Margin of Care

Fertility and family-building benefits are changing fast, and they now reach far beyond pregnancy. In this episode, Kirk sits down with Dr. Asima Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot Fertility, to unpack what “high-quality care” really means across fertility, male factor support, perimenopause and menopause, and more. They dig into how employers can reduce friction, improve outcom...

Being a healthcare consultant has never been harder. Rising costs, private equity pressure, fragmented point solutions, and constant scrutiny from CFOs and executives have changed what clients expect from their advisors. In this live panel recorded at a recent event, seasoned consultants Chris Merrill (IMA) , Rico Bocala (USI) , and Scott Wood (Benefit Commerce Group, an Alera Group company) share...

Employers are being forced to make harder benefits decisions than ever before. Rising costs, high turnover, and uneven access to care have turned benefits strategy into a series of real trade-offs, not theoretical ones. Recorded live at Garner’s Strategic Advisors Summit in Park City, this episode of Margin of Care features Steven Reszczynski , VP of Benefits at Global Medical Response, and Courtn...

Employers aren’t short on benefits. They’re short on connection. In this episode of Margin of Care , Kirk sits down with Chad Cruse , VP of Ecosystem at Benefitfocus , to unpack why utilization remains one of the biggest failures in employer healthcare. Despite an explosion of digital health tools and point solutions, most employees still struggle to understand what’s available to them—or how to u...

Healthcare is being reshaped by two powerful forces: rapid advances in AI and a fundamental shift in what leaders, operators, and employees expect from work. In this episode of Margin of Care , Kirk Czonstka sits down with Sonia Millsom , CEO of Oxeon and longtime healthcare operator, to unpack how talent, leadership, and technology are colliding in today’s healthcare market. Drawing on her experi...

Benefits leaders talk about “cost” all day. Andrew Fondow argues cost is not the real problem. In this episode, Andrew and Kirk dig into why so many strategies stall, how to slow trend without drowning people in point solutions, and why real change starts with simple data, tight relationships, and helping members get to the right care at the right time. Key Takeaways 1. Cost is not the core proble...

Benefits used to be simple and standardized. Today they’re complex, costly, and central to C-suite decision-making. In this episode, Eric Grossman breaks down how the benefits landscape has transformed over the last two decades, why employers can’t rely on old playbooks, and what leaders must do now to evaluate solutions, manage vendor overload, and actually move the cost curve. Eric shares practi...

Healthcare costs keep climbing, and employers are running out of room to maneuver. In this unreleased pre-launch episode, Kirk sits down with Aon’s Kevin Fyock and Kevin Smith to talk about the affordability crisis, why traditional strategies haven’t solved it, and where employers must go next. They break down rising trend drivers, the limits of value-based care, the explosion of point solutions,...

What happens when the former head of the CDC sits down to break down the future of American healthcare for employers? In this episode of Margin of Care , host Kirk Czonstka speaks with Dr. Mandy Cohen , one of the most respected leaders in public health. Dr. Cohen shares what the pandemic changed for the better across the healthcare system, the risks employers face from major policy shifts like H....

What does it take to manage a half-billion-dollar healthcare budget and keep costs flat year after year? In this episode of Margin of Care , host Kirk Czonstka talks with Brian Marcotte, former President and CEO of Business Group on Health and longtime benefits leader at Honeywell and Marriott. Brian shares how he balanced cost control with innovation—rolling all benefits costs into one budget, pa...

When 15 million people lose healthcare coverage and more than a trillion dollars in federal funding disappears, every employer feels the impact. Host Kirk Czonstka talks with Patricia Boozang , Senior Managing Director at Manatt Health , about the sweeping effects of H.R. 1 —from coverage losses and premium increases to new Medicaid work requirements. They discuss what these changes mean for emplo...

Liana Douillet Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, joins to discuss how traditional benefits models fail LGBTQIA+ employees and what leading employers are doing to fix it. She breaks down why inclusive care in name only isn’t enough, how FOLX is redefining access through affirming digital care, and why closing this care gap is good for people and business. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Lea...

Digital health is entering a new era — one where informed consumers, smarter technology, and outcomes-based models reshape how care is delivered and funded. In this episode, Lee Shapiro of  7wire Ventures  shares what he’s seeing across the industry, how employers are adapting, and why the next generation of startups will look different from those of the past. Margin of Care is presented by Garner...

With telemedicine waivers for Medicare enrollees expiring and the federal government investing in rural health, a strong telehealth strategy has never been more important. Danish Nagda, CEO and co-founder of Rezilient Health, talks with Margin of Care about the hybrid care model of the future -- and why physician quality is a core metric for improving primary care. Margin of Care is presented by G...

Healthcare consumerism is broken. On this episode of Margin of Care, Chris Hogan of Benefit Commerce Group argues that consumers are, at best, accidentally stumbling into quality health care — and that the industry has to better direct people to the right doctors. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at  getgarner.com

Employers are now seen as the most trusted source of information. Dr. Vin Gupta argues in this episode of Margin of Care that employers should lean into their power and solve the pain points of health care utilization. With a different communication strategy, employers can make significant changes. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at  getgarner.com

It’s no secret that health care costs are skyrocketing, but new research from the Business Group on Health indicates a 54% compounded increase over the last decade. On this episode of Margin of Care, the group’s president and CEO, Ellen Kelsay, reveals why health care costs are getting out of control — and how cell and gene therapy is a part of the puzzle. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Hea...

Large employers aren’t the only ones who can do direct contracting. In this episode of Margin of Care, Lee Lewis of the Health Transformation Alliance breaks down the ways small and mid-sized employers can be more nimble and drive better health outcomes for their covered lives, all the while managing costs. New approaches aren’t out of reach. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn mor...

A podcast for healthcare advisors and benefits leaders exploring the economics, policy, and innovation shaping the future of employee health plans. Hosted by Kirk Czonstka and guests. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at  getgarner.com