Rising healthcare and benefits costs continue to put pressure on employers, especially small and mid sized organizations trying to balance affordability with competitive offerings. Too often, the response is limited to shifting more cost to employees, creating frustration without addressing the underlying drivers impacting plan performance and long term sustainability.

This session will explore how organizations can take a more strategic approach to benefits planning by looking beyond annual renewals and reactive cost cutting. Attendees will hear practical ideas for evaluating healthcare quality, identifying key cost drivers, reassessing vendor partnerships, and exploring funding and plan design strategies that better support both the business and the workforce.

Designed for HR and Total Rewards professionals navigating growing financial pressure and evolving employee expectations, this session will provide realistic approaches organizations can use to make more informed benefits decisions while maintaining a competitive and meaningful employee experience.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for evaluating benefit strategy through a longer term lens, identifying opportunities for smarter plan design, assessing alternative funding and vendor approaches, and aligning benefits decisions more closely with workforce needs and organizational goals.