With health reform there's a real opportunity for brokers and consultants to truly add value to their client services. It allows them to go above and beyond just the tactical nature of health plans and step up the strategic level of advice and guidance.
The advice that every employer is going to be looking for is not only what should I do, what do I need to do? But also what is everybody else doing? What are other companies in my area doing? What are other companies in my industry doing?
As employers face "pay or play" the ability for brokers and consultants to provide benchmark guidance is huge. What we are seeing - and I think we will continue to see - is a proliferation of studies and reports on what employers are planning to do. That information is extremely valuable. But, for a broker or consultant to add to that their first-hand experience and say, "In working with a number of companies that are like yours in terms of geography and industry, I can also share with you that the overwhelming majority are planning to do XYZ."
The appetite has never been stronger, the urgency and the anxiety out there is huge. The upside of reform is the reliance on employee benefit advisers is greater than it probably has ever been.
How do you see CDHPs evolving in the next few years?
ROB LIEBLEIN
Executive Vice President, MarshBerry
Employees' participation in CDHPs will increase as they better understand the link between their own out-of-pocket costs and wellness-related activities.
MARK GAUNYA
Principal, Borislow Insurance
They will continue to gain market share across the country. Why? Because they are proven to lower health insurance costs and improve overall health and well-being.
THOM MANGAN
CEO, United Benefit Advisors
I believe CDHPs will grow by another 25% in the next few years due to PPACA. ... Employers are looking to bend the cost curve through CDHPs.
