The Benefits Brief

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, David Saltzman and Steve Cain, director, sales & business development leader, at LTCI Partners, discuss the evolving landscape of long-term care insurance. They explore the current state of the market, the impact of demographic shifts, and the role of public programs in shaping private insurance conversations. The discussion highlights the importance of lo...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, David Saltzman speaks with Jessica Altman, Executive Director of Covered California, about the implications of the recent public law, often referred to as the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' They discuss its significant provisions affecting healthcare markets, particularly focusing on affordability, Medicaid changes, plan design, and the potential impact on consumer...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by AffirmedRx, David Saltzman speaks with Mike Stancil, Vice President of Strategic Alliances at AffirmedRx, about the unique structure of public benefit corporations in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing patient care over profits. They discuss the need for transparency in pharmacy benefits, the growing awareness among employe...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews AbsenceSoft founder Seth Turner about the growing role of leave as a core employee benefit. Paid leave is no longer just a nice-to-have. It’s a deciding factor for job seekers and a loyalty builder for current staff. Seth shares new data on the types of leave employees value most, how poor leave experiences drive turnover, an...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by RxBenefits, host David Saltzman speaks with Whitney Reboulet, Senior Vice President of Account Management at RxBenefits. They discuss Whitney's journey into the pharmacy benefits management space, the challenges of pricing transparency, the importance of data in decision-making, and the impact of specialty drugs like GLP-1s. The conversation a...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews Vani Hari, known as the Food Babe, who shares her journey from a childhood filled with processed foods to becoming a leading food activist. Vani discusses her health struggles, the pivotal moment that led her to change her diet, and her efforts to expose the truth about food ingredients and advocate for healthier options. She...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews Connie Podesta, a renowned speaker known for her unique blend of psychology and humor. They discuss Connie's journey from being a talkative student to a successful speaker, the importance of understanding the 'why' behind actions, and how COVID has changed personal and professional dynamics. Connie emphasizes the need for fle...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews Jói Sigurdsson, founder and CEO of Crankwheel, about the innovative screen sharing platform designed to enhance communication, particularly for less tech-savvy users. They discuss the origins of Crankwheel, its unique features such as e-signature capabilities, recording functionalities, and tools for client engagement. Jói ex...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews Chris Cillizza, a prominent political commentator, about the current state of healthcare legislation under the Trump administration. They discuss the priorities of the Republican party, the implications of government reduction, and the potential impact of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on healthcare policy. The conversation also touch...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, David Saltzman speaks with Vinay Patel, founder of MakoRx, about the evolving role of community pharmacies in the healthcare landscape. They discuss the challenges faced by these local pharmacies as they compete with big box competition, the importance of transparency in drug pricing, and innovative models like subscription services that aim to improve acc...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman and NABIP Vice President of Congressional Affairs Michael Andel discuss two new healthcare bills that are set to impact employer reporting. They delve into the legislative process, the significance of the bills, and the future of healthcare under the new administration. The conversation highlights the importance of advocacy and the ongo...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman speaks with NABIP Long-Term Care Working Group Chair Lori Martin and Steve Cain, director at LTCI Partners, about the current state of long-term care insurance. They discuss the resurgence of the market, driven by demographic shifts and state initiatives like the Washington CARES Fund. The conversation highlights the importance of works...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by RxBenefits, host David Saltzman speaks with KC Armstrong, director of business development at RxBenefits, about the evolution of the pharmacy industry, the complexities of drug pricing in the U.S., and strategies for self-funded plans. KC shares insights on how RxBenefits has adapted to the rapidly changing landscape of healthcare and pharmacy...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by RxBenefits, host David Saltzman discusses the recent decision by Centene Corporation, through its subsidiary WellCare, to stop paying commissions to agents and brokers for enrolling Medicare beneficiaries in standalone Part D drug plans. Nicole LePetri, director of public policy & advocacy at NABIP, explains the implications of this decision f...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, sponsored by RxBenefits, host David Saltzman speaks with John Jasinski, senior vice president at CalSurance, about the complexities of Errors and Omissions (E&O) insurance, particularly in the context of the evolving landscape of self-funded plans. They discuss the various risks associated with professional liability, the importance of effective communicat...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews NABIP PAC Chair Joshua Haberman to discuss the importance of political action committees (PACs) in the health insurance industry. Haberman shares his journey into the insurance business and his involvement with NABIP. They explain what a PAC is and how NABIP PAC works to support legislative priorities related to access and af...

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman speaks with Andy Bonner, co-founder, president and CEO of Healthcare2U, about his personal journey into the healthcare industry after a misdiagnosis led to a cancer diagnosis. Andy discusses the creation of Healthcare2U, a direct primary care model that aims to provide affordable healthcare solutions to underserved populations. The conv...

In this episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour podcast, host David Saltzman interviews Danielle Roberts, the chair of the NABIP Medicare Advisory Group. They discuss Danielle's background in insurance and how she transitioned her business to focus solely on Medicare. They also talk about the role of the Medicare Advisory Group and their current initiatives, including lobbying CMS to remove agents fr...

In this episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman interviews Bianca Saul, the chair of the NABIP Employer Working Group. They discuss Saul's background in the industry and the role of the working group in advocating for employer-provided health coverage. They also touch on topics such as employer reporting, fiduciary responsibility, transparency, mental health parity, and the poten...

NABIP Membership Chair Leslie Shelton discusses her journey into the insurance business and her passion for membership. She emphasizes the importance of making new members feel welcome and supported, and shares strategies for improving the member experience. Shelton also highlights the social aspect of NABIP and the value of networking and building relationships within the industry. She encourages...

NABIP’s Vice President of Congressional Affairs Michael Andel and Tiber Creek Group’s Andrew McKechnie discuss setting meetings with your federal legislators during August recess and how to get the most out of these meeting. NABIP has released August talking points for all members to use and is encouraging all members to meet with their federal legislators while they are in their district offices...

Alicia Riedl, the new national president of NABIP, shares her journey in the insurance industry and discusses the issues and initiatives that NABIP is focusing on. She emphasizes the importance of creating a healthcare system centered around the consumer and highlights NABIP's efforts to advocate for a better healthcare system. Riedl also discusses the challenges faced by advisors in the industry,...

Join us for a special episode of the Healthcare Happy Hour podcast, sponsored by our Premier Affinity Partner, AgencyBloc,  an agency management system that helps health and life insurance agents manage their information, leads, policies, and communications with clients. Alongside our host, David Saltzman, they discuss their AMS, along with additional solutions like marketing tools, a commissions...

We all know it’s an election year, and Congressional action has been limited. Join host David Saltzman and NABIP lobbyists John Greene and Michael Andel to discuss several key topics related to healthcare legislation, including employer reporting and the challenges faced by employers in complying with the reporting requirements. They also discuss the status of legislation related to telehealth exp...

This episode of NABIP’s Healthcare Happy Hour is a deep dive into the recent changes surrounding short-term limited duration insurance (STLDI). It explores concerns surrounding STLDI’s impact on risk pools and the ACA market. Join OneDigital’s Scott Wham and host David Saltzman for a conversation that addresses the new rule, marketing practices of STLDI plans and the challenges faced by employers...