It's no longer a matter of if health care costs will increase, but by how much, and how quickly. With the cost trend projected to rise 9% next year, employers are being forced to act. Nearly 80% plan to leverage the RFP process to secure better pricing from current vendors, according to a recent Business Group on Health survey, and 94% say they will only adopt health benefits and programs that can demonstrate measurable value.

As the market shifts from a point-solution mindset focused on individual population needs to one focused on overall costs and broad workforce engagement, benefits advisors must help employers must invest in solutions that deliver proven value and durable engagement.

Engaging the workforce in health care is an ever-present challenge. In my experience leading organizations through a rapidly evolving health care landscape, I've seen firsthand how employees are increasingly burdened with the complexities of their health benefits.