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Listen as Mercer experts discuss the issues facing employers today as they seek to design and manage benefit programs to help their workers thrive and their organizations succeed. Incorporating original research and specialized expertise, these lively conversations will keep you up to date and help hone your total rewards strategies. For more insights, please visit https://www.mercer.com/en-us/insights/us-health-news

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Check latest episodes from The Beneficial Workplace podcast

Why alternative health plans are getting more attention

2026/10/21

Employers are taking a closer look at alternative health plans as they search for new ways to manage rising costs and support better care decisions. In this episode, Emily Ferreira and Nancy Vick discuss the different plan models, how they work, and what employers should consider when deciding whether to offer them.

What employers should review in tobacco cessation programs

2026/10/14

Tobacco surcharges may seem straightforward, but the compliance questions are more complicated than they look. Host Wade Symons and guest Katharine Marshall discuss the litigation risk, what recent agency guidance does and does not resolve, and the practical steps plan sponsors should consider now.

Why affordability and financial well-being matter at work

2026/10/02

Affordability and financial well-being have become workplace issues. Host Tracy Watts talks with Sara Vipond about what employees are facing and how employers can take a more holistic approach to connect benefits, emergency savings, retirement plans and other resources more effectively.

Understanding double dip benefit arrangements and tax risk

2026/09/25

Some benefit arrangements promise payroll tax savings and increased take-home pay, but employers need to look closely at how they work. Wade Symons and Lori Fischler break down double dip arrangements, IRS concerns and the key questions employers should ask before moving forward.

What employers can learn from new PBM transparency reporting

2026/09/15

New PBM transparency reporting is giving employer health plan sponsors a clearer view into how pharmacy benefits are working. On this episode of The Beneficial Workplace, Jennifer Calhoun Mohl speaks with Jon Lewis, a leader in Marsh’s pharmacy practice, about what the data is beginning to show about spread and retained rebates, and what employers may want to consider as they review pharmacy benefit strategy and contracting.

What benefits leaders should prioritize in health care cost management

2026/09/09

As employers face growing cost pressure, the challenge is knowing which strategies are worth pursuing. Tracy Watts speaks with Dr. Andy Halpert about direct contracting, primary care shortages, unit cost, site of service and where employers may be able to find practical, measurable savings.

Employers to see the highest health benefit cost increase since 2003

2026/09/03

Marsh recently released preliminary survey results on 2027health benefit costs. Chief health actuary Sunit Patel and Emily Ferreira discuss the reasons behind the sharp increase and how employers will respond.

Is it time for a new approach to leave administration?

2026/08/20

Why do employee leaves feel harder than ever to manage? Tracy Watts talks with Rich Fuerstenberg about what’s behind the complexity and the practical options employers can use to improve the experience.

ERISA plan documentation: What employers need to have in place

2026/08/13

Wade Symons talks with Stacy Forrester and Margaret Herseth about the ERISA plan documents employers need to have in place, why insurance booklets alone may not be enough, how wrap documents and SPDs work together, and where employers can run into trouble with outdated language, unclear terms, and weak distribution practices.

A look ahead: Mercer’s Survey on Health & Benefits Strategies for 2027

2026/08/06

Employers are under pressure from record breaking healthcare cost increases, but they aren’t simply cutting benefits across the board. Listen as Emily Ferreira and Shomita Maitra dive into the results of Mercer’s Health and Benefit Strategies for 2027 survey and discuss how organizations are taking a more strategic approach to managing costs while continuing to invest in the programs employees value most.

Rethinking Employer Health Strategy for 2027

2026/07/30

Healthcare costs are rising, point solutions are overlapping, and employers need a clearer path forward. In this episode, Tracy Watts talks with Agnes Quiggle about where employers should start: measuring value, reducing duplication, focusing on quality, and preparing for a more personalized future shaped by digital care, AI, and wearables.

Protecting Workers Before, During, and After Extreme Weather

2026/07/21

Extreme weather is disrupting work faster than employers are adapting. Tracy Watts talks with David Leathers, Executive Director of Extreme Weather and Work, about how heat, wildfire smoke, storms, and flooding affect workers’ physical, mental, and financial well-being. Listen for practical steps employers can take before, during, and after extreme weather, then explore free tools at extremeweatherandwork.org.

The hidden decisions driving health plan costs

2026/07/16

Old plan decisions can create new cost problems. Jen Calhoun-Mohl and Sarai Connell explore how overlooked plan details can drive costs and unintended outcomes.

Tech Industry Benefits in Focus: Balancing Cost and Value

2026/07/09

Tech employers are under pressure to manage costs without losing the competitive edge of rich benefits. Emily Ferreira and Peter Jong explore what’s changing in health plans, leave policies, pharmacy spend, and the growing role of AI in benefits administration.

AI in benefits: Managing risk, compliance and fiduciary duties

2026/06/25

Artificial intelligence is transforming employee benefits, but it also brings new compliance challenges. In this episode of the Beneficial Workplace Podcast, Wade Symons and Byron McQuain discuss the compliance risks employers should keep in mind.