Sympl Insights

A 250-employee company switched to self-funded insurance and saved $360,000 on prescription drugs. Here's what they changed and how it worked.

Most employers agree on one thing: healthcare costs keep rising. Year after year, carrier networks get narrower, premiums increase, and when contract disputes happen between carriers and providers, employers and employees are the ones left dealing with the fallout. Care gets disrupted. Costs spike. And leadership is forced to react instead of plan. Yet despite these challenges, many benefits conversations still revolve around the same approach employers have used for years: s

As you settle into the new year, pharmacy benefits probably aren't top of mind. But if you're thinking about making changes to your PBM at any point this year, the clock is already ticking. Here's the reality: most pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) need at least 90 days to implement a new contract. That's three full months just for setup. The Contract Timing Problem Let's walk through what typically happens. Your broker shows up in late summer or early fall with renewal option

Don't wait until next fall. Michigan employers can start planning a better 2026 renewal right now by understanding what drove costs up and exploring new options.

A lot of employers stick with their broker because things seem fine. They're responsive. They've been around for years. You don't want to shake things up. But being responsive doesn't lower your claims. And it doesn't protect you when networks fall apart. Southwest Michigan saw this when Bronson warned it could go out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare. One contract dispute, and suddenly your employees' care gets disrupted and your costs spike. If your broker isn't showing you

Southwest Michigan health systems offer direct contracts that cut costs and improve benefits. Here's how employers are using them instead of traditional networks.