The National Healthcare Conversation Is Changing. Our Approach Hasn’t.
Across the United States, policymakers are reexamining how healthcare dollars move through the system. The latest proposals coming out of Washington, D.C. focus on a straightforward idea: shift value away from insurers and direct it to the individuals who actually use the care.
It is an important conversation. The structure of healthcare financing has never been simple, and any proposal that aims to increase transparency, simplify decision-making, and empower individuals deserves attention.
What is striking is how closely this national conversation mirrors something we have already been doing at WellRithms for years.
While Congress debates new ways to give people more control over their healthcare dollars, our benefits model has been built around that principle from the beginning.
A Model Centered on Employees, Not Insurers.
When we created our health plan, we were not looking to follow a trend or anticipate a policy shift. We were focused on building a structure that aligned with our values: clarity, fairness, and support that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
That led us to a set of decisions that stand out in today’s employer benefits landscape.
We pay 100 percent of employee medical premiums.
Across both our HSA option and our PPO/HRA option, employees who enroll individually pay nothing for medical coverage. This ensures that coverage is accessible, predictable, and never a financial burden.
We fund accounts employees control.
Through annual HSA contributions of up to $3,200 or HRA reimbursements of up to $3,000, employees receive dollars they can use directly for their care. These funds lower out-of-pocket exposure and increase flexibility.
We offer strong plan choices.
Our employees can select between a high-value HSA plan or a PPO design supported by HRA funds. Both options are structured to meet different needs while keeping financial risk low.
We use a level-funded design to maintain stability.
This model blends predictability for the organization with the ability to reinvest savings back into our people, rather than into insurer margins.
We partner with a national provider network.
By offering access to the UnitedHealthcare network, employees have a broad and reliable set of options for their care, wherever life takes them.
These decisions were intentional. They were built to serve our employees directly, not to fuel an industry.
Where the National Conversation and Our Approach Meet.
The parallels between recent federal proposals and the WellRithms model are striking. Policymakers are exploring ways to:
- Move value to individuals
- Expand personal choice
- Increase transparency
- Reduce reliance on insurers to dictate how dollars are used
These are the same principles embedded in the structure of our plan.
The difference is that we put these ideas into practice years ago, not as a political stance but as a commitment to the people who make WellRithms what it is.
Our employees already experience the benefits of a model where value flows directly to them, not through layers of administrative structures. In many ways, the national conversation is catching up to what we have already proven works.
Results That Matter.
The strength of any benefits model is measured by outcomes, not intentions.
Our internal data shows clear results:
- Strong financial performance over time
- Consistent premium stability
- Lower exposure for employees
- A track record of reinvesting savings into people
These outcomes will be highlighted in more detail as additional historical data becomes available.
Why This Matters for Our Team.
Healthcare is more than a line item on a compensation package. It influences personal security, family decisions, long-term planning, and overall well-being. By building a system that places value directly in employees’ hands, we reduce uncertainty and create room for people to focus on what matters most.
While the national discussion evolves, our commitment remains the same:
Support our employees with clarity, consistency, and benefits that reflect the respect we have for the work they do.
In many ways, the national conversation is validating what we have practiced all along. A healthcare model built around people works. And we will continue to strengthen it in the years ahead.
