Benefits Breakdown

Hosted by Brown & Brown

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Oct 2026

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About the show

It’s no secret, employee benefits are complicated. We’re here to break things down and help you build a roadmap for your approach to benefits. Together with our expert guests, we’ll explore complex, counterintuitive, and compelling topics that give you a better understanding of the “whys” of the industry.

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60 recent

October 26, 2026Episode 8531 min

The Leave Legend: Navigating the Future of Leave & Absence Management

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

October 12, 2026Episode 8429 min

Reimagining Student Health Plans

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

September 15, 2026Episode 8328 min

Healthcare Reimagined: AI, Innovation, and the Future of Employee Benefits

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

August 24, 2026Episode 8230 min

Beyond Open Enrollment: Building a Benefits Communication Strategy That Works

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

June 23, 2026Episode 8127 min

Healthcare Delivery Reinvented | Advanced Contracting, Direct Care Strategies, and Cost Control

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

April 22, 2026Episode 8026 min

Regulatory Reality Check for Employers

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

April 8, 2026Episode 7927 min

Women’s Health Across the Lifespan, Small Changes with Big Impact

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

March 25, 2026Episode 7829 min

Women’s Health in the Workplace: Menopause, Medicine, and the Path Forward

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

March 11, 2026Episode 7727 min

Stop Loss 101, 201 & Beyond: Fundamentals to Smarter Risk Strategy

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

February 26, 2026Episode 7629 min

How Smart Data Decisions Are Reshaping Benefits Strategy

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

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