BIP Fall 2024

Letter from the President

Uniting our voices: Building a powerful healthcare future

We stand at a pivotal moment, with a rare chance to harness our collective strength and transform the healthcare landscape. As NABIP members, we may not typically hail from giant consulting firms, but I firmly believe that advisors, consultants and brokers can join forces to create a better healthcare system. The challenges we face are universal, whether our clients have 70,000 employees or 70. Benefits management, employee retention and soaring healthcare costs are battles every business fights. While solutions may differ, our core mission remains the same: to advocate for our clients and community. I am deeply committed to NABIP and to helping us all rise to our full potential as professionals. Throughout my journey, I’ve seen the power of collaboration — with large consulting houses, big

brokerages and NABIP members. The “secret sauce” may remain elusive, but one thing is clear: by uniting benefits advocates, we can amplify our impact, not dilute it. A shining example is our victory in repealing the Affordable Care Act’s Cadillac tax. When employers, consultants and brokers stood as one, we triumphed, demonstrating the power of our collective voice. From Fortune 50 giants to small businesses, we represented all. It often takes a major issue to unite us, but imagine the change we could drive with ongoing collaboration. With CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods at the helm and her invaluable background with the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health and the National Business Group on Health, we can tap into the power of large employers and consultants. It’s time to shift from reactive to proactive, to lead with a clear vision of what we stand for: transparency, data ownership and an accessible, affordable healthcare system. NABIP’s Healthcare Bill of Rights is our rallying cry, our guiding document. With this platform, we can forge powerful alliances with groups like the Society for Human Resource Management and other HR, broker and benefit associations. By finding common ground, we can drive real change. The future of healthcare is ours to shape. Let’s seize this moment, unite our voices and build a better future for our profession and the healthcare system at large.

It often takes a major issue to unite us, but imagine the change we could drive with ongoing collaboration.

“

Throughout my journey, I’ve seen the power of collaboration — with large consulting houses, big brokerages and NABIP members.

”

Alycia Riedl President, NABIP

photo by Cary Rothschild

4 bip magazine Fall 2024