Benefits Decision Season is officially here! And if your broker is bringing you a renewal right now, the real question is: are you ready to make an informed decision, or are you about to press the easy button again?

In this Hot Health Take, Vincent Catalano cuts straight to what HR leaders and CFOs need to do before they agree to anything this season. Three moves, in order. No fluff.

First: assess your broker's compensation. If you are on a commission model, you may be handing your broker a raise every single year without realizing it. Vincent explains why moving to a flat fee structure is the most important thing you can do before any renewal conversation goes further.

Second: know what is happening under the hood of your own plan. Most mid-market employers are flying blind. Are your employees using the ER when they do not need to? What drugs are being prescribed? Where are the costs actually coming from? If you cannot answer those questions, your renewal decisions are guesses.

Third: audit your point solutions. Chances are you are paying for tools your employees have never heard of. Vincent calls it what it is: buying portals nobody uses, vendor promises nobody can prove, and EAP programs collecting dust until the next crisis hits.

And then there is employee communication. You are spending $10,000 to $12,000 per employee per year on health benefits. If they do not know how to use what you are giving them, you are wasting it.

Before you sign anything this renewal season, get an independent set of eyes on it. Reach out to Vincent directly for a no-strings review of your current plan. And if you found this useful, subscribe so you don't miss the next one. Visit www.clearhcs.com for more information.

About Vincent Catalano

Vincent Catalano is the founder of CLEAR Healthcare Solutions and host of the CLEARly Beneficial Podcast, Where We Rip Off the Band-Aid and Explore What's Next. With more than 23 years in employee benefits, Vincent consults independently with no carrier relationships and no book of business. He works exclusively on the employer side, helping HR leaders and CFOs make better, more informed benefits decisions. He holds an MBA from UC Davis Graduate School of Management and a BA from Skidmore College. Vincent is based in Sacramento, California.

Disclaimer: This podcast reflects the personal views of the host and guests, not their employers or sponsors.