Traverse Benefits

Traverse Benefits Our services extend beyond health insurance. At Traverse Benefits, relationships are at the heart of everything we do.

Since 2016, Traverse Benefits has proudly partnered with Northern Michigan businesses, employees, and families to design smarter, customized insurance and benefits strategies. As an independent agency, we combine local dedication with deep expertise—educating, advocating, and guiding our community through the complexities of today’s evolving benefits and compliance landscape. We specialize in group benefits, individual coverage, Medicare, and employer compliance support, including Form 5500 tax filings and wealth-minded benefits design. This broader approach ensures that every benefits decision not only meets today’s needs but also aligns with long-term financial health and regulatory requirements. From understanding out-of-pocket costs to filing claims, planning for upcoming medical services, or aligning benefits with IRS and DOL standards, our team delivers clear, proactive solutions that reduce overhead, protect the future, and build confidence for employers and employees alike. We’re committed to exceeding expectations, building long-term trust, and giving back to the community we proudly call home. Locally focused, client-driven, and approachable, we make benefits simpler, smarter, and truly designed for results.

When you’re making decisions about benefits, it’s rarely as simple as picking a plan and moving on. You’re thinking abou...
04/07/2026

When you’re making decisions about benefits, it’s rarely as simple as picking a plan and moving on.

You’re thinking about your team, your budget, and what actually makes sense long term. That’s where having the right guidance matters. We take an independent approach so you can feel confident you’re making the best decisions for your people, not just the easiest ones.

Contact our team and let’s talk through what makes the most sense for you. https://bit.ly/4shOEaX

Ten years of building Traverse Benefits has reinforced a simple truth: These are not small decisions. Benefits influence...
03/25/2026

Ten years of building Traverse Benefits has reinforced a simple truth:

These are not small decisions.

Benefits influence financial security, access to care, and the strength of both businesses and households. The work remains consistent: deliver the right guidance at the right time and speak plainly about what is happening inside the system.

Keep reading to discover ten lessons we've learned over the past decade. https://bit.ly/4uPMQbz

Today marks 10 amazing years of Traverse Benefits! This milestone exists because of the people who trust us every day—ou...
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!

Prescription drug pricing has long been one of the least visible parts of employer health plans. The Consolidated Approp...
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

It’s about time! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is refocusing on protecting taxpayer dollars and str...
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.

Section 125 is one of those behind-the-scenes tools that quietly saves small businesses real payroll tax dollars... when...
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

The "Advantage" in Medicare Advantage ( MA ) is no longer an Advantage.   In fact, Advantage plans are on track to be ov...
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

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

Wishing you a bright, healthy and happy new year!!
12/31/2025

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

The data chaos that has kept employers in the dark may finally be ending. The Trump administration last week proposed a ...
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.

❄️ Wishing you a peaceful holiday and a healthy & happy new year! ❄️
12/24/2025

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

11/27/2025

Address

Traverse City, MI
49685

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

(231) 640-0022

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