ICHRA: A Smarter Way to Offer Benefits

If the phrase one-size-fits-all makes you wince, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air. We sit down with Patti Reimer to unpack how Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs) turn rigid group plans into flexible, budget-friendly benefits that employees actually want to use. Instead of forcing everyone into the same carrier and network, ICHRAs let employers set a defined contribution while employees choose plans that match their doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions no matter where they live.

Brokers will find a clear playbook here. With nearly half of employers still unaware of ICHRAs, there’s a real first-mover advantage for those who lead the conversation. We share how CRC Benefits equips brokers with quoting support, ICHRA handbooks, presentation decks, and open office hours through Q4, making it simpler to consult, compare, and implement. We also look ahead to what’s next: tighter tech integration, smarter plan recommendations, and expansion into dental, vision, telehealth, and EAPs that round out a modern, portable benefits stack.

Ready to rethink benefits with flexibility, choice, and control? Press play, then subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a colleague who needs a smarter way to offer health coverage.

Transcript

Welcome And Topic Setup

Michelle McCaw 0:00

Welcome back to the CRC Benefit Check Podcast. I'm Michelle McCaw.

Amanda Knight 0:05

And I'm Amanda Knight. And thanks for joining us for another episode where we dig into the ideas and strategies shaping employee benefits.

Michelle McCaw 0:12

Today we're talking about something that's really taken off over the past few years. ICRAs, or individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements.

Amanda Knight 0:21

They've gone from a newer option to a real part of the mainstream. Employers are starting to see how flexible and sustainable they can be, and brokers are realizing what a great door opener they can be.

Michelle McCaw 0:33

Yep, and to help us explore what's driving that growth, we're joined by Patty Reimer, sales executive with CRC Benefits Value Added Products Team. Patty recently authored one of our tools and intel articles called Why ICRA is catching on.

Speaker 1 0:46

This is the CRC Benefits Podcast from CRC Group.

What Makes ICHRAs Different

Amanda Knight 0:49

This podcast features news and insights from those working with our vast network of 20,000 brokers to deliver employee benefits to more than 200,000 small and medium-sized businesses. Plus, we give you the latest information on what is happening at CRC.

Speaker 1 1:04

This is the CRC Benefits Podcast. And now the hosts of the podcast, Michelle McCaw and Amanda Knight. P

Patti Reimer 1:13

Thanks, Michelle and Amanda. I'm happy to be here. ICHRAs are one of the most exciting shifts I think we've seen in benefits in a long time. And I'm looking forward to diving into why they matter so much right now.

Amanda Knight 1:26

Well, let's start simple. For anyone, you know, still sort of wrapping their head around what makes an ICRA different, what is the big draw for employers?

Patti Reimer 1:35

Well, um, the biggest draw is flexibility. ICHRAs, they let employers offer health benefits without being locked into a one-size-fits-all group plan. They can set budgets, you can define eligibility, and you let employees choose coverage that fits their lives. It's a win-win. Employers can control their costs, and employees can get more choice in which carrier they use, which coverage they get. So it's a really great option for a lot of groups.

Personalization For A Diverse Workforce

Michelle McCaw 2:05

Yeah, it definitely is. And Patti, in the article, you called ICHRA a modern benefit for a modern workforce. I love that phrase. What are employers and employees connecting with the most right now?

Patti Reimer 2:16

It's that personalization. So today's workforce, it's diverse. I mean, work remote workers, part-timers, multi-generational teams. I mean, ICRAs, they meet people where they are. Um, employees, they appreciate being able to pick the plans that are in network with their doctors or the hospitals that they go to, no matter where they live, um, which is really great. Sometimes, you know, when um when we pick those couple health plans that we're gonna offer to our employees, well, we have to take into account that maybe we're leaving one or two employees out that might live rural, or maybe we're a rural company and we have a couple employees who live in the city, and um the plans we choose might leave them out of the equation. And so with an ICRA, we don't have to do that anymore. They get to choose a carrier that's in network where they live with the doctors and hospitals that they go to. So employers, they love that they can offer something meaningful without the complexity of traditional group plans that really can limit choices for employees.

Amanda Knight 3:21

You know, in the article, Patti, you shared some numbers that I think are really uh a standout. ICRA adoption is up 52% among small businesses and 34% among larger employers. And most of those groups have never offered coverage before.

Adoption Trends And New Access

Patti Reimer 3:42

Yeah, exactly. That's uh what makes this so powerful. ICHRAs aren't just replacing existing plans, they're expanding access for employers who don't have as they didn't have any options before. We're seeing businesses that never thought they could afford benefits. Now they're able to step into the space. Uh, for example, most small group policies, they they require that small employers fund half of the medical premium. Right. And for some small employers, that just isn't in the budget. But they do want to help employees with some of the insurance costs, and it is important for recruiting and retention. And within ICHRA, they're able to do that. Um, so I think it's just it's not not just about growth, it's about transformation.

Michelle McCaw 4:28

Absolutely. That's huge. It's a game changer. And for brokers, it really does open the door to conversations they might never have had under traditional group model.

Patti Reimer 4:37

Yeah, absolutely. Um, brokers, they can now approach clients who were previously off the table. It's it's not just about selling a product, it's about solving a problem. ICRA is let brokers be strategic partners, helping clients navigate compliance, cost control, and employee satisfaction all at once.

Michelle McCaw 4:57

Absolutely so huge. And now, anytime something new catches on, there's always gonna be a few misconceptions, though. So, what would you say are the biggest myths or worries that you still hear about ICHRAS?

Broker Opportunities And Strategy

Myths, Complexity, And Reality

Speaker 5:09

Oh, just uh one big myth is that there are two complicated people hear individual coverage and they assume it's a big headache. But the truth is with the right support, implementation's pretty straightforward. Another myth is that employees won't want to shop for their own coverage, but when they understand the flexibility and the control they get, and you provide them with the right tools and one-on-one guidance, like our ICHRA partners do, and our individual and senior division does at CRC Benefits, um, those employees really are thrilled that they get to choose what works for their family.

Amanda Knight 5:48

You mentioned that implementation is actually smoother than a lot of people expect, and that the real work is helping employees sort of understand their choices, right? That's kind of where the work falls.

Education, Tools, And Enrollment Support

Patti Reimer 6:01

Yeah, exactly. So education is key with ICHRA. Is uh we spend a lot of time helping brokers build communication plans for their clients. Um, when we connect with the employees, we we want to make sure they understand the online tools and how to select health plans. Um and we also have one-on-one live consultations with each of those employees that are available to answer their questions, help them narrow down the options, and and also help them to actually do the enrollment if they need that support. So um our partners have some pretty intuitive online tools. So about half of the employees that we're setting up on ICRAS are able to actually enroll in their health plans online without even speaking with a live agent. Um, but the online systems, they're just great. They're gonna ask them questions like Um, how often do you go to the doctor? What providers do you see? And then they're gonna really narrow down those plans to help them see which plans are in, network with their providers, what medications do you take, and which plans are going to cover the medications that those employees are taking and their families are taking. Um, and then if they really need help or they have questions and they want to speak with someone, they can get on the phone with our partners or even with CRC's individual and senior division to have assistance with selecting a plan, narrowing down those plans, and actually enrolling in those plans. So really having the right support is what's important. Um and when they have that right support, they understand how to access that support, then really, you know, HR is going to experience fewer employee complaints about benefits. And the employees are really empowered to take ownership of the health plan that they choose each year. Um and really, again, it's a win-win for both the employer and those employees.

Amanda Knight 7:54

You know, one stat that sort of jumps out at me is that nearly half of employers still haven't heard of ICRA, and most who have did not learn about it from their broker. That sounds like a huge opportunity gap to me.

Patti Reimer 8:10

It is, it is. Brokers really have a chance to be the hero here. So, I mean, just by introducing ICRA, brokers are bringing something new and valuable to the table. It's not just about selling, it's about leading the conversation and showing clients that there is a better way. And even if your client doesn't choose to go with an ICRA, it's important that you are the one consulting with your client to educate them that ICRAs are an option. Make sure you're the one talking to your client about this before another broker swoops in and talks to them about it before you can. I've had too many conversations with brokers that have had this happen to them. So just make sure your client knows that you can support them and that CRC Benefits, you know, is here to support you as a broker. So we can quote this, we can educate you so that you feel comfortable having those conversations with your clients.

Reduce HR Burden, Boost Ownership

Michelle McCaw 9:00

Absolutely. It's such a clear way uh for our brokers to bring real value just by starting the conversation, right? Um, and I agree, I think that's where CRC Benefits really helps, giving brokers the resources, resources, and carrier access uh to have those conversations with confidence.

Awareness Gap And First-Mover Advantage

Patti Reimer 9:17

Yeah, exactly. CRC Benefits is all about empowering brokers, is what we do here. Um we have built tools, we have PowerPoints that we can provide them, they can meet with me. I'm happy to educate them. Um, our partners are also, they have some amazing tools. Um they have some ICRA handbooks that we can provide to brokers. Um, we now have an open office hours that we're starting on Wednesdays. So brokers are welcome to stop in and talk with me, ask any questions that they have on any Wednesday. Um I'll be there every week through Q4 so they can stop in. Um, but yeah, we we want to make it easy for brokers to present ICRA just as a smart, compliant, and scalable solution. So we're not just offering a product, we're really trying to offer a path forward.

Michelle McCaw 10:05

Absolutely. Patty, that's fantastic. , and actually, before we head into our final segment, um, what's coming next with ICHRA? How do you how do you think ICRAs will continue to evolve in the next, say, year or two?

Patti Reimer 10:18

That's a good question. I I think we're gonna see more integration with other benefits. Um, I I see maybe adding in dental envision, some ancillary benefits, um, some maybe EAP and telehealth added into ICRA, um, and and more of that type of innovation happening with our ICRA partners. I'm already seeing that start to expand a bit um in in the the field. So um I I really expect to see more tech innovation um in this space.

CRC Benefits Resources And Open Office Hours

Amanda Knight 10:52

All right, Patty. Before we let you go, it's time for what Michelle and I call our fast three. Three quick questions, no prep, just whatever pops into your head first. Are you ready? Let's do it. Awesome.

Michelle McCaw 11:06

Thanks, Patty. All right, what's one thing that always helps you reset after a busy week?

Speaker 11:12

Oh, um sitting on my back deck with my husband and my dogs uh by the fire with my uh nice glass of wine.

Amanda Knight 11:20

Oh, that sounds good. That sounds lovely. If you weren't in the benefits world, what do you think you'd be doing? Oh, I always wanted to be a zoologist and work with giraffes.

Speaker 11:32

I don't know. Giraffes, I like that.

Fast Three And Closing

Michelle McCaw 11:37

Very specific. Very specific. Awesome. And and finally, Patty, what's a piece of advice or or a motto that um that's really stuck with you?

Patti Reimer 11:47

Always be kind. Just always be kind. Kindness matters.

Michelle McCaw 11:52

It does. I couldn't have said it better myself. Uh well, Patty, this has really been such a great conversation. Um, thank you so much for walking us through how Ickers are changing the game for both employers and brokers.

What’s Next For ICRAs

Amanda Knight 12:04

And thanks to everyone listening. Don't forget to subscribe to CRC Benefit Check on your favorite platform so you don't miss the next episode. Patty, we've loved having you today.

Michelle McCaw 12:14

Thanks so much for having me. Awesome. Thanks so much, Patty. We'll be back soon with more insights and ideas to help you grow your business. See you next time.