The Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Broker During Your Group Health Insurance Renewal
The annual health insurance renewal is the ultimate test for brokers. Experts are projecting some of the highest healthcare cost increases in over a decade, with many employers seeing hikes of 8% or more.
With some employees willing to switch jobs for a better benefits package, employers can't afford to simply slash benefits or pass the entire cost on to the team.
Is your broker a reactive middleman who just delivers bad news, or are they a proactive strategic partner who brings solutions? At Concannon Insurance Agency, we believe you deserve the latter. And these five questions will help you find out whether your broker is keeping up.
Five Questions to Ask Your Broker
Here are the five questions that will instantly reveal what kind of broker you have.
1. What is your long-term plan for my company based on my team's health data?
A strategic broker doesn’t show up with a renewal number and little else.
To build a long-term plan, our Concannon team will:
Study your claims history
Identify what’s driving cost increases
Benchmark your plan against companies similar to yours
Your data should inform a multi-year strategy, not a last-minute scramble.
2. What new ways can we save money without just making my employees pay more?
Higher deductibles are not a strategy. They’re a shortcut.
Modern cost containment includes:
Level-funded or alternative funding arrangements
Preventive and wellness initiatives
Plan design optimization
Care navigation tools
Pharmacy benefit strategies
Our team at Concannon brings solutions that save money and protect your employees’ experience.
3. What risk management resources do you offer that I am not utilizing?
Most carriers include free tools, yet many employers never hear about them.
Concannon helps clients leverage:
Safety and compliance training
Contract review services
Defensive driving programs
These resources reduce claims risk, strengthen compliance, and potentially lower future premiums.
4. What new tools or health programs are important for me to know this year?
Today’s benefits experience goes far beyond an insurance card.
Your workforce expects:
Telehealth access
Mental health apps
Chronic condition management tools
Digital ID cards and mobile portals
Nurse hotlines and wellness programs
The Concannon Insurance Agency evaluates these enhancements annually so you can offer meaningful, modern benefits.
5. How will you help my team with problems and help my company follow all the rules?
Renewal is not the finish line. It’s the starting point.
A true broker partner should:
Assist employees with claims issues
Answer day-to-day HR questions
Provide compliance guidance for ACA, COBRA, ERISA, and state laws
Supply timely updates on regulatory changes
Offer enrollment support and communication materials
Concannon Insurance acts as an extension of your HR team rather than an outsider.
Find a True Partner in Insurance with Concannon
Your employee benefits program is one of your largest investments. You deserve more than a broker who simply passes along rate increases. You need a partner who brings you real solutions.
At Concannon Insurance Agency, we bring strategy, solutions, and year-round support. These five questions are just the beginning of how we advocate for our clients.
Let’s review your 2025-2026 benefits renewal together. Call us at (636) 537-5611 and experience what it feels like to work with a true partner.
