About this episode

The episode discusses how employers can escape the renewal cycle in healthcare benefits through strategic planning and fiduciary principles.

In this episode of The Business of Benefits, Donovan Ryckis guest starred on a Be More Than a Fiduciary Podcast episode with Eric Dyson of 90 North Consulting and Brenda Kruse of Axiom Healthcare Services. Together, they break down how employers can finally escape the renewal treadmill, create a 3–5 year benefits strategy, and apply fiduciary principles to healthcare. Brenda shares Axiom’s transformation... from repeated renewal frustration to achieving a 13% premium decrease, lowering deductibles, expanding benefits, and reducing employee out-of-pocket costs by 27–38%. Eric and Donovan dig into why the healthcare system fails employers, how to identify misaligned incentives, and why transparency and governance are the keys to long-term success. They also explore PBM dysfunction, compensation conflicts, the four components of a health plan, and why employers must act as true stewards of their healthcare dollars. What You’ll Learn: What’s really behind recurring renewal increases How Axiom achieved a 13% premium decrease while improving benefits Why data transparency directly drives better outcomes Why PBM strategy is the fastest path to meaningful savings The four structural…

People in this episode

Guests: Donovan Ryckis, Eric Dyson, Brenda Kruse

Topics covered

• healthcare strategy
• fiduciary principles
• benefits management
• cost reduction
• data transparency
• employer healthcare

Keywords

• renewal cycle
• premium decrease
• employee benefits
• health plan strategy
• PBM dysfunction
• fiduciary responsibility

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Axiom Healthcare Services, 90 North Consulting

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