Overview: The company has had the same benefits provider for ten years and we have reached the end of the contract. As premiums and the cost to the company have increased every year, benefits have remained the same and even decreased in some areas. Additionally, employees have been sharing concerns regarding the cost, co-pays, coverage, and options of the current provider. Therefore, in order to conduct due diligence, the benefits team began reviewing other providers last year. Based on the feedback of employees and needs of the company, the following criteria were considered in the search:

• Price of premiums
• Lower deductibles
• Improved dental plan option
• Improved eye care plan option
• Inclusion of health care savings or spending accounts
• Enhanced long- and short-term disability coverage
• Wellness programs
• Reduced premiums for nonsmokers

After reviewing the different plans offered and extensive consultation with other stakeholders, the benefits team has selected a new program. Compared to the current program, employees will experience the following enhancements in the new program:

• Plans with multiple deductible options
• Health care savings account
• A wellness program that offers access to a weight loss application, incentives for wellness visits and activity logs, and reimbursement for gym memberships and smoking cessation programs
• Improved dental plan

Although these were part of the search criteria, the new program does not include:

• Lower premiums
• Improved eye care plan options
• Reduced premiums for nonsmokers
• Enhanced long- and short-term disability coverage

Benefits to the company include:

• Reduced premiums for the employees engaging in wellness programs
• Additional reduction in rates for in-network usage
• The option of a "gold plan" for executives that is significantly more cost-effective than the previous plan

The new benefits plan will go into effect on January 1 of the new fiscal year and will be rolled out during the open-enrollment period of the current year.

1. An audio script for a two-minute presentation for the CEO
   1. Describe what is changing and why.
   2. Explain the benefits of the change and how it will affect the CEO.