benefits Breakdown
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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.
74 Episodes
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The team is joined by Ellen Kelsay, President & CEO of the Business Group on Health. The discussion highlights how leading employers are responding to rising healthcare costs, global pressures, and evolving employee needs. The team explores trends in physical health, mental health and financial health . They also dive into social connectedness, community involvement, and the growing use of data and dashboards to drive accountability. The episode wraps up with actionable steps employers can take to strengthen well-being programs, boost engagement, and prepare for future challenges.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, the team is joined by Josh Halperin, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Consulting Services at Brown & Brown. Together, they explore the rapidly changing pharmacy landscape—how the surge in specialty drug approvals, the rise of GLP-1 medications, and shifting oncology treatments are reshaping employer health plans. The conversation unpacks the financial impact of these trends, the promise of biosimilars, and the challenges posed by new legislation, direct-to-consumer pharmacy models, and drug import tariffs.
Whether you’re a benefits leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about the future of pharmacy benefits, this episode delivers actionable insights and real-world strategies to help you navigate complexity, control costs, and plan for what’s next.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
In this episode of The Benefits Breakdown, Sean Clem and Steve Piccolino from the Brown & Brown Benefits Technology team join us to explore the rapidly evolving world of benefits technology. From the integration of AI in administration to the critical role of employee engagement, they unpack how strategic tech investments are reshaping the employee experience.
The conversation dives into emerging industry trends, the power of communication, and the future of HR technology—highlighting why organizations must adapt to stay ahead in the benefits landscape.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, the team is joined by Rachel Jensen from the Population Health and Well-Being team at Brown & Brown. Together, they explore the concept of "friends as medicine" and how social connection, belonging and workplace culture directly impact employee health, retention and productivity. The conversation explores the latest trends in lifestyle medicine, including food as medicine, movement as medicine and the critical role of social well-being in today's evolving work environment.
Whether you're a benefits leader, HR professional or simply passionate about workplace wellness, this episode delivers actionable insights and real-world examples to help you drive positive change.
For more information, watch our Friends as Medicine webinar.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared and Adam discuss the challenges and innovations shaping employee benefits during open enrollment season. With healthcare costs rising at record rates—often 10% or more—employers are exploring new funding models, direct-to-consumer pharmacy options and Centers of Excellence (COEs) to improve outcomes and control spend.
The team highlights the importance of ongoing communication, data-driven decisions and leveraging technology to help employees make informed choices. Real-world examples show how COEs and alternative care models can deliver significant savings and better experiences. Employers are encouraged to audit their plans, build year-round engagement strategies and stay open to new ideas to thrive in a rapidly changing benefits landscape.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Today on the Benefits Breakdown, Vanessa Longnecker, Jared Bowcutt and Adam Compton are joined by Meghan Pistritto and Dr. Wendy Coduti from Prudential to unpack the findings of the “2025 Benefits and Beyond” study. The conversation explores the growing intersection of financial stress, mental health, and employee well-being—and how employers can better support their teams.
The episode highlights key insights from the study, including:
A disconnect between employer intentions and employee perceptions of support. The need for holistic wellness strategies that integrate financial, mental, physical and social health. Best practices for ongoing communication, benefit education and building trust. The importance of leadership modeling vulnerability and mental health openness. Real-world examples of flexible work, embedded support services and proactive manager training.
With personal stories, practical strategies and a call to action for cultural change, this episode is a must-listen for HR leaders, benefit professionals and anyone committed to helping employees thrive in 2025 and beyond.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, Adam Compton, Jared Bowcutt, and guests Leyla Bilge, Casey Cullinan, and Paul Berryman explore the evolving landscape of digital wellness and its critical role in employee well-being and organizational resilience.
From the rise of AI-driven scams to the emotional toll of identity theft, the panel discusses how employers can proactively support their workforce through integrated HR and cybersecurity strategies. Leyla Bilge shares insights from her research on scam evolution and digital stress, while Casey Cullinan highlights the ROI of digital wellness programs and the importance of privacy, protection, and financial stability. Paul Berryman emphasizes the need for cross-functional collaboration between HR and security teams to build holistic support systems.
Real-life scenarios, best practices, and forward-looking strategies make this a must-listen for HR leaders, benefit professionals, and anyone navigating the digital frontier of work.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
In this insightful follow-up episode, Adam and Jared are joined by Chelsea Hamilton and Sam Thomeier from herronpalmer to explore the evolving landscape of total rewards, pay transparency and the role of AI in enhancing employee experience. From digital delivery to hyper-personalization, the team discusses how employers can build trust through thoughtful communication, empathy and transparency.
With real-world examples and generational insights, this episode offers practical strategies for navigating the future of benefits with both innovation and heart.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa and Adam are joined by compensation specialists Sam Thomeier and Chelsea Hamilton to explore the evolution of pay transparency and its growing impact on workplace culture and business strategy. Together, they unpack how regulations across 20+ states reflect a broader cultural shift toward openness and fairness in compensation. The conversation highlights key strategies such as the importance of defining your market, the role of compensation in employee retention and the need to "prepare before you share." From compliance pitfalls to leadership preparation, this episode is packed with insights for HR leaders and business owners navigating today’s competitive talent landscape.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Adam & the team are joined by Tricia Laursen, President & Executive Director, and Sandy Danault, Senior Director of Programs & Partnerships at DetectTogether, for a powerful conversation on the critical role of early cancer detection and the evolving healthcare landscape.
The discussion explores how employers can play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of health literacy and early detection. Through ongoing education, storytelling and accessible tools, DetectTogether helps organizations reduce healthcare costs while improving outcomes. Real-world examples illustrate how employer partnerships help save lives and curb rising premiums.
The episode also touches on the promise and limitations of emerging screening technologies, the emotional and financial impact of cancer in the workplace and how consistent, year-round engagement can drive meaningful change.
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Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared & Adam are joined by Tammy Miller, Executive VP of Auditing at Brown & Brown. Tammy breaks down the essentials of healthcare and pharmacy audits—why they matter, how they’re conducted and what employers often overlook. The team explores audit triggers, common findings like duplicate claims and misapplied copays and the growing importance of fiduciary responsibility. They also dive into fraud, waste and abuse detection, and how audits can benefit both plan sponsors and administrators.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
The team welcomes Melanie Payton, National Practice Leader for the Brown & Brown Absence team. In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into the current state of the market, highlighting the significant impact of absence costs, which now surpass medical expenses, and the evolving regulatory climate driven by generational shifts in employee expectations. We explore the complexities of Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) legislation, with new mandates on the horizon and the decision-making process between state-run and private plans. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of enhancing the employee experience through technology and centralized resources, and the critical role of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) in providing necessary accommodations and training for supervisors. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of these pivotal topics and their implications for employers and employees alike.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared & Adam are joined by Julie Turpin, Chief People Officer of Brown & Brown to discuss the latest trends in People Analytics and how they are shaping the future of HR. Julie highlights the importance of collecting, analyzing and applying data related to employees to improve business outcomes. This enables HR departments to gain data-driven insights for decision-making on various people processes, such as recruitment, retention, performance management and diversity initiatives.
The team delves into the concept of Thriving in '25, exploring how to foster a culture of open communication and holistic development among employees. They discuss key questions to help individuals and organizations thrive, such as evaluating daily habits, addressing tolerations and focusing on internal growth.
Check out our 2025 Employee Benefits Market Trends
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared & Adam are joined by Katy Wong, National Pharmacy Leader for Brown & Brown, to discuss the latest trends in transformative therapies and pharmacy benefit management (PBM). Katy highlights how GLP-1s, specialty drugs and gene therapies will continue to drive up costs and how biosimilars are expected to help offset these expenses to health plans.
The team dives into the challenging landscape facing the traditional PBM model in 2025. Transparency and accountability remain critical for plan sponsors, opening the door for disruptor PBMs and non-traditional PBM delivery models. The team also addresses high-cost drugs in the pipeline, transparency concerns and the current regulatory and legislative dynamics impacting plan sponsors.
Check out our 2025 Employee Benefits Market Trends
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared & Adam highlight the latest trends impacting employers, such as rising healthcare expenses and the importance of personalized benefits. The team delves into the primary elements driving employer costs, including increased utilization of services.
They further explore the significant role of large claimants—individuals with high-cost medical claims—and the importance of stop-loss contracts in mitigating financial risks for employers.
The discussion shifts to the 'real risk' to benefit plans, encompassing financial, operational and compliance risks. Effective risk management strategies are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the sustainability of benefit programs.
Check out our 2025 Employee Benefits Market Trends
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared & Adam are joined by Josh Halperin from the Brown & Brown National Pharmacy Practice. Josh highlights the latest trends impacting employers, such as rising drug prices and the importance of transparency in PBM contracts. The team dives further into GLP-1 medications, their uses and employee demands, while also discussing the challenges and opportunities of incorporating biosimilars in health plans.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared and Adam are joined by Julie Fernandez, Global HR Advisory Lead at herronpalmer, to examine current trends in the HR technology landscape. The team dives into what artificial intelligence can mean for HR and how intelligent automation can help organizations. Julie provides insight into how organizations can refocus their onboarding strategies to help employees feel engaged throughout their journey.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared, and Adam are joined by Kelly Polinski and Zach Papalia to discuss key topics, focusing on Centers of Excellence, explaining what they are and why employers are increasingly considering them. The conversation covers how common they are becoming, and typically supported treatments. Kelly and Zach provide insight into how these issues are likely to evolve and the potential impacts on employers and employees. The team dives deeper into access, contracting, outcome metrics and employer considerations when reviewing these opportunities.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Vanessa, Jared & Adam are joined by James Slotnick, Head of Government Relations at Sun Life, to discuss key topics ahead of the upcoming election. The conversation covers crucial areas such as paid family leave, pharmacy benefits and stop-loss insurance. James provides insights into how these issues are likely to evolve and impact employers and employees alike. The team dives deeper into these topics, offering strategies for organizations to consider when navigating the changing landscape of employee benefits.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
Adam and Jared are joined by Dr. Louise Short and Uthona Mikrut from the Brown & Brown Population Health team. They will share their insights on how best to understand and evaluate on-site clinics for employers. The team dives deeper into services, like physical therapy, mental health and more that are available through these clinics and offers a checklist of ideas to consider when reviewing the opportunity for your organization.
Connect with the hosts:
Jared Bowcutt
Vanessa Longnecker
Adam Compton
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