Tuesday Morning With Justin: Healthcare, Leadership & Life

Send us Fan Mail I compare today’s healthcare experience to moving to a city with no signs or maps and explain why that confusion keeps people from getting care. I share a real data point showing 57% of members skipping preventive exams and argue for a better front door led by a trusted physician.  • the “no directions” problem in healthcare navigation for employees  • why people with insurance st...

Send us Fan Mail Healthcare costs keep climbing because utilization is rising and high-cost drugs are changing the baseline, not because of a one-time post-COVID bump. We break down what the end of enhanced ACA subsidies means for the individual market and why employers feel the pressure next.  • employer-sponsored health plans facing 8% to 9% cost increases  • inflation not the only driver, with...

Send us Fan Mail Gene therapy can cure diseases that once felt untouchable, but it can also trigger the biggest claim a self-funded employer may ever face. We focus on the hidden costs around the drug, why network contracting matters, and how transparency and preparation protect the health plan when rare cases hit. • Gene therapy risk for self-funded employers beyond the drug price • Hidden cost d...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack the shock of multi-million-dollar gene therapies and why a one-time cure can collide with a self-funded plan’s budget. We explain in vivo versus ex vivo approaches, where care happens, and how employers can think about coverage choices and preparation. • the cost reality of one-time gene therapies  • who pays on a self-funded plan  • tradeoffs of excluding versus coverin...

Send us Fan Mail We break down how a “$0 copay” specialty drug can cost an employer $7,600 per injection and why that gap exists. Then we show how transparent sourcing cut Enbrel from $38,000 a year to about $2,000 without sacrificing care. • how Enbrel is marketed versus what it treats • the hidden employer cost behind copay programs • five fills adding up to roughly $38,000 • plan risk threshold...

Send us Fan Mail We break down why 1% of employees drive a third of healthcare costs and how multi‑million dollar claims are rising. We show how site of care, quality data, and smart incentives can cut spend without cutting outcomes, including a $72k infusion savings case. • 1% of employees driving a third of spend • Multi‑million dollar claims rising 8% year over year and 50% over four years • Hi...

Send us Fan Mail Listener Question: "What do you actually do?"  Ever wondered what a benefit advisor actually does? It's a question that prompted Justin Futrell to peel back the curtain on his role at True North Companies in this enlightening episode. While placing health insurance represents the foundation of Justin's work—accounting for roughly 80% of his focus to match the p...

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder why healthcare costs keep climbing despite supposed regulations? The answer lies in a surprising insight I gained from running a pizza business in my college dorm room. At Cornell College, my friends and I sold $2 frozen pizzas for $5 (eventually $8) – a 75% profit margin we could maintain solely because we had no competition. This simple business lesson reveals the tr...

Send us Fan Mail Could you get the same medical procedure for less than half the price by boarding a plane? For millions of Americans facing staggering healthcare costs, medical tourism has become more than just a curiosity – it's becoming a financial necessity. The story of 28-year-old Brianna Williams highlights this growing trend perfectly. Despite having comprehensive employer-provided he...

Send us Fan Mail Stepping into the often overlooked yet critically important realm of employer responsibilities, today's episode tackles the concept of fiduciary duty in employee health plans. What begins as an admittedly dry-sounding legal term quickly unfolds into a fascinating exploration of how your healthcare decisions are made—and who's accountable when things go wrong. Did you kno...

Send us Fan Mail JP Morgan Chase faces a lawsuit from an employee claiming the company failed its fiduciary duty by maintaining a pharmacy benefit manager relationship that forces employees to pay inflated prices for medications. The case highlights how PBMs can create massive price disparities, with one medication costing $8,000 through the plan versus just $30 at retail pharmacies. • Employees d...

Send us Fan Mail Shocked doesn't begin to describe our reaction when we discovered the true cost of common medical procedures. After attending an eye-opening Free Market Medical Association event in Omaha, we're pulling back the curtain on healthcare's most closely guarded secret: the massive gap between what procedures actually cost and what patients are billed. Would you believe t...

Send us Fan Mail I'm frustrated by a recent $100,000 bill my client received for a knee replacement performed at a low-quality facility. I can't help but question how we've normalized this level of waste in our healthcare system. This egregious example highlights everything wrong with healthcare today—the only industry where we blindly follow recommendations without any information...

Send us Fan Mail Direct Primary Care offers quality healthcare that's accessible, personalized, and often more affordable than traditional medical practices. Justin Futrell shares insights on this alternative healthcare model and answers common questions from listeners about how it works and why it's gaining popularity. • DPC physicians prioritize patient care over paperwork, creating fl...

Send us Fan Mail Direct primary care is revolutionizing the way we think about healthcare, emphasizing quality and accessibility. Justin discusses the benefits of the membership model and the recent legislative support that could expand access to this model. • Direct primary care centers the patient-physician relationship  • Emphasis on quality care over quantity  • New legislation could allow HSA...

Send us Fan Mail This episode explores the intricate connection between risk and cost in healthcare, emphasizing how managing risks can lead to significant long-term savings. Through relatable anecdotes and thorough analysis, we highlight the impact of preventative care and the costs associated with neglecting health screenings.  • Discusses the relationship between risk and cost in healthcare  •...

Send us Fan Mail Aetna's lawsuit against Radiology Partners sheds light on excessive billing practices in the medical imaging industry, revealing the importance of choosing independent clinics for better pricing and quality. This episode explores the implications for patients and encourages informed choices in their healthcare decisions.  • Aetna's legal action against Radiology Partners...

Send us Fan Mail Can international mail-order prescriptions transform how we handle healthcare costs? Discover the untapped potential of sourcing medications from countries like Canada and Mexico as we explore an emerging trend that’s gaining momentum. Join me, Justin Futrell, your benefit advisor from True North Companies, in this eye-opening episode where we unpack the financial and legal incent...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the latest on UHC & Elevance Health (BlueCross). UHC commits to pass through pricing with Optum RX by end of 2028. Who is your Pharmacy Benefit Manager? Optum RX is a profit puppy for UnitedHealth. Are you confident they are helping you get the highest value outcome? Updates on quarterly earnings report from Elevance (BlueCross) as well.  Want to find out if your compan...

Send us Fan Mail Here is your quick refresher if you have a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account.  Which one is your money indefinitely? HSA.  Which one is “use it or lose it”? FSA.  If you have an FSA you likely have a grace period through March to use your funds. When in doubt go to FSAstore.com to find eligible purchases. Think of it like the Amazon of IRS eligible items.  Music...