Consultants and advisors from 10 different states attended the MedBen 2026 Benefits Advisory Conference on January 28. The event featured insights from some of the industry’s most respected voices and gave brokers a clearer view of today’s benefits landscape, what lies ahead, and how to best use available resources to support their clients.
MedBen President, COO & CPO Caroline Fraker led off the day’s speakers with timely compliance and regulatory updates for self-funded employers, addressing required changes to Notices of Privacy Practices and key developments in transparency and PBM legislation. She also highlighted litigation and fiduciary trends to watch, including emerging legal considerations around AI- and algorithm-based plan decisions.
“Technology is continuing to influence how benefits are managed, but it will never replace the need for sound judgment and experience,” Fraker observed. “At MedBen, our team’s expertise remains central to how we support you, your clients, and the people they serve.”
Other featured speakers and panelists at the conference included:
- Corey Crigger, Esq., Director, Client Success Team, The Phia Group
- Dr. Ed Kammerer, Chief Medical Advisor, Ventegra
- Robby Kerr, Chief Product Officer, Tokio Marine HCC
- Marc Sweeney, Founder & CCO, Profero Team
- Allan Zaenger, Owner & President, Pharmaceutical Horizons, Inc.
- Dr. Norman S. Kato, CEO, CMO & Chairman, Avandé, Inc.
- Matthew Nelson, Strategic Partnerships Manager, TPAC
- Tim Campbell, Vice President of Sales, Tokio Marine HCC
- Tami Eddie, Director of Regional Sales, Skyward Insurance
Among the topics highlighted at the event:
- Helping self-funded plans understand the No Surprises Act, with suggestions to improve protected claims processing.
- Tackling the biggest challenges fueling rising plan costs — cancer, obesity, genetic therapies, and orphan diseases.
- Mitigating transplant risk through specialized organ and tissue transplant insurance for self-funded groups.
- Rx panel addressed Improving pharmacy strategy by focusing on high-priced specialty drugs and GLP-1s.
- Containing health care costs through physician-led clinical review of high-risk claims.
- Stop-loss panel discussed underwriting considerations regarding renewal, alternative reimbursements, and specialty Rx programs.
MedBen thanks our event sponsors: The Phia Group, Tokio Marine HCC, Crum & Forster, Skyward Insurance, HealthJoy, TPAC, and Sun Life. We look forward to seeing everyone again in 2027!