Traverse Benefits

03/17/2026

Today marks 10 amazing years of Traverse Benefits!

This milestone exists because of the people who trust us every day—our clients, partners, and the incredible team behind the work.

For the past decade, our focus has been simple: helping individuals, families, and businesses make confident decisions about insurance and benefits through clear guidance and thoughtful strategy.

We are grateful for the relationships built along the way and proud of the team that makes it all possible.

Thank you for being part of the journey. Here’s to the next 10 years!

03/11/2026

Prescription drug pricing has long been one of the least visible parts of employer health plans. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 begins to change that, bringing greater transparency to how pharmacy dollars move through the system and who ultimately benefits from them.

Keep reading to learn more: https://bit.ly/40K07Vr

03/07/2026

It’s about time!

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is refocusing on protecting taxpayer dollars and strengthening payment integrity within Medicare Advantage, a program now serving more than 35 million seniors. Research suggests the program may already receive billions in excess payments each year, making stronger oversight and disciplined oversight essential to ensure long-term sustainability for both beneficiaries and the taxpayers who fund the system.

Good stewardship of public dollars matters. Medicare must remain strong, stable, and financially sound for the generations depending on it.

The Trump administration wants to keep MA rates flat next year and change how risk adjustment is calculated. Insurers had a lot to say about this, CMS officials shared Tuesday during an event in D.C.

02/06/2026

Section 125 is one of those behind-the-scenes tools that quietly saves small businesses real payroll tax dollars... when it’s set up right!

Our latest article explains what it actually does, why the responsibility sits with the employer, and how a simple, affordable plan keeps compliance risks from showing up at the worst possible time.

Keep reading: https://bit.ly/4qo8Sii

01/26/2026

The "Advantage" in Medicare Advantage ( MA ) is no longer an Advantage. In fact, Advantage plans are on track to be overpaid by roughly $76 billion in 2026 and if the current payment structure stays in place, that could add up to about $1.2 trillion in overpayments through 2035.

Advantage plans are a private, government-funded alternative to traditional Medicare, but payments are often inflated through coding intensity (“upcoding”) and favorable selection, meaning plans can be paid more than the actual health risk of their members justifies.

Reining in these overpayments would be a rare win-win: real savings for taxpayers, lower costs for beneficiaries, and a stronger Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund.

2026-01-23-The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) estimated that the Medicare Advantage (MA) program wil

01/16/2026

President Trump is asking Congress to pass the “Great Healthcare Plan,” aimed at lowering healthcare costs.

The proposal focuses on cutting prescription drug prices (including “most-favored-nation” pricing and more OTC access), reducing insurance premiums by shifting certain subsidies directly to eligible consumers, and limiting PBM-related kickbacks. It also calls for clearer “plain English” insurance information (including profit and claim denial data) and expanded price transparency requirements for providers and insurers who accept Medicare or Medicaid.

CALLING ON CONGRESS TO LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS: Today, President Donald J. Trump called on Congress to enact the Great Healthcare Plan, a comprehensive

12/31/2025

Wishing you a bright, healthy and happy new year!!

12/27/2025

The data chaos that has kept employers in the dark may finally be ending.

The Trump administration last week proposed a new rule aimed at forcing healthcare price transparency toward something usable: streamlining insurer pricing files, clearly defining provider networks and expanding access to cost information.

The proposed rule would require insurers and health plans to better track price changes for certain in-network services, reorganize how pricing data is presented, and reduce bloated reporting requirements that have produced massive, unwieldy files few can realistically use.

I will be watching closely!! Employers and plan sponsors do not need more files ... they need pricing clarity they can actually use!!!

The proposed rule aims to tamp down on unwieldy price data files and change how some prices are reported.

12/24/2025

❄️ Wishing you a peaceful holiday and a healthy & happy new year! ❄️

11/27/2025

10/17/2025

Up North, winter storms don’t scare us.

But open enrollment? That still catches a few employers off guard.

It shouldn’t. Handled right, open enrollment isn’t a scramble — it’s a leadership moment.

Dive into our latest blog to learn how to turn this season into a business advantage with guidance. https://bit.ly/47cpvph

10/01/2025

A first-of-its-kind deal with Pfizer is bringing U.S. drug prices down to match the lowest paid globally. That means lower pharmacy costs, stronger benefit strategies, and real savings for both employers and employees. FACT SHEET:

ADVANCING MOST-FAVORED-NATION PRICING: Today, President Donald J. Trump announced the first agreement with a major pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, to