60. Benefits Red Flags Every Employer Needs to Catch

If you have ever been told “you can’t access your own portal” or “don’t worry, we’ve got great PPO discounts,” this episode is for you. Today host Chelsea unpacks real stories employers have shared with me and the costly myths behind them. Names and details are changed, the situations are real. Use this as a checklist to protect your plan, your data, and your people.


In this episode

• The red flag no one should ignore: being blocked from your own carrier portal
• No access to your ben-admin system and why that traps you from shopping the market
• Asking for compensation disclosures under CAA 2021 and getting a flat “no”
• Fear tactics about big carriers and how to verify before you trust
• Sticker shock: $125 PEPM broker fees and how to benchmark what is reasonable
• Perks over performance: NHL boxes, steak dinners, and fiduciary duty
• “Broker severance” and the myth of 250 years of benefits experience
• “Local” vs. “large” broker labels and what actually matters
• Being told you are a “small client” and why that is never an excuse
• Shiny value-adds vs. real cost and quality outcomes

Key takeaways

• It is your plan and your data. Own the logins, the reports, the invoices.
• Verify before you trust. Ask for proof, not talking points.
• Benchmark compensation and services against outcomes, not perks.
• Hold every vendor accountable to frequency and severity of claims, not swag.

If this episode helped, share it with a fellow employer, like the video, and subscribe for practical playbooks that put you back in control.