Guides
September 16, 20264 min read
Your 120-Day Health Plan Renewal Checklist
A practical timeline for employers: gather the right information, compare more than premiums, protect ongoing care, and give employees time to choose.
Resources for benefits advisors.
Benefits Intelligence
Resources for
Benefits Advisors.
Explore resources and practice opportunities for benefits advisors.
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EditorialBriefings
CuratedSources
PracticalResources
AdvisorFocused
02
Compliance Calendar
Upcoming deadlines and regulatory milestones
03
Carrier Watch
Latest carrier updates, spiffs, and program changes
Priority HealthSpiff
Q2 2026 New Business Spiff
2% bonus on all new group business effective April-June 2026. Minimum 10 enrolled lives.
2026-03-15
Read moreBlue Cross Blue Shield of MichiganProduct Enhancement
Virtual Primary Care Now Included
All fully insured groups now include virtual PCP visits at $0 copay starting April 1.
2026-03-10
Read moreBeam BenefitsProgram
SmartPremium Rate Lock Extended
SmartPremium dental rate guarantee extended from 12 to 24 months for groups 25+.
2026-03-08
Read moreUnitedHealthcareGeneral Update
Network Expansion in West Michigan
UHC adding 140+ providers to Choice Plus network across Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties effective May 1.
2026-03-05
Read moreHAP (Health Alliance Plan)Add-On Benefit
New GLP-1 Coverage Rider Available
Optional GLP-1 weight management rider now available for fully insured groups. $35 PMPM add-on.
2026-03-01
Read moreHumanaSpiff
Dental/Vision Bundle Incentive
Extra 1% first-year commission on dental+vision bundle sales through June 30. All group sizes.
2026-02-28
Read moreAetnaProduct Enhancement
Whole Health Virtual Behavioral Platform
New integrated behavioral health platform included at no cost for groups 51+. Launches April 15.
2026-02-25
Read morePriority HealthProgram
Level-Funded Threshold Lowered
Level-funded plans now available for groups as small as 5 lives (previously 10). Same underwriting criteria.
2026-02-20
Read more04
LinkedIn Pulse
Curated insights from industry thought leaders
"
Chris Deacon, JD
Principal, VerSan Consulting
"New DOL enforcement letters are specifically asking for documentation of the broker selection process. If your client can't show they evaluated multiple advisors and fee structures, they have a fiduciary exposure."
Why this matters: Actionable: Help clients document their broker selection process NOW, before a DOL inquiry arrives.
44593
Jan 14"
Brian Klepper
Healthcare Performance Expert
"PBM reform is stalling because the Big 3 own the entire supply chain — PBM, specialty pharmacy, mail order, and now provider networks. Until we break the vertical integration, drug costs won't budge."
Why this matters: Context for every GLP-1 and specialty drug conversation. The supply chain lock-in explains why carve-out PBMs matter.
39862
Jan 16"
Al Lewis
CEO, Quizzify
"Wellness programs that penalize employees for not hitting biometric targets are now facing EEOC scrutiny. The irony: the programs that cost the most often produce the worst outcomes. Evidence-based wellness or nothing."
Why this matters: Important compliance signal. If your clients still have penalty-based wellness, flag the EEOC risk immediately.
52176
Jan 18"
Dave Chase
Co-founder, Health Rosetta
"The health plan is the 2nd or 3rd largest expense for most employers, yet most CEOs couldn't tell you what they're actually buying. That's not a benefits problem — that's a fiduciary crisis."
Why this matters: The fiduciary angle is increasingly what opens doors with C-suite prospects. Frame it as risk, not cost.
63287
Jan 20"
David Contorno
CEO, E Powered Benefits
"Just saved a 200-employee manufacturer $1.2M annually by moving to a direct primary care + level-funded model. The traditional broker said it couldn't be done. It's not that it can't be done — they just don't know how."
Why this matters: Case study gold. DPC + level-funded is the playbook for mid-market manufacturers. Save this one.
1243189
Jan 22"
Nelson Griswold
Chairman, NextGen Benefits Network
"The advisor who still leads with 'I can save you money on health insurance' is the advisor who will be replaced by AI. The future belongs to advisors who solve business problems through benefits strategy."
Why this matters: Griswold nails the value proposition shift. If your pitch starts with premiums, you're already commoditized.
847124
Jan 24Who We're Following
The Voices Shaping Benefits
View All VoicesThis week's featured thought leaders — we curate their best ideas so you don't miss what matters.
Nelson Griswold
Chairman, NextGen Benefits Network
Chief Architect of the NextGen Benefits movement and founder of the NextGen Benefits Network — a national alliance of elite independent health care advisors. His framework for the "next generation" of benefits consulting has become the industry standard for advisors moving beyond traditional brokerage.
Latest Highlight
"The advisor who still leads with 'I can save you money on health insurance' is the advisor who will be replaced by AI. The future belongs to advisors who solve ..."
847124
Read on LinkedIn David Contorno
CEO, E Powered Benefits
One of the most vocal disruptors in employer health insurance. His firm, E Powered Benefits, consistently delivers dramatic cost reductions through direct primary care, transparent PBMs, and level-funded strategies. Known for case studies that prove "impossible" savings are very possible.
Latest Highlight
"Just saved a 200-employee manufacturer $1.2M annually by moving to a direct primary care + level-funded model. The traditional broker said it couldn't be done. ..."
1243189
Read on LinkedIn Dave Chase
Co-founder, Health Rosetta
Co-founder of Health Rosetta and author of a best-selling book on healthcare transformation. A relentless advocate for fixing America's broken healthcare system from the employer side, his work has created a blueprint that forward-thinking benefits advisors use to deliver better outcomes at lower cost.
Latest Highlight
"The health plan is the 2nd or 3rd largest expense for most employers, yet most CEOs couldn't tell you what they're actually buying. That's not a benefits proble..."
63287
Read on LinkedIn Al Lewis
CEO, Quizzify
Widely credited with inventing disease management and now CEO of Quizzify, the leading employee health literacy platform. A fearless critic of wellness industry snake oil, he brings data-driven rigor to every claim about employee health programs. His work on evidence-based wellness is essential reading.
Latest Highlight
"Wellness programs that penalize employees for not hitting biometric targets are now facing EEOC scrutiny. The irony: the programs that cost the most often produ..."
52176
Read on LinkedIn Brian Klepper
Healthcare Performance Expert
A nationally recognized healthcare analyst who specializes in clinical and financial risk management. His commentary on PBM reform, vertical integration in healthcare, and high-performance health plans cuts through industry noise with clarity that advisors can act on.
Latest Highlight
"PBM reform is stalling because the Big 3 own the entire supply chain — PBM, specialty pharmacy, mail order, and now provider networks. Until we break the vertic..."
39862
Read on LinkedIn Chris Deacon, JD
Principal, VerSan Consulting
A healthcare attorney and consultant driven by her mission to reform the system for patients and payers. Her expertise in ERISA compliance, DOL enforcement, and fiduciary responsibility makes her posts essential for advisors navigating the increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
Latest Highlight
"New DOL enforcement letters are specifically asking for documentation of the broker selection process. If your client can't show they evaluated multiple advisor..."
44593
Read on LinkedIn Know someone we should be following?
Suggest a LinkedIn thought leader and tell us why they belong on this list.
05
Resource Library
In-depth articles, guides, and case studies
Guides
September 16, 20264 min read
Insurance Coverage Isn't the Same as Access to Care
What a health plan pays for and how employees get help are different questions. Learn where virtual care and Amaze fit—and what they do not replace.
Guides
September 16, 20264 min read
How to Evaluate a Benefits Broker Beyond the Quote
Use this employer scorecard to compare service, compensation, employee support, and implementation—not just the renewal spreadsheet.
Case Studies
September 15, 20267 min read
Davenport University: A Wellbeing Benefit Employees Actually Use
How Davenport University gave its team 24/7 access to care, $0 medications, and tax-free protection through Integrity Well-Being powered by Amaze Health.
Guides
2026-06-27T13:00:25.094991+00:005 min read
Beyond Payroll: What Small Business Owners Should Know About Integrated Payroll & Benefits
Learn how integrated payroll and benefits systems streamline compliance, reduce costs, and improve employee satisfaction for small businesses.
Guides
2026-06-26T13:00:22.095768+00:005 min read
Communicating Your Benefits Package: A 3-Step Plan for Employee Engagement
Learn a 3-step framework for communicating benefits to drive enrollment and demonstrate value to your workforce.
Guides
2026-06-25T13:00:21.379094+00:005 min read
Declining ACA Marketplace Competition: What It Means for Your Employee Health Options
Understand marketplace carrier consolidation trends and whether ACA plans remain viable for your workforce. Strategic insights for employers.
Guides
2026-06-24T13:00:23.757067+00:006 min read
Why Your Employees Aren't Using Their Health Benefits (And What You Can Do About It)
Learn why employees underutilize health benefits and discover proven communication strategies to increase plan engagement and ROI.
Guides
2026-06-23T13:00:27.352904+00:005 min read
Employer Health Insurance Costs: Benchmarking & Budget Planning for 2024
Learn how to benchmark employer health insurance costs and control premium growth in 2024. Regional insights and practical cost containment strategies.
06
Deep Dives
Multi-part series and long-form research
4-Part Series
The Future of Group Health
2/4
Start reading
3-Part SeriesComplete
Mastering the Level-Funded Conversation
3/3
Start reading
07
Advisor Toolkit
Tools and planned resources
AI-Powered Tools
Compliance Package Generator
Generate all required compliance documents for a new or renewing group. 13 document templates.
COBRA Letter Generator
Branded, compliant COBRA qualifying event notices with individual premium rates and election deadlines.
Census Validator
Validate employee census spreadsheets for carrier submission. Checks fields, formats, and coverage tiers.
Quote Comparison Builder
Side-by-side carrier quote comparisons with employer and employee cost impact calculations.
Renewal Orchestration
120-day phased renewal timeline with tasks, deliverables, CRM activities, and deadlines.
Meeting Prep Brief
CRM data, email search, and org research delivered as a structured brief with talking points.
Presentation Builder
Professional client decks from 36 slide components. 4 pre-built recipes for any scenario.
PDF Form Filler
Fill carrier enrollment forms, sign documents, overlay text on any PDF automatically.
Available through Nexus AI Platform
Planned Resources
Q4 Renewal Readiness Checklist
PDF Guide · Not available for download
Compliance Calendar 2026
PDF · Not available for download
Client Pitch: ICHRA vs Traditional
Presentation · Not available for download
Mental Health Parity Audit Template
Word Document · Not available for download
08
Platform Assistants
Meet the named assistants featured on the Nexus platform.
Chase
Penny
Story
Forge
Cipher
Coach
09
Our Sources
Explore the sources listed below, grouped by category.
Tier 1: Industry Publications & Research
9 sources
Tier 2: LinkedIn Thought Leaders
6 sources
Al LewisBrian KlepperChris Deacon, JDDave ChaseDavid ContornoNelson Griswold
Tier 3: Regulatory & Government
5 sources
Tier 4: ICHRA & Alternative Models
4 sources
Tier 5: Legal & Compliance
6 sources
10
Intelligence Archive
Past briefings
Available briefings will be archived here
Benefits Intelligence Updates
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