The gate
The market for benefits services isn't a market at all. It's a gate. And a handful of large brokers and consultants are standing at it.
Think of them as the bouncers at the club. They decide who gets in front of the employer and who stands outside in the cold. And here is how they decide. It is not who has the best product. It is not who saves the employer the most money. It is who pays them the most to get through the door.
Commissions. Overrides. Bonuses. "Marketing fees." Call it whatever you want, it is the same thing. Pay the most and you get recommended. Don't, and you don't get seen. The employer thinks they are getting expert, independent advice. What they are actually getting is whoever wrote the biggest check to the advisor.
That is a terrible deal for almost everyone. If you are a TPA that pays claims straight, a point solution that actually moves outcomes, or an audit firm that finds real money, you can have the best offering in the country and still never make it through the door. And the employer, who is desperately looking for great solutions, never even knows you exist. The cost of all of it gets buried in the premium. The members pay for it.
Opening the gate
So we are doing the same thing for benefits services that we did for providers. We post the contracts in full. The terms, the prices, the fees, all of it, out in the open on costpluswellness.com.
When the contracts are public, the gate disappears. Employers can see what they are actually paying and what they are actually getting. They can compare you to anyone. And they can come to you directly, without a bouncer deciding whether you are allowed in the room.
That is a real free market. You compete on your offering, not on your commission. The best product and the best price win, the way it is supposed to work.
What's in it for you
And here is what is in it for you. Transparency brings you closer to the employer. Closer to the employer means more direct business. More direct business means better business, with the people who actually use what you sell.
Get started
We strongly encourage you to review the contracts posted here, and to post your own. Compete on what you do best, and let the market see it.
Disclaimer
This is not legal advice. Always consult an attorney before publishing or signing any contracts.