{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Build Your Benefits","title":"The Carrier Switch: How One CHRO Cut Benefits Costs Without Cutting Coverage","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":906,"description":"When healthcare renewal rates hit double digits, the instinct is often to shift the financial burden onto the workforce. Choosing to move in the opposite direction—cutting a popular carrier to lower employee contributions while maintaining identical coverage levels—requires a masterclass in data-backed advocacy and change management.\n\nLisseth Zouhbi, CHRO at Child Care Resource Center, joins the show to break down a high-stakes medical plan transition. She details the specific calculus used to evaluate geographic provider density and the communication strategies that prevented a potential morale crisis. This conversation moves past high-level strategy to look at the granular work of Q&A tracking, broker-led webinars, and the push-pull of internal budget approvals.\n\nWhat You'll Learn:\nHow to conduct a quantitative carrier analysis to ensure coverage parity\nStrategies for presenting benefits changes to the board using competitive external data\nThe three-pillar framework for complex benefit plan transitions\nUsing internal budget approval windows to leverage better carrier terms\nWhy over-communicating through office hours reduces enrollment disruption\nBalancing employee demographics with rising healthcare market trends\nLessons in proactive due diligence versus reactionary benefit renewals\nThe role of wellness programs in driving long-term healthcare cost containment\n\nKey Quotes: — \"It was about having a plan for the employees that would actually save them money instead of increasing their benefit costs by double digits, but eliminating a carrier that was one of the most popular.\" — \"When you present it not just in 'here is the cost,' it’s explaining beyond what is the financial impact... this is where engagement, attraction, and retaining talent are important.\" — \"Check off the boxes, but ensure there is participation; we created different forums to make sure we created opportunities for them to ask those questions.\"\n\nLisseth Zouhbi is the Chief Human Resources...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/uvnUID2Z7VmGyaG4MqwzVMXmfYRa-Q5MmuVcUoRn0bs/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kNGU4/MzAxZWRiNGVlZjNi/NGM0NDVmMDI0MDMw/Y2MyOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}