Advertise on podcast: Benefits Breakdown

In this episode of the Benefits Breakdown, Adam, Jared, and Vanessa sit down Darryl Frye, Senior Absence Consultant at Brown & Brown, to discuss the rapidly evolving world of leave management. From state paid family and medical leave programs and implementation challenges to compliance audits, vendor oversight, and the growing role of AI, Darryl shares practical insights on helping employers navigate one of the most complex areas of employee benefits. Whether you operate in a single state or across the country, this episode offers strategies for reducing risk, improving employee experience, and staying ahead of changing regulations.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode of The Benefits Breakdown, Joe Hein and Van Malafa from the Academic Health Plans team discuss how rising healthcare costs, increasing claim severity, and changing student needs are reshaping the student health insurance landscape. They explore how colleges and universities are balancing affordability, access to care, and plan sustainability while supporting student success. The conversation also highlights innovative solutions such as telehealth, behavioral health resources, waiver management, and data-driven renewal strategies designed specifically for higher education. If you want insight into the future of student healthcare, cost management, and student well-being, this episode delivers practical ideas and real-world perspective. Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode, Dannielle Sherrets, Director of Brown & Brown's Innovation Hub, discusses how AI and digital health are transforming employee benefits. The conversation explores the shift toward consumer-driven healthcare, the rise of virtual care, and how AI is helping employees navigate benefits and healthcare decisions more effectively. The team also highlights why employers must rethink how they deliver benefits information as employee expectations continue to evolve.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode of the Benefits Breakdown, Adam, Jared, and Vanessa sit down with Brown & Brown communication leaders Tanya Mulqueen and Erika Illiano to discuss the evolving world of employee benefits communications.  They share how open enrollment has transformed from a once-a-year information campaign into a strategic opportunity to educate, engage, and empower employees. Whether you're preparing for open enrollment or looking to improve year-round employee engagement, this episode offers practical insights and strategies for building more effective benefits communications.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

Vanessa, Jared, and Adam are joined by Katie Wendorff, Brown & Brown Advanced Contracting Strategies Practice Leader, to break down one of the fastest growing areas in employer healthcare strategy. The discussion focuses on how advanced contracting models are helping employers improve access, elevate outcomes, and reduce total cost of care.  The team explores key shifts in the market, including advanced primary care, direct contracting, onsite and near site clinics, and the growing demand for measurable results and long-term accountability. Katie shares a practical view of how these strategies work, where employers are seeing success, and where complexity is often underestimated during implementation.  They also highlight real world lessons, including what drives ROI, how to measure impact beyond activity, and where organizations should begin if they want to take a more disciplined and strategic approach to healthcare delivery.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode of The Benefits Breakdown, the team is joined by Jessie Campbell, National Practice Leader for Brown & Brown’s Regulatory and Legislative Strategy Group, to break down the growing fiduciary and compliance challenges facing employers. Jessie explains how standards once focused on retirement plans are now being applied to health and welfare benefits, increasing expectations around governance, documentation, and oversight.  The discussion covers practical steps employers can take, including formalizing benefits committees, benchmarking fees, understanding vendor compensation, and carefully managing emerging risk areas such as voluntary benefits, GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and wellness surcharges. The key takeaway is that many employers are already doing the right things, but clear documentation, consistent communication, and disciplined processes are now essential to reducing fiduciary risk.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode of the Benefits Breakdown podcast, the team explores women’s health across the full lifespan, moving beyond family building to address heart health, mental health, menopause, chronic conditions, and health disparities. Ashley Diaz shares data‑driven insights showing why women’s heart health, access to preventive care, and navigation support are critical issues for employers, particularly as risk factors and inequities continue to rise.   The discussion highlights how small, intentional benefit design changes, such as improved access, on‑site or virtual screenings, advocacy services, and population segmentation, can drive meaningful health and financial outcomes. The conversation reinforces that supporting women’s health is both the right thing to do for employees and a strategic opportunity for employers to improve engagement, retention, productivity, and long‑term cost management.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

Benefits Breakdown is joined by Brown & Brown teammates Gina Julian, Amy Suss, and Lindsey Ladell for a candid conversation on women’s health with a focus on menopause and perimenopause in the workplace. Together, they explore why menopause is a guaranteed life stage employers can no longer ignore, how symptoms impact health, productivity and retention, and why updated science has reshaped the role of hormone replacement therapy. From destigmatizing the conversation to practical benefit design, workplace flexibility, and access to specialized care, this episode centers on how informed employers can better support women while improving outcomes and managing long‑term cost.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode, the team welcomes Matt Johnson, leader of Brown & Brown’s Stop Loss practice, for a practical conversation on stop loss fundamentals and the realities of managing catastrophic claim risk in today’s market. Matt breaks down specific versus aggregate stop loss, explains leverage trend, and shares why seven-figure claims are becoming more common, driven by specialty pharmacy, oncology, and emerging therapies.  The discussion explores how employers can better position themselves through smarter contract structures, including lasers, rate caps, and run-in versus run-out coverage, as well as proactive clinical and pharmacy strategies that matter to stop loss carriers. Whether you are an HR leader, finance executive, or benefits professional, this episode offers clear guidance on navigating stop loss renewals and building a more resilient risk strategy for 2026 and beyond. Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

Benefits Breakdown is joined by Mike Reardon who leads the data and analytics team at Brown & Brown. Together, we explore why every employer needs a data strategy, how modern analytics move us from looking backward to predicting what is next, and how smarter use of data directly improves the employee experience while controlling cost. From trend management to point solution ROI to real world examples that change outcomes, this episode is all about turning information into action.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode, Vanessa Longnecker, Jared Bowcutt, and Adam Compton welcome Powell Brown, CEO of Brown & Brown for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of employee benefits, the impact of rapid growth and the role of AI in shaping the future. Powell shares insights on maintaining culture through expansion, the importance of trust and respect, and how technology can empower teams.   The discussion covers regulatory trends, leadership lessons and what excites Powell most about the journey ahead. Whether you’re an HR leader, benefits consultant, or teammate at Brown & Brown, this episode delivers actionable perspectives for 2026 and beyond. Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

The team welcomes Mark Abate and John Greenbaum from Brown & Brown’s retail leadership team. Together, they dive into the realities of rising healthcare costs, the challenges of affordability for employees and the evolving landscape of benefit strategies. The conversation explores how prescription drug trends, legislative changes, and rate pressures are shaping employer decisions, and why innovation—both big and small—is critical for the future.   From curative drug therapies to simple but impactful benefits like ID theft protection and pet insurance, the team shares insights on how organizations can rethink total rewards to meet the diverse needs of a multi-generational workforce.  Whether you’re a benefits leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about workplace wellbeing, this episode delivers practical perspectives and real-world examples to help you navigate complexity and drive positive change.  Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

The team is joined by Ellen Kelsay, President & CEO of the Business Group on Health.  The discussion highlights how leading employers are responding to rising healthcare costs, global pressures, and evolving employee needs. The team explores trends in physical health, mental health and financial health . They also dive into social connectedness, community involvement, and the growing use of data and dashboards to drive accountability. The episode wraps up with actionable steps employers can take to strengthen well-being programs, boost engagement, and prepare for future challenges. Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode of Benefits Breakdown, the team is joined by Josh Halperin, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Consulting Services at Brown & Brown. Together, they explore the rapidly changing pharmacy landscape—how the surge in specialty drug approvals, the rise of GLP-1 medications, and shifting oncology treatments are reshaping employer health plans. The conversation unpacks the financial impact of these trends, the promise of biosimilars, and the challenges posed by new legislation, direct-to-consumer pharmacy models, and drug import tariffs.  Whether you’re a benefits leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about the future of pharmacy benefits, this episode delivers actionable insights and real-world strategies to help you navigate complexity, control costs, and plan for what’s next. Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton

In this episode of The Benefits Breakdown, Sean Clem and Steve Piccolino from the Brown & Brown Benefits Technology team join us to explore the rapidly evolving world of benefits technology. From the integration of AI in administration to the critical role of employee engagement, they unpack how strategic tech investments are reshaping the employee experience.   The conversation dives into emerging industry trends, the power of communication, and the future of HR technology—highlighting why organizations must adapt to stay ahead in the benefits landscape. Connect with the hosts: Jared Bowcutt Vanessa Longnecker Adam Compton