A Small Business Benefits Makeover That Saved Thousands — With Lessons Every Employer Can Use, No Matter the Group Size

💼 How One Small Business Saved Thousands With a Custom Benefits Package — and Finally Got the Service They Deserved

Small businesses wear a lot of hats — hiring, payroll, culture, operations… and somewhere in that whirlwind sits employee benefits. Most business owners try to do the right thing for their team, but without guidance, they often end up overpaying for plans that don’t fit and getting little to no service from their broker.

This is the story of a 12-employee professional services firm that came to me frustrated, confused, and spending more than they needed — and how a strategic redesign not only saved them money, but transformed employee satisfaction.

🛑 The Problem: “We’re Paying a Lot… and I Don’t Think Anyone Knows What They Have.”

When the owner first met with me, she said the same thing I hear from countless small groups:

“We’re spending a ton on health insurance, but I don’t think my employees even understand their benefits.”

A quick review of their plan revealed three major issues:

1. Wrong funding model for their size

They had been placed in a structure that inflated premiums without improving coverage.

2. Outdated plan design

Their benefits hadn’t been reviewed or competitively shopped in years.

3. Zero employee education

Employees didn’t know how to use the plan and often defaulted to the ER for basic care — because no one had ever explained their options.

They had been sold a policy, not provided a strategy.

🔍 What I Found During the Assessment

Their costs were high, their benefits were average, and their employees were confused. But the good news? Everything was fixable.

Through a detailed analysis of:

• claims patterns

• provider usage

• employee demographics

• current carrier pricing

• and supplemental needs

…it became clear they were overspending by thousands each year.

✨ The Solution: A Custom Benefits Package Built for Them

Instead of handing them a “standard renewal,” I created a benefits package tailored to their actual needs.

✔ A Better-Fitting Carrier

We moved them to a carrier that aligned with their employee demographics, preferred doctors, and real usage patterns.

✔ Restructured Cost Sharing

We balanced employer and employee contributions in a way that improved affordability on both sides.

✔ Supplemental Protection Added Smarter, Not Harder

By layering accident, hospital, and critical illness coverage, employees gained protection without increasing the employer’s budget.

✔ Real Employee Education (The Missing Piece)

This is where everything shifted.

I hosted a full benefits walkthrough where employees finally learned:

• which doctor options were lowest cost

• when to use urgent care vs. ER

• how telemedicine works (and that it’s often free!)

• how to avoid surprise bills

• what preventive services were included

The reaction?

“Why has no one ever explained this to us before?”“This is the first time I actually understand my insurance.”

Employee behavior changed instantly — and so did their confidence.

📉 The Outcome: Big Savings + Better Coverage + Happy Employees

Here’s what happened once the new structure went live:

💰 Employer Savings: Over $18,000 per year

They saved thousands without reducing benefits — simply by structuring the plan correctly.

🙌 Employees Used Their Coverage Better

With real education, employees reported:

• fewer unnecessary ER visits

• less confusion

• reduced out-of-pocket surprises

• improved experience accessing care

📞 And Service Didn’t End at Enrollment

I continued supporting them with:

• quarterly reviews

• claims support

• renewal strategy planning

• one-on-one employee assistance

• direct access whenever they needed help

For the first time, the business felt like they had a partner, not a salesperson.

💡 The Big Message for Small Businesses

Most small businesses don’t need “cheaper insurance.”

They need:

• the right plan structure

• a customized benefits strategy

• education for their employees

• ongoing support throughout the year

When those pieces come together, savings happen naturally — and employees feel valued, protected, and informed.

📞 Ready to Fix Your Group Benefits?

If your business hasn’t had a strategic benefits review in over a year, there’s a good chance you’re overpaying — or your employees are under-protected.

I’m here to help you:

• reduce costs

• improve coverage

• educate your team

• and build a plan that actually fits your business

Would you like a LinkedIn post promoting this blog?Or a Canva header image in your brand colors (deep green, navy, grey)?

💡 The Bigger Message: This Isn’t Just a Small Group Story

Many businesses — small, mid-sized, even large groups — feel unheard or ignored by their current broker.

They:

• only hear from their broker at renewal

• feel rushed into decisions

• scramble through spreadsheets with no explanation

• don’t get real strategy

• don’t receive year-round support

• don’t get employee education

• only find out their plan isn’t working after the bills show up

The truth?

This level of education, service, and hands-on support isn’t just for small groups — it’s for every group that feels overlooked.

Whether it’s:

• 5 employees

• 25 employees

• 150 employees

…every employer deserves a broker who listens, teaches, communicates, and builds a plan that actually fits the business.

Not just at renewal —all year long.