Insights

Notes on benefits,
done better.

Plain-English thinking on what's actually driving your healthcare costs — and what to do about it.

No jargon, no sales pitch. Just the honest, benefits-advisory thinking we'd share across the table — on renewals, funding models, compliance, market access, and the decisions that quietly shape what you pay.

Start here

Where we'd start.

If you read one thing before your next renewal, make it this one.

Why Your Renewal Increase Usually Isn't About Your Claims
Renewals

Why Your Renewal Increase Usually Isn't About Your Claims

Every year the rate climbs and the explanation sounds the same — high claims, an aging workforce, the market. The real story is usually somewhere else entirely, and once you see it, the increase stops feeling inevitable.

Read the article
Benefits Navigator

The newsletter.

Vernon's Benefits Navigator — plain-English notes on benefits, funding and renewals, first published on LinkedIn and collected here to read in full.

The Archive

Everything from the desk.

Practical reads on benefits, funding, compliance and the questions Washington employers ask us most.

How Much Does Group Dental Insurance Cost?
Employee Benefits

How Much Does Group Dental Insurance Cost?

Learn what drives group dental insurance costs for Washington employers, how contributions shape budgets, and what to compare before requesting quotes.

Read more
How to Get a Quote for Group Disability Insurance
Employee Benefits

How to Get a Quote for Group Disability Insurance

Prepare workforce details, plan choices, and underwriting information to compare group disability insurance quotes with confidence as a Washington employer.

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Employer Questions About Benefits Administration for Small Business
Employee Benefits

Employer Questions About Benefits Administration for Small Business

Learn what benefits administration covers, how to choose a process and system, and what Washington small employers should prepare before enrollment.

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How Washington Employers Should Evaluate How to Set Up a QSEHRA
Employee Benefits

How Washington Employers Should Evaluate How to Set Up a QSEHRA

Learn how Washington employers can assess QSEHRA eligibility, set an allowance, handle notices and reimbursements, and compare alternatives before launch.

Read more
Mental Health Benefits For Employees: Washington Employer Guide
Employee Benefits

Mental Health Benefits For Employees: Washington Employer Guide

Learn how Washington employers can evaluate mental health benefits, compare support options, protect privacy, and plan a practical rollout for employees.

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Cost of Group Vision Insurance for Small Business
Employee Benefits & Retention

Cost of Group Vision Insurance for Small Business

Learn what drives small-business group vision insurance costs, how employer contributions and plan design affect your budget, and what to compare at renewal.

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Long-Term Disability Group Plan Cost: Employer Guide
Business Health Insurance

Long-Term Disability Group Plan Cost: Employer Guide

Learn what shapes long-term disability group plan cost, from benefit design and workforce mix to participation, underwriting, and quote comparisons.

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Self-Insured Health Plan Administrator: Employer Guide
Business Health Insurance

Self-Insured Health Plan Administrator: Employer Guide

Learn what a self-insured health plan administrator handles, what your employer retains, and how to set clear oversight, reporting, and service practices.

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How to Get a Quote for a Level Funded Plan
Business Health Insurance

How to Get a Quote for a Level Funded Plan

Get a quote for a level funded plan with a Washington employer checklist for census data, claims, underwriting, timing, and comparisons.

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Health Plan Funding Types: A Guide for Washington Employers
Business Health Insurance

Health Plan Funding Types: A Guide for Washington Employers

Compare health plan funding types for Washington employers, including risk, budget predictability, administration, and how to choose a model that fits.

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Best TPA for Self-Insured Employers: How to Evaluate Options
Business Health Insurance

Best TPA for Self-Insured Employers: How to Evaluate Options

Compare TPAs for a self-insured employer plan with a practical checklist for claims, networks, reporting, service, and contract terms before you choose.

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Employee Benefits Participation Rate: How Washington Employers Can Improve Enrollment
Employee Benefits

Employee Benefits Participation Rate: How Washington Employers Can Improve Enrollment

Learn how Washington employers can calculate employee benefits participation rates, interpret the numbers, and improve enrollment with practical steps.

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From Reading to Talking

Insight is useful. A conversation is better.

Reading about the options is a fine start — but the real value comes from applying them to your plan. Book a thirty-minute conversation and we'll diagnose before we prescribe, with your numbers in front of us.

Book a conversation
Washington employers · 10–200 employees