Employee Benefits Planning Association (EBPA)

The holiday bacon just hits better than it does the rest of the year. #iykyk

Great news! Our December 4th EBPA session has been approved for 2 CE credits... a perfect opportunity to wrap up your 2025 requirements while hearing directly from Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer and Gary Strannigan. We'll dive into rate stability, affordability, PBM practices, market impacts, and what's coming in 2026. AND you get a chance to ask anything. 🎄 Festive attire encouraged 📍 The WAC | Seattle ⏰ 7:20–10:00am Still time to register! Registration link in comments below

Haven't grabbed your spot yet? There's STILL time to join us this Thursday for an inside look at what's happening behind the scenes at the Washington OIC, and what the 2026 legislative season means for employers, consultants, and members across the state. You'll hear directly from Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, plus a legislative deep dive from Gary Strannigan. If you work in benefits, compliance, consulting, HR, or health policy...this is one of the most important conversations of the year. 🎄 Festive attire encouraged 📅 Thursday, Dec 4 📍 The WAC, Seattle ⏰ 7:20am – 10:00am **Registration link in the comments below**

Washington has seen a wave of pharmacy closures over the last few years. Especially in rural and lower income communities And while many people blame "the pharmacy," the real drivers are deeper than that: - PBM reimbursement cuts - Below-cost dispensing rates - Opaque pricing - Contracting structures that make it impossible to stay open The the question becomes: Who is responsible for protecting access? And what authority does the OIC actually have to intervene? We'll ask this directly at our session next week (Thursday, Dec 4th) with Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. Along with legislative insights from Gary Strannigan on what reforms are coming in 2026. What questions would YOU ask the OIC? 📅 December 4, 2025 | Breakfast starts at 7:20am 📍 The WAC | Seattle, WA 🎄Festive attire encouraged

Washington's marketplace premiums are set to rise about 21% for 2026. One of the steeper increases we are seeing compared to other states. That pressure doesn't stay isolated to the individual market; it ripples into employer plans, renewals, and the strategies that brokers and HR leaders need heading into next year. Which is why this question matters: How will WA slow premium increases in 2026? On December 4th, we'll ask this directly to the person shaping the regulatory guardrails: Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer. We'll also hear a legislative rundown from Gary Strannigan, who will break down what's been signed into law, what's coming for 2026, and what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act means for affordability and access in Washington. If you support employee benefits in Washington, this is the conversation you want to be in. 📅 December 4, 2025 📍 The WAC — Seattle, WA Festive attire encouraged 🎄✨ Registration link in the comments below.

We're just a couple of weeks away from pulling back the curtain at the OIC. On December 4, we're hosting a fireside chat with Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, plus a legislative update from Gary Strannigan, VP Congressional/Legislative Affairs at Premera Blue Cross. If you work in benefits, HR, brokerage, or employer healthcare strategy, this is the room you want to be in. We will be digging into what's ahead for Washington in 2026, including: Rate stability & premium increases AI in claims decision making Pharmacy access & PBM oversight Provider sustainability & rural care concerns Employer influence in state health policy Big topics, real impact, and a chance for you to ask the questions that actually shape our work. And because this is our final EBPA event of the year, festive attire is highly encouraged. Ugly sweaters, sparkles, holiday flair...bring it! Huge thank-you to our sponsors Healthcare Management Administrators and Aetna, a CVS Health Company for supporting this event. We couldn’t do this without you. 📅 December 4, 2025 📍 The WAC – Seattle, WA Registration link 🔗 in the comments below 👇

AI isn't just in care delivery, it's already in insurance claims. Claims models, authorization logic, decision automation...it's not just theoretical, it's here. And that means the OIC WILL have a say in what's allowed and what isn't. On Dec 4th, we get to ask Commissioner Patty Kuderer what she believes the guardrails should be. What do YOU want to ask her? Registration link in the comments below 👇

Have you ever wondered what really goes on behind the curtain at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and how those decisions impact the work we do every day? On December 4, the EBPA is giving you a front-row seat for a fireside chat with Washington State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, offering a candid look at the policies and priorities shaping Washington's healthcare landscape. This is your chance to hear directly from the Commissioner, and to bring your own questions about the issues that affect employers, brokers, and plan sponsors across our state. Come curious, leave connected! Thursday, Dec 4 | 7:20 AM - 10:00 AM Washington Athletic Club | Seattle WA Festive holiday attire HIGHLY encouraged! Bold shoes, headbands, and holiday sweaters welcome. Stay tuned for details on an additional speaker bringing year-end legislative insights. #healthcarepolicy #employeebenefits #insurance

Most of us were never taught how to name what we're feelings. We say we're "fine". Or "stressed." Or "tired." But what if the real feeling is inadequate, resentful, lonely, or overwhelmed? It's hard to ask for help when you don't actually have the words. #amiright At the EBPA fall session a few weeks ago, Arpan Waghray , MD shared how Providence's Well Being Trust is making it easier for people to start that conversation. With something as simple as a smiley-face stress meter. We need simple. Behind each "face" is a curated anonymous path to care. Because, as it turns out, a blank Google search isn't support. And knowing where to start can change everything. The conversation reminded us that innovation in mental health doesn't always mean new tech. Sometimes, it's just giving people language for what they feel, and a safe place to be heard. #mentalhealth #workplacewellbeing #accesstocare

At EBPA, Dana Jackson (Carrum Health) shared that 75% of society still believes substance use disorder is a moral failing, not a disease. That stigma is everywhere, including in the workplace. It shapes how we talk (or don’t talk) about recovery. It shapes whether people feel safe asking for help. As Ty Reed reminded us, culture directly impacts recovery. If leaders act like it’s “not a thing,” people notice. If coworkers avoid the topic, people feel invisible. If gossip spreads, trust is gone. It's challenging, but there’s a better way and it's worth it. ✅ Stay connected when someone takes leave: not to talk shop, but to say, “Take all the time you need. When you’re ready, we’ll welcome you back with open arms.” We often feel like it’s inappropriate to reach out, but silence can feel worse. ✅ Reintroduce them gently. When they return, gather the team (donuts, coffee, lunch) not as a “welcome back” tied to why they were gone, but simply to reconnect. ✅ Lead with empathy. Managers set the tone. A little humanity goes a long way. Culture affects recovery. The more we treat people like people, the better chance they have to thrive. #recovery #substanceusedisorder #workplaceculture