Since 2008, the average cost of family health care premiums has increased 55 percent. Meanwhile, workers' earnings have risen by half that rate. As a broker, premiums might not hurt your business directly, but they're hindering your clients' ability to thrive. Escalating health care costs cut into business profits, hurt employers' chances of attracting and retaining employees, and rein in their plans for expansion.

After more than a decade of increases, employers are focusing on ways to lower health care costs without impacting coverage. This is drawing more and more employers of all sizes to creative health care approaches, which allow them to offer more flexible plans for their employees.

While some brokers are apprehensive about exploring new health care options, brokers who embrace the movement before their competition can use it to their advantage.

Employer health insurance on the precipice of change 

For the last few years, health care costs have not only increased, they've grown more complicated. Patients use the media to audit surprise bills, and employers struggle to understand their higher premiums.