Healthcare costs are rising fast yet employees are getting less care. So where is the money going?

In this episode, Dr. Andrew White sits down with Dan Cosgrove of Better Benefits USA to break down what’s really driving employer healthcare costs—and what you can do about it. They share practical strategies to help companies reduce spend while improving benefits.

From tax strategies to plan design to preventative care, this conversation shows how employers can stop playing defense at renewal—and start taking control.

If you’re tired of double-digit increases and want a smarter path forward, this episode is for you.

In this Episode:

• Why healthcare costs keep rising
• Self-funded vs. fully insured strategies
• How preventative care reduces claims
• The “Netflix model” of healthcare
• Ways to lower premiums without cutting benefits
• Tax strategies most employers miss
• How broker incentives impact decisions
• Why value-based care is growing
• Real examples of cost savings

Key Insights

• Better benefits and lower costs can go together
• Many employers are overpaying without realizing it
• Small changes can create major savings
• Preventative care is a major opportunity
• Incentives drive the system—understand them to win

Who This Episode Is For: Employers looking to cut costs without cutting benefits CFOs and HR leaders tired of tough renewals Brokers who want to bring smarter solutions Business owners ready for a better approach

Healthy Business Matters helps CFOs, HR leaders, brokers, and operators make smarter healthcare decisions.

Each episode focuses on real strategies to reduce risk, control costs, and improve outcomes—so you can walk into your next renewal with a plan.

About Dan Cosgrove:

Dan Cosgrove is the CEO of Better Benefits USA, a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to close the healthcare gap on care, cost, and coverage for hardworking Americans.

Before this, he worked at Procter & Gamble, Nike, and Berkshire Hathaway, and later as a financial strategist and consultant helping organizations improve performance, benefits strategy, and employee wellbeing.

Dan is passionate about the structural incentives behind U.S. healthcare, including how brokers, insurers, and employers interact, and why many cost-saving efforts fail due to misaligned incentives. This is why his non profit created the “sustainable funding” model where they only earn revenue when measurable savings are delivered to clients.

Dan also explores preventative care models, wellness programs, and tax-efficient benefit design to improve retention and employee health outcomes.

Dan challenges the assumption that better healthcare must cost more, showing companies can often improve employee benefits without increasing spend. He urges leaders to question traditional healthcare incentives and whether they truly align with employers and employees.

Resources & Links

Better Benefits USA / Free Benefits Audit: https://betterbenefitsusa.org

LinkedIn: Connect with Dan Cosgrove linkedin.com/in/myhealthandwealth

Questions, topic ideas, or guest suggestions?Reach out: hello@alignco.life