When you’re running a business, few things are more sensitive than your employee benefits, especially health insurance. If you’ve been feeling like your current insurance provider just isn’t cutting it anymore, you’re not alone. According to a 2024 study by Mercer, 63% of employers will actively evaluate new insurance providers due to rising costs, administrative burdens, or inadequate support (Mercer, 2024).
But making the switch doesn’t have to mean chaos for your HR team or confusion for your employees. With the right approach, the transition can be nearly seamless.
At MHG Insurance, my colleague Jetta Gadea and I help companies switch insurance providers with confidence. Here’s how we recommend doing it.
Why Companies Switch Insurance Providers
You might be considering a change because your current insurance provider:
● Doesn’t offer better value or flexibility
● Has poor communication and slow support
● Has limited plan options for your diverse and growing team
And you wouldn’t be alone in this. A report from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored plans increased by an average of 7% in the past year (KFF, 2023). That’s a tough hit for small and midsize businesses trying to control costs.
When you’re paying more and getting less, it’s time to explore alternatives.
How to Change Insurance Providers Without Disrupting Your Team
1. Talk to Your Insurance Broker
Your insurance broker is your best ally and should be your first stop. Share what's not working, whether the coverage, a weak provider network, high costs, or something else. A good broker will try to negotiate improvements with your current provider or explore alternative options that may be a better fit.
Tip: Don’t wait to share these concerns with your insurance broker at renewal. Raise concerns as they come up so they can be addressed.
2. Start Early! Ideally, 90 Days Before Renewal
If you’ve decided you want to see what other options are available, give your insurance broker enough time to collect quotes and compare options. 90 days prior to your plan renewing is a good guideline. Rushing the process can lead to lapses in coverage, poor onboarding, and frustrated team members. At MHG, we create custom transition timelines so nothing falls through the cracks.
3. Lean on Our Expertise to Navigate the Market
The insurance market is constantly evolving, and not every option is straightforward. That’s where having a team like ours comes in. We listen to your business goals and employee needs, then research and present plan options that:
● Keep costs predictable
● Offer flexibility in coverage levels
● Are accepted by the doctors your team uses most
This high-touch service means you won’t spend hours comparing apples to oranges. We do the heavy lifting and explain everything in simple terms.
4. Communicate With Your Team Early and Often
According to a 2024 SHRM survey, 52% of employees say they are confused by their benefits options (SHRM, 2024). To avoid frustration or anxiety during open enrollment:
● Hold short info sessions or Q&As with your team. We can help or even run these for you.
● Provide comparison charts to explain what’s changing
● Have an expert on-hand (like one of us!) to answer questions in real time
Clear, confident communication helps your employees feel supported and informed throughout the switch.
What to Look For in a New Insurance Provider
Not all insurance providers are created equal. When evaluating new options, make sure they offer:
● Plan flexibility that matches your team’s real-world needs
· Strong provider network that ensures your team has access to a wide range of doctors and hospitals, wherever they are, especially if you have employees working remotely or employees in multiple states
● Technology tools for easy enrollment and management
● Compliance and regulatory support to help you stay compliant and up to date on regulations
· Financial strength and a good reputation for paying claims and providing good service
● Proven experience with businesses of your size
At MHG, our team is your team. We understand that a 20-person business doesn’t need the same solution as a 200-person one. That’s why we customize everything, from plan structure to rollout strategy.
Don’t Forget: Compliance and Transition Support
Changing insurance providers isn’t just about choosing new coverage. You also need to manage:
● COBRA notifications
● ACA compliance
● Plan terminations and new plan onboarding
A good insurance partner doesn’t leave you to navigate these steps on your own. Our team guides you through each step and works closely with your previous provider to ensure that nothing is missed.
How MHG Insurance Makes It Easy to Switch
With over three decades of experience helping businesses worldwide, MHG Insurance understands the complexities of employee benefits. We’re a full-service brokerage, which means we:
● Work for you, not the insurance company
● Build personalized plans based on your budget and goals
● Handle the details so you can focus on your business
Changing insurance providers might seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. When you partner with MHG, you get a team of advocates who guide you every step of the way.
Whether you're in yachting, marine, or simply a U.S.-based business looking to improve your benefits, we are here to help and make the process easier.
Ready to explore your options? Let’s talk.
Sources
● Mercer. (2024). Health & Benefits Strategies for a New Era.
https://www.mercer.com/en-us/insights/total-rewards/employee-benefits-strategy/2024-benefit-strategies-report/
● Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). 2023 Employer Health Benefits Survey.
https://www.kff.org/report-section/ehbs-2023-summary-of-findings/
● Society for Human Resource Management. (2024). SHRM Employee Benefits Survey.
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/2024-benefits-survey.aspx