The Benefits Brief

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Hugh O’Toole, CEO of Innovu and instructor of NABIP’s Healthcare Fiduciary Certification, to discuss the growing importance of fiduciary responsibility in employee benefits and how advisors can help employers navigate their obligations. Hugh explores common misconceptions about ERISA, the importance of transparency in vendor...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Cassandra Gibson, chair of NABIP’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, to discuss how the association is working to create a welcoming environment where every member feels valued, represented and empowered to participate. Sandy explores why diversity and belonging extend beyond demographics and how educatio...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Mike Smith, president emeritus of The Brokerage Inc. and a longtime leader in the Medicare marketplace, to discuss why annual Medicare certification should be more than simply checking a box. Mike shares the story behind NABIP’s Medicare Certification and how experienced agents, agencies and FMOs helped shape a course ground...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Dwane McFerrin, senior vice president at Senior Market Sales and chair of NABIP’s Medicare Advisory Group, to discuss what Medicare advisors need to know as they prepare for the 2027 Annual Enrollment Period. Dwane explores changes across Medicare Advantage, Part D and Medicare Supplement, including plan exits, fewer choices...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Lori Martin, principal at Envision Benefit Specialists and chair of NABIP’s Long-Term Care Working Group, to discuss America’s growing long-term care challenge and the role benefits professionals can play in helping clients prepare. Lori explores the importance of planning before a care crisis occurs, common misconceptions a...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Meagan Fearing, chair of NABIP’s State Public Option Working Group and Region 7 vice president, to discuss the growing debate around government-sponsored health plans and what public option proposals could mean for consumers, employers, and the private insurance market. Drawing on her experience in Colorado, Meagan explores...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Frank Pennachio, principal with Gaffney Hill Consulting, to explore the often-overlooked fiduciary risks facing employers with self-funded health plans. Frank explains why stop-loss insurance does not protect plan fiduciaries from personal liability, how the Consolidated Appropriations Act has increased expectations around t...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with NABIP Past President Beth Ashmore to share the deeply personal story of losing her mother while she was visiting England—an experience that profoundly shaped Beth’s perspective on single-payer healthcare. More than 30 years later, Beth reflects on that experience and the important questions it raises as conversations continu...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Judy Buczek, director of group product management at Humana, to explore the strategic role life and disability insurance can play in protecting employees’ financial well-being. Judy discusses how employer-paid and voluntary coverage can work together to protect families from unexpected income loss and highlights the importan...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Chris Vanderwolk, chairman of NABIP's Legislative Council, to discuss the association's legislative strategy and how members can play an active role in shaping healthcare policy. Chris explains NABIP's three-pronged approach: advancing model legislation, using the association's voice to influence federal policy, and respondi...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Zac Hanson, vice president of growth at RxPreferred, to discuss why pharmacy benefits remain one of the least transparent areas of healthcare spending—and what benefits advisors can do about it. Zac explains the factors driving pharmacy costs, including specialty medications and plan design, while exploring the importance of...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with Dr. Rebecca Colon, chief medical officer for Humana's Group Medicare Division, to discuss the key drivers behind rising healthcare costs in the group Medicare market and the strategies helping to improve outcomes while controlling expenses. Dr. Colon explores the growing role of value-based care, preventive services, pharmac...

In this episode of The Benefits Brief, host David Saltzman sits down with newly installed NABIP President Mychal Walker to discuss his vision for the association and the priorities that will guide the year ahead. Mychal shares how NABIP is focused on strengthening financial stability, improving transparency and communication, expanding professional development, and enhancing advocacy efforts. He a...

In the inaugural episode of The Benefits Brief—recorded live at the 2026 NABIP Annual Convention—host David Saltzman is joined by Katherine Hempstead, senior policy officer for healthcare at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Mike Smith, president of The Brokerage, Inc., for a wide-ranging discussion on the current state of the health insurance ecosystem. Together, they explore the key trends...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Jim Jusko, chief strategy officer at Excel Health Plans, to explore how hospital systems, provider networks, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) shape healthcare costs, competition, and consumer choice behind the scenes. Jim discusses the impact of consolidation, limited transparency, and anti-competitive practices on em...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Dr. Efrat LaMandre ("Dr. E"), nurse practitioner, author, and healthcare advocate, to discuss the growing issue of medical gaslighting and why so many patients feel dismissed by the healthcare system. Dr. E explores how medical training, system incentives, and communication gaps can contribute to these experiences, while...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Bianca Saul and Chris Vanderwolk of NABIP’s Employer Working Group to explore how member-driven ideas become real policy initiatives. They discuss the group’s role in identifying challenges facing employer-sponsored health plans and developing practical solutions that can be advanced at the state and national levels. The...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Emily Trevino, senior managing partner at Wise Partners and a leader in NABIP’s Individual Working Group, to break down the new CMS Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Final Rule. Emily discusses how the rule aims to address fraud and enrollment issues in the ACA marketplace while creating new challenges for consumers...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman speaks with communication expert and Annual Convention Keynote Speaker John Colby about how improvisation skills can improve communication, sales, leadership, and networking. John explains how improv techniques help professionals think on their feet, listen more effectively, handle objections, and build stronger relationships through au...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Daniel Metcalf, president of CyberFin and co-leader of NABIP’s Cybersecurity & AI Task Force, to discuss how cyber threats and artificial intelligence are rapidly reshaping the health insurance and benefits industry. Daniel explains why the task force was created, the growing risks facing agencies and clients, and how inc...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman continues his conversation with Chris Orestis, president of Retirement Genius, shifting the focus from retirement planning to the intersection of healthcare policy, advocacy, and politics. Drawing on his experience in Washington, D.C., Chris reflects on how healthcare and insurance policy are shaped over time and why persistence, member...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Chris Orestis, president of Retirement Genius, to explore the critical gaps in retirement planning—particularly when it comes to healthcare and long-term care costs. Chris explains how a lack of financial literacy and avoidance of difficult conversations leave many Americans unprepared for the realities of aging, often le...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Lunna Lopez, senior survey manager at the Kaiser Family Foundation, to examine how rising healthcare costs are affecting consumers’ insurance decisions and overall financial well-being. Drawing on recent KFF survey data, they explore how increases in premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs are forcing many marketpl...

In this timely episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with NABIP Medicare Advisory Group Chair Chalen Jackson for an in-depth discussion on the 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule, released last week. They break down key policy changes, including updates to Star Ratings and Part D provisions, and what they mean for both beneficiaries and advisors. The conversatio...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, David Saltzman sits down with Will Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Gyde Health, to discuss how AI and modern technology are transforming the insurance broker industry. They explore the historical underinvestment in brokers despite their role as the front door to the healthcare system, and how AI can automate administrative work to free up capacity for growt...