The benefits landscape is shifting fast — and Benefits Consultants are at the center of it.
Employers are facing more complex conditions, higher costs, and rising expectations from their people. That means consultants have an enormous opportunity to lead, which starts with asking the right questions.
The best consultants help employers see their strategy from every angle. They ask questions that surface hidden cost drivers, challenge outdated assumptions, and connect data to outcomes. Because in a market this dynamic, thoughtful inquiry is often the most powerful form of leadership.
Here are five areas where better questions can unlock better results — for employers, employees, and consultants alike.
1. Understanding the Real Drivers of Cost
- Do we know which conditions are driving 70–80% of our healthcare spend and what’s actually happening to those members in the system?
- When high-cost cases arise, how do we know if our people are getting the proper care, not just more care?
- What percentage of our spend is going to unnecessary or misdirected specialty care?
Why it matters: Employers need clarity on what’s really driving costs so they can intervene early and strategically and consultants are uniquely positioned to help them see the full picture.
2. Rethinking Navigation and Employee Experience
- What does our employee experience actually look like when someone gets sick?
- Do our people know how to find the right specialist, and does our benefits strategy help them do that?
- How do we measure success beyond utilization? Do we measure confidence, speed to care, or outcomes?
Why it matters: Experience drives outcomes. When employees can navigate care confidently, engagement and results improve and this is where consultants can help employers bridge the gap between benefit design and real-world impact.
3. Evaluating ROI and Value
- Are we tracking the cost and quality impact of our clinical programs? Or just enrollment numbers?
- What would it look like to measure avoided costs from better decision-making?
- Do we have a way to quantify the return on smarter care decisions?
Why it matters: Employers don’t just want lower costs. They want measurable value and better health outcomes, and consultants can help define and deliver that value in meaningful ways.
4. Strengthening the Employer–Consultant Partnership
- Are we challenging each other enough on what good looks like?
- If we built our benefits strategy from scratch today, what would we do differently?
- What’s one area where we’re settling for incremental change instead of real improvement?
Why it matters: True partnership comes from honest dialogue, bold thinking, and a shared commitment to progress. The best results occur when consultants and employers collaborate with trust, utilizing data and aligned goals.
5. Future-Proofing Your Benefits Strategy
- How are we preparing for the rise in complex, chronic, and overlapping conditions?
- How will AI, specialty access, and clinical navigation reshape our benefits in the next 3 years?
- What’s our plan to make our benefits feel as innovative as the rest of our business?
Why it matters: The benefits world is evolving. Those who anticipate change and innovate now will set the standard for outcomes and value.
The Time for Partnership is Now
The best consultants lead conversations about what comes next. They ask smarter questions, bring clinical insight to the table, and help employers make confident, strategic decisions.
At Summus, we partner with consultants and employers who share that vision — who are ready to elevate the conversation, align around outcomes, and deliver measurable impact.
If that sounds like you, let’s connect.
