The clock is ticking: Become comfortable with being uncomfortable
There’s still a lot of work to be done. But there are also plenty of reasons to believe that the time for true change has finally arrived.
For the most part, benefits professionals are a passionate, outspoken bunch. And that’s good. After all, it takes energy, resilience and, let’s face it, hardheadedness, to embrace the daunting challenge of fixing the American health care system.
I’ve been lucky enough to have a front row seat as this movement gained momentum over the past few years and grew from a flickering ember to a raging inferno. On social media and in rooms packed with advisors and thought leaders, I’ve seen a surge in numbers joining the cause and an evolution from a defensive, reactionary and disorganized crusade into a focused and proactive offensive.
In other words, the movement is maturing. That’s good news for the employers and employees of America and bad news for anyone who’s standing in the way.
At the recent You Powered Symposium in Miami, one of the most outspoken members of the fight, David Contorno, explained this increasing urgency. “The problems with our system continue to grow. There’s no other country where these kinds of things happen. Change is painful but necessary and it has to happen immediately. I don’t feel as alone because this movement is growing.”
Like any movement that matters, there have been growing pains along the way, including disagreements about approaches and strategies, and an “us versus mentality” that has sometimes reared its head within the industry. But in this month’s cover story, we examine how advisors and brokerages of all sizes are looking for common ground instead of focusing on their differences. As Taylor Lindsey puts it, “The time has come for the industry to band together to overhaul massive change. When more employers adopt [value-based benefits design], it becomes easier to adapt and fine-tune, and even easier for providers to align themselves with the true payers of health care.”
There’s still a lot of work to be done. But there are also plenty of reasons to believe that the time for true change has finally arrived.
“People are frustrated and scared,” Contorno said. “Sometimes, we have to make people uncomfortable; that’s where change occurs. We know what the fixes are, but we have to become less afraid of making them happen.”
Related: The change & disruption of 2022, as opportunities grow heading into 2023
Yes, change is scary, but the need has never been more obvious or urgent. And more people are noticing. As I heard a panelist say at the recent Ascend conference, “The C-suite is open to change and increasingly willing to talk about innovative ideas and strategies.”
The time for complacency and the status quo is over. As Kelly Cox said in Miami: “We need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. The clock is ticking.”