Episodes

  • 59. The Big Lie in Healthcare: Nelson Griswold on How Employers Can Cut Costs & Improve Care

    59. The Big Lie in Healthcare: Nelson Griswold on How Employers Can Cut Costs & Improve Care
    Sep 4 2025
    Welcome back to The Business of Benefits Podcast, your no BS, no sales guide to real solutions in employee benefits.

    Today, host Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Nelson Griswold of Next Gen Benefits to unpack the so-called “big lie” in healthcare and show employers how to take control of cost and quality. Nelson Griswold is a leading voice in employer-sponsored healthcare reform and author of Healthcare’s C-Suite Solution, Fixing American Healthcare, and Life and Death Decisions in the C-Suite. He helps CEOs and CFOs manage healthcare like a supply chain and turn overspend into free cash flow. Nelson explains why claims are not all the same, how incentives in the current system work against employers, and what it looks like to build a plan that puts your people first.

    In this episode you will learn:
    • Why the 80/20 ACA rule can push premiums up, and what that means for your plan
    • How to move from reactive renewals to a strategic, employer-controlled model
    • The difference between fully insured and self funded, and why risk is often misunderstood
    • How nurse navigation and quality data reduce complications and total spend
    • Practical first steps to align incentives with an advisor who works for you
    • When to use bundled, direct contracting, international pharmacy, and reference based pricing
    • Why better quality often equals lower cost, and how to steer members to it
    If you are an employer, CFO, or CEO who is tired of trend increases and status quo advice, this conversation will give you a path to real savings and better outcomes.

    If this helped, like, subscribe, and share with a leader who needs to hear it. Tell us in the comments: What is the first change you will make to your benefits strategy?

    Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

    Connect with our guest today at: https://www.nextgenbenefits.com/

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    43 mins
  • 58. Stop Playing the Renewal Game: A Real Roadmap for Employer Healthcare Plans

    58. Stop Playing the Renewal Game: A Real Roadmap for Employer Healthcare Plans
    Aug 28 2025
    Welcome back to The Business of Benefits Podcast – your no-BS, no-sales guide to real solutions in employee benefits.

    In this solo episode, host Chelsea breaks down what it really means to have a multi-year healthcare strategy for your company. Instead of reacting to renewals at the last minute and hearing the same excuses year after year, Chelsea shows you how to treat your benefits program like a true business plan—with long-term goals, measurable KPIs, and strategies that actually deliver results.

    You’ll hear a real client case study that has achieved five straight years of decreases by following a step-by-step benefits roadmap.

    Chelsea also shares:
    ✅ What isn’t a multi-year healthcare strategy (the reactive renewal game)
    ✅ How to build a business plan for your benefits, just like any other department
    ✅ Why data access and employee trust are the foundation for long-term success
    ✅ The difference between a slow, steady approach and a “shock-and-awe” strategy
    ✅ Real savings examples—millions of dollars saved while improving employee experience

    If you’re an employer tired of rising costs, empty promises, and lack of control, this episode will show you a better way to run your healthcare plan.

    Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:

    Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    28 mins
  • 57. Exposing the Flaws in Employer Healthcare: What Brokers Won’t Tell You with Jay Gepfert

    57. Exposing the Flaws in Employer Healthcare: What Brokers Won’t Tell You with Jay Gepfert
    Aug 7 2025
    In this powerful episode, Donovan Ryckis sits down with Jay Gepfert, President of The Culpepper Group, to unpack what employers don't know—and what it’s costing them. With decades of experience on both the retirement and healthcare side of the fiduciary table, Jay brings the receipts on how hidden broker compensation, lack of transparency, and outdated fee structures are draining company resources and exposing employers to serious risk.

    You’ll hear:
    • Why healthcare benefits need the same due diligence as retirement plans
    • How compensation models drive broker behavior—and what to demand instead
    • A real case study showing 46% savings in broker fees
    • Why the current healthcare system is broken—and how litigation and legislation are forcing change
    • What you need to start doing now to protect your plan, your budget, and your people
    If you're an HR leader, CFO, or CEO who’s ready to ask the tough questions and rethink your benefits strategy—this episode is your playbook.

    Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments & don’t forget to subscribe for more no-BS insights.

    Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

    Learn more about Jay's work: https://www.culpepperrfp.com/

    Connect with Jay Gepfert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-gepfert-rfps-for-retirement-health-and-welfare-plans-a418027/

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/

    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    49 mins
  • 56. The Truth About Reference-Based Pricing: What Employees Really Experience with Danielle Young

    56. The Truth About Reference-Based Pricing: What Employees Really Experience with Danielle Young
    Jul 24 2025
    Welcome back to The Business of Benefits Podcast! In Part 2 of our deep dive with Danielle Young of ClaimDoc, we shift focus from theory to reality — what actually happens when employees engage with a reference-based pricing (RBP) plan?

    We break down:
    • The truth about provider access
    • How ClaimDoc achieves a 96%+ acceptance rate
    • Fear-based tactics vs real-world outcomes
    • How to handle balance bills — and prevent them
    • Why communication before open enrollment is key
    • The co-fiduciary model that protects employees and employers
    • What brokers should be doing (and what to look out for)
    • Building a proactive communication strategy that WORKS
    This episode is a must-listen for HR leaders, CFOs, and employers ready to take control of their healthcare strategy and rethink everything they thought they knew about RBP.

    If you're tired of being sold to and want to make smart, transparent decisions for your people — you're in the right place.

    Learn more about ClaimDoc: https://claim-doc.com
    Connect with Danielle Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-young-rbp/

    Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments & don’t forget to subscribe for more no-BS insights.

    Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.businessofnbenefitspodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    34 mins
  • 55. Stop Overpaying for Health Benefits (RBP) for Employers with Guest Danielle Young

    55. Stop Overpaying for Health Benefits (RBP) for Employers with Guest Danielle Young
    Jul 10 2025
    Welcome to The Business of Benefits Podcast — the no BS, no sales guide to transforming your health benefits. In this explosive Part 1 of our two-part series, Chelsea Ryckis sits down with Danielle Young of ClaimDoc and host of Claim Talk to unpack one of the most misunderstood and feared concepts in healthcare: reference-based pricing (RBP). What is RBP? How does it really work?

    And is it as scary as traditional brokers and carriers make it seem? Danielle breaks it down with real-world examples, industry insights, and straight talk on what’s broken in the system and how employers can take back control. From inflated hospital bills to unfair renewal hikes, this conversation is a must-listen for HR leaders, CFOs, and any employer ready to challenge the status quo.

    Tune in now to learn:
    • What reference-based pricing actually is (in plain English)
    • How RBP can save employers 25–30% in year one
    • Why fully insured employers are getting screwed too
    • How to prepare your team and employees for a successful RBP rollout
    • Why the right advisor makes all the difference
    Don’t miss Part 2, where we dive into the employee experience and debunk the fear tactics around RBP.

    Subscribe now and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Because if the truth is out there... are you ready to hear it?

    Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.businessofnbenefitspodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/

    Connect with today's guest Danielle Young at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbpdanielleyoung
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    31 mins
  • 54. $24 Million Saved: How Stephanie Koch Took Control of Her Company’s Healthcare Spend

    54. $24 Million Saved: How Stephanie Koch Took Control of Her Company’s Healthcare Spend
    Jun 26 2025
    Today’s episode of The Business of Benefits is a masterclass in bold HR leadership. Meet Stephanie Koch, Director of HR at Hendry Marine, who shares how she went from sitting silently in renewal meetings to transforming her company’s healthcare strategy — saving nearly $24 million in the process.

    Host Chelsea Ryckis and Stephanie dive deep into:
    • Why most companies are stuck in “spreadsheet” healthcare
    • What reference-based pricing really means (and how it changed everything)
    • How Stephanie turned HR into a profit center
    • The truth behind working with legacy brokers
    • Why data access, transparency, and courage are key to real change
    • The ROI of onsite primary care clinics — and the lives it’s saving
    Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control.

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    40 mins
  • 53. Is Your TPA Costing You More Than You Think?

    53. Is Your TPA Costing You More Than You Think?
    Jun 12 2025
    In this no-nonsense episode of The Business of Benefits, host Chelsea Ryckis dives into the critical but often misunderstood world of Third Party Administrators (TPAs) with industry veteran Eugene Starks. This episode offers employers and consultants a candid breakdown of why the TPA is arguably the most important player in a health plan—acting as the “quarterback” responsible for claims processing, eligibility management, vendor coordination, and plan integrity.

    Eugene brings over two decades of insider expertise to the table, explaining:
    • The core functions of a TPA—including paying claims, managing eligibility, and building plan logic
    • What questions employers should ask when selecting a TPA (e.g., claim turnaround time, fee transparency, ownership structure, and scalability)
    • Red flags to look for in TPA contracts—like hidden fees, clawback charges, or outsourced claim processing
    • How TPAs interact with other key components like PBMs, stop-loss providers, and networks
    • The importance of employee communication and education in plan success, especially when using point solutions or reference-based pricing
    They also tackle a hot debate: should the consultant or the TPA be the “true quarterback”? The takeaway—collaboration is key. Success lies in choosing the right consultant who partners effectively with the right TPA, ensuring strategic alignment, smart cost-containment, and a great member experience.

    Don’t be distracted by lower admin fees—value, transparency, and execution matter more. If you're ready to rethink how benefits should actually work, this episode is your playbook.

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    46 mins
  • 52. Why Bryan Orr Said Goodbye to Traditional Health Insurance—and Won

    52. Why Bryan Orr Said Goodbye to Traditional Health Insurance—and Won
    May 29 2025
    This week's episode dives deep into real-world strategies for transforming health plans—rooted in fiduciary responsibility, transparency, and measurable outcomes.

    In this powerful episode, the team sits down with Bryan Orr, CEO of Kalos Services, live from the 2025 Florida Health Care Alliance conference. Bryan shares how he radically redesigned his company’s health plan—cutting costs by 42% below national benchmarks while slashing employee cost share by more than half.

    With 10 kids and a 400-person team, Bryan had every reason to care deeply about healthcare outcomes. His story is a masterclass in bold leadership, data-driven decisions, and building trust from the top down. Listeners will hear how Kalos implemented direct primary care, reference-based pricing, pharmacy cost control, and transparent network replacements—all while maintaining employee satisfaction and dramatically improving access to care.

    From free baby deliveries to $80,000 skin grafts reduced to $2,000, this episode proves what’s possible when employers stop playing defense and start demanding better.

    If you're an employer, HR leader, or benefit advisor tired of double-digit premium increases and vague justifications, this episode is your wake-up call—and a roadmap for action.

    Key Topics:
    • Fiduciary-driven health plan design
    • Transparent pricing and plan accountability
    • Direct primary care and local care access
    • Employee communication and leadership trust
    • Real-world savings and improved outcomes

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    30 mins