How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
It’s easy to ask the questions if you know what they are…
Do you have an employee benefits broker/consultant but you aren’t sure if they are providing the
services and expertise you deserve? Employee benefits are now the most important form of
compensation to your employees according to many surveys. How can you be sure your benefits
broker/consultant is the best possible fit for your organization? It’s hard to know the questions to ask if
you aren’t intimately familiar with the employee benefits business. This tool is designed to provide you
with the list of the services and benefits of using BSI which can be used to compare to your current
broker/consultant.
Experience - BSI
Specialize and focus only on employee
benefits since 1976.
Privately held, family, locally owned
agency.
98% client retention.
Benefit to Client
Most brokerages focus on many lines
of coverage. By specializing you are
assure we are experts in what we do
for you.
We work only in the client’s best
interest. We are not working for a
better share price or stock holders or
carriers.
Most brokers retain only about half
of what they sell because they aren’t
as focused on service or pass the
service to another in the office after
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
100% of clients are references.
Every employee licensed and fully
trained.
Appointed with 100% of the market.
Emphasis on proactive consultative
approach.
Experience – Cynthia Cameron
Licensed since 1986.
Employee Benefits Service Specialist
MONY 1986-1988.
the sale
Because we work only for the client
and because we have enough time to
do a great job they are happy and
want to refer us.
You can be sure everyone you work
with at BSI is licensed and well
trained. We believe we are students
of this business and therefore always
learning.
The carriers appreciate us because
Cynthia is the only broker/owner that
has worked at a carrier in town. We
understand the details that other.
Brokers/consultants do not and
therefore we are able to be
appointed with 100% of the market
regardless of volume.
This translates to almost no issues
with benefits. We work to take the
surprise out of everything by asking
questions, listening and pro-actively
managing expectations and solutions
before a problem arises.
Benefit to Client
25 years of well rounded experience
in Portland Metro area.
Began benefits work right out of
college as a small group broker’s
service representative.
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Employee Benefits Broker Calhoun
Corporation 1988-1989.
Account Executive Lincoln National 19891990.
• Completed Underwriting
Training
Senior Account Executive Qualmed/HealthNet 1990-1995.
Senior Account Executive United
Healthcare 1995-1999.
Sales & Service Representative Benefit
Specialists, Inc. 1999-2003.
President Benefit Specialists, Inc. 2003current.
Tried working for the family’s
brokerage but needed to go out into
the world first.
Moved to San Francisco to gain
experience not available in Portland
or Seattle. Completed group school
which is like a master’s degree in
employee benefits through Lincoln.
Invaluable indemnity (PPO/POS selffunding) experience not available
today.
At HealthNet worked with national
companies such as AT&T, Bechtel,
Citibank & Delmonte. Gained
valuable experience in managed care:
provider relations, claims payment,
medical management, wellness and
capitation.
Moved back to Oregon to start the
United Healthcare office. Learned
the details of the Oregon/SW
Washington market.
With much experience Cynthia was
ready to join the family business
again.
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Cynthia helped her father retire by
buying the business. She has never
enjoyed her career as much! “The
clients are our friends and family. “
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Currently serve on Cigna & United
Healthcare Broker Board of Directors.
Only independent agency owner with
Underwriting and Carrier experience that
also specializes in Self-funding.
Services - Financial
Customized work designed to be an
extension of the Finance department.
Full marketing review with intention for
negotiating pricing and educate client on
new product/service offerings.
Being invited to serve on a broker
board of directors is recognition of
our level of experience and expertise;
especially for national carriers like
Cigna and UHC. Our clients benefit
from the additional education, insight
and relationships built.
Our clients benefit from the
relationships we have built over 28
years with our carriers. Having been
on the carrier side for many years we
are told all the time how much they
appreciate our attention to detail and
expertise/knowledge. This translates
to better rates and service for our
clients. We work with the most
experienced representatives and that
means that our clients are assigned
to the best teams the carriers have to
offer!
Be Benefit to Client it to CU
As an independent, privately held
company we only answer to the
client’s needs. This means a much
higher level of service than typically
is available in the market.
The client is assured that they have
the lowest possible price every single
renewal. They are also updated on
new products and services from all
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Monthly claims experience reporting
package (applies to groups with 100 or
more enrolled employees with one
carrier).
Quarterly pro-active meetings.
Mid-year review of experience with full
reporting and renewal evaluation
.(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees with one carrier)
Pre-renewal strategy meeting to prepare
for marketing.
Renewal time table...
Employee contribution modeling.
Benchmarking tools.
the carriers. Peace of mind.
Summary experience charts make it
easy to compare month over month,
year over year.
Quarterly face to face meetings give
us a consistent and predictable
opportunity to stay up with your
business so that we can stay proactive.
Very important to have a meeting to
discuss plan performance to date.
Claims drivers and renewal
calculation.
This meeting takes the surprise out of
the renewal and sets clear
expectations for the review meeting.
Our clients love the renewal time
table because it clearly outlines the
tasks and due dates for each of the
review steps. No surprises.
Employers have a budget. They have
a strategy…we work with you to take
the work out of contribution
modeling…not just for this year for
multiple years if we can.
Employers want to know how their
plan compares to others. Our
benchmarking tools help you know
where you stand.
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Creative recommendation not
necessarily product (sales) focused.
Trend surveys.
Carrier financial rating surveys.
Services – HR Support
Customized work designed to be an
extension of the HR department.
Employee Benefits intranet site designed
and maintained by broker/consultants
office.
(applies to groups with 50 or more
enrolled employees)
Electronic enrollment.
Our clients are like family. We work
with your satisfaction in mind not our
bottom line. You can be assured you
are getting honest and creative
solutions that fit your needs.
Healthcare inflation (trend) has been
in the double digits for over a decade
and not anticipated to slow down any
time soon. Trend surveys help you
know which carriers are doing the
best job of containing costs.
We do not believe it is in our client’s
best interests to have a carrier with a
low financial rating. We survey for
you and disclose rating prior to
purchase for your protection.
Benefit to CU
As an independent, privately held
company we only answer to the
client’s needs. This means a much
higher level of service than typically
is available in the market. Our goal is
to be your benefits department.
Invaluable site designed to contain
24/7 information specific to your
organization so that members can
avoid asking HR general questions
about their benefits.
Electronic enrollment helps make the
process of Open Enrollment efficient.
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Discounts for HR Answers
HR Answers is also an independent,
outsourcing.http://www.hranswers.com/ privately held local company
dedicated to the highest level of
service related to HR outsourcing.
We have a complimentary
relationship that benefits our clients
with a discount on their services. This
is a courtesy to all of our clients.
Open enrollment meetings.
We design, coordinate and run the
open enrollment education offered
to your valuable employees each
renewal. Because benefits are
intangible, proactive education from
a third party such as BSI is critical to
increase awareness of your
generosity.
Employee open enrollment
We take the pressure off of HR to
communication.
create the Open Enrollment
handouts. We will create a draft for
edification designed to communicate
the changes, why and the cost.
Monthly new hire employee orientation
New hire orientation to benefits can
to benefits meetings.
be a daunting task for HR. As your
“benefits department” we will take
(applies to groups with 100 or more
this task off of HR or assist if
enrolled employees)
preferred.
Health fairs can be small or large
Health fair designed and coordination.
depending on your goal. We help
(applies to groups with 100 or more
design and coordinate vendors from
enrolled employees)
beginning to end. This takes the task
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Wellness program design and
coordination.
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Carrier orientation/education.
$500 annual credit for Employee Benefits
Institution of America (EBIA) education.
http://www.ebia.com/
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Unlimited one on one advice and
education.
Unlimited employee help with benefits
questions with follow-up summary email
off of HR and has a high appreciation
rate from employees.
Wellness programs can be small or
large depending on your goal. We
help design and coordinate vendors
from beginning to end. This takes
the task off of HR and has a high
appreciation rate from employees.
Thorough training from the carrier
representative is often overlooked
but can prevent issues and improve
effiency. BSI works to assure your HR
department that they are well
trained and are aware of their carrier
resources.
Some brokers provide seminars
usually designed to sell you more
products. Our solution to continuing
education is a credit for webinar
classes on any topic specific to
benefits such as: HIPAA, COBRA,
Flexible Benefits, PPACA ‘etc.
We work hard to read between the
lines, ask questions and work as an
extension of your organization. If
you need us we are here and we
answer you right away…not 24 hours
later or through someone else.
We understand that employee
questions about benefits take up a
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
to HR.
Unlimited employee help with claims
questions with follow-up summary email
to HR.
Employee benefits council design and
coordination.
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Health Risk Assessment design and
coordination.
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Total compensation statements design
and coordination.
(applies to groups with 100 or more
lot of HR’s time and energy. If you
refer your employees to us we will
answer their questions for you and
then cc you on the response so that
you have a record.
We understand that employee
questions about claims take up a lot
of HR’s time and energy. If you refer
your employees to us we will answer
their questions for you and then cc
you on the response so that you have
a record.
Many organizations have developed
an employee benefit council as a way
to involve and engage the employee
representatives in the benefits
decision. We have lots of experience
with this and enjoy the rewards it
offers.
Health Risk Assessments are
provided by the carriers usually for
no charge. We help design and
coordinate the program so that you
can take advantage of this valuable
service. This takes the task off of HR
and has a high appreciation rate from
employees.
As a service of BSI we offer total
compensation statements. When
employees see what they really “take
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
enrolled employees)
Services - Philanthropy
BSI donation and auction support.
Carrier donation and auction support
coordination.
Support of other company philanthropic
efforts.
Services - Compliance
Proactive PPACA compliance assistance.
home” their perception changes for
the better making them more
appreciative more productive
partner. We help design and
coordinate the program so that you
can take advantage of this valuable
service. This takes the task off of HR
and has a high appreciation rate from
employees.
Benefit to Client
We believe in social responsibility.
Especially for those we have strong
relationships with. As your partner in
business we offer our support to the
best of our ability.
As your broker/consultant we have
the carrier relationships needed to
help persuade their support as well.
We consider this role an important
one when it comes to the success of
your organization.
We believe in social responsibility.
Especially for those we have strong
relationships with. As your partner in
business we offer our support to the
best of our ability.
Benefit to Client
Do you like healthcare reform? We
do…not really but we will keep you
posted so that you are always in
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
COBRA compliance assistance.
HIPAA compliance assistance.
Schedule 5500 compliance assistance.
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Non‐Discrimination Rules and IRC Sec.
105(h) compliance assistance.
HSA/HRA Banking compliance assistance.
compliance!
COBRA used to be easy...Not
anymore. With COBRA subsidies
COBRA administration has taken on a
life of its own. We are here to help
every step of the way.
HIPAA is tricky. The rule of thumb
here is no good deed goes
unpunished. We help you HIPAAproof your HR department and more
importantly anyone who has access
to benefited employees!
Did you know you that if you have
more than 100 employees you are
subject to ERISA? Do you wonder
why the carrier sends you schedule A
5500 statement? Well…it’s because
you are required by federal law to
disclose your benefit plans and
broker compensation. We can help.
Did you know that as of May 23rd,
2010 health plans need to be tested
for non-discrimination coinciding
with their renewal? That is part of
PPACA. We can help you understand
your responsibilities and direct you to
experts if needed.
Do you have an HSA or HRA and feel
left out there with the banking
arrangements. We can help make
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Customized legislative updates .(PPACA,
COBRA, HIPAA.etc)
Services - Products
Medical Fully Insured
Medical Self funded
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Medical Refunding/Participating
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Rx Fully Insured
Rx Self funded
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Rx Refunding/Participating
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Dental Fully Insured
Dental Self funded
Dental Refunding/Participating
Dental Voluntary
(applies to groups with 50 or more
sure you are well connected and
understand where your responsibility
begin and end.
We always say that our legal advice is
free and you get what you pay
for…but we are serious about making
sure 100% of our clients are kept up
to date with legislative updates and
one on one consulting.
Benefit to Client
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We have tried to list all of the many
products we sell and service. We
may be missing a few. For the
purposes of comparing note that we
are one of a few brokers that design
and sell self-funded plans. Selffunding is only available to groups
with 100 or more employees (in
general) because this is the size
which you become eligible for access
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
enrolled employees)
Vision Fully Insured
Vision Self funded
Vision Refunding/Participating
Short Term Disability Fully Insured
(applies to groups with 50 or more
enrolled employees)
Short Term Disability Self funded
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Short Term Disability
Refunding/Participating
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Short Term Disability Voluntary
(applies to groups with 50 or more
enrolled employees)
Long Term Disability Fully Insured
Long Term Disability Self funded
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Long Term Disability
Refunding/Participating
(applies to groups with 100 or more
enrolled employees)
Long Term Disability Voluntary
(applies to groups with 50 or more
enrolled employees)
Life Insurance - Term
to your claims experience. We are
intimately familiar with all the
products available in the market. We
spend a minimum of 200 hours a
year dedicated to carrier product
education. We are students of this
business and with that perspective
we are always learning.
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Life Insurance – Whole Life
Life Insurance – Voluntary
(applies to groups with 50 or more
enrolled employees)
AD&D - Term
AD&D – Whole Life
AD&D – Voluntary
(applies to groups with 50 or more
enrolled employees)
Long Term Care – Fully Insured
Long Term Care – Voluntary
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (
HRA
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Premium Only Plan
• Health Care Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Spending
• Transportation
Employee Assistance Programs ( EAP)
Medical Bridge coverage
Cancer coverage
Critical illness coverage
Accident coverage
Life balance programs
Identity Theft
Pre-paid Legal
Travel Assistance
Ex-Patriot coverage
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How to Evaluate
Employee Benefits
Brokers/Consultants
Kidnap & Ransom Insurance
Wellness programs
Consolidated billing
Executive Benefits
• Life/AD&D
• Disability
• Long Term Care
Deferred compensation
401k
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We hope that this tool helps you evaluate your current services. If during your review you discover a
deficit we hope you will allow us the opportunity to review your program with the intention to improve
your current levels of service. If your current levels are being met or if there are services being provided
currently that you do not see listed we pride ourselves on being students of this business and would
appreciate the opportunity to learn what those service are so that we might include in our standard
offerings as well. As a privately held company we work only for our clients. We love a new great idea!!
To your good health!
Cynthia C. Cameron, RHU
President
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