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The Business of Benefits Podcast

The Business of Benefits Podcast

By: Hi Hello Labs Network
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 For decades, employers have been fed a lie: “There’s nothing you can do to control healthcare costs.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The system is doing exactly what it was designed to do—profit off of HR, CFOs, and CEOs who believe that lie year after year.With 180 million Americans relying on employer-sponsored healthcare, it’s time to challenge the status quo. The Business of Benefits is your No BS, No Sales guide to the real solutions. No gimmicks—just the truth about how to take control, transform your benefits, and care for your most valuable asset: your people.Each episode dives deep into the data, exposing industry misalignments and inefficiencies that inflate costs while offering actionable strategies for designing financially sustainable, high-value benefits.Through eye-opening interviews with industry insiders, expert analysis, and real-world success stories, hosts Donovan and Chelsea pull back the curtain on the hidden flaws in the healthcare system. The result? An empowering roadmap for employers ready to break free from outdated models and unlock smarter, more sustainable benefits.If you’re tired of the same old sales pitch and ready to rethink benefits, reduce costs, and improve care—this podcast is for you. The truth is out there—are you ready to hear it?Copyright Hi Hello Labs Network Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 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
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