Top Questions
A: Voluntary benefits are often viewed as lower risk because they’re employee-paid and sit alongside core health and welfare plans rather than inside them. That perception can lead to lighter oversight of compensation structures, carrier arrangements, and administrative fees.
The exposure typically arises when compensation is indirect, embedded in premiums, or not clearly documented. As regulatory scrutiny and fee-related litigation continue to expand, voluntary programs are increasingly being examined through the same fiduciary lens applied to other ERISA-covered benefits. That includes how vendors are selected, how compensation is structured, and whether the sponsor has exercised appropriate oversight.
A disciplined review doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means ensuring that fee arrangements are transparent, reasonable, and well-documented. SBA helps plan sponsors evaluate voluntary benefit structures, understand how compensation flows, and confirm that governance practices are aligned with evolving expectations—reducing the likelihood of unpleasant surprises down the road.
A: Don’t treat renewals as routine. They’re a chance to revisit pricing, scope, and performance and push for terms that reflect your current priorities. SBA conducts detailed contract reviews and brings deep negotiation experience to help plan sponsors secure stronger, more accountable agreements.
Contract renewals are often rushed, but they shouldn’t be. They represent a key opportunity to reassess not only pricing, but also service levels, risk exposure, and whether the vendor relationship still meets your evolving needs. That means reviewing vendor performance against SLAs, comparing current rates to market benchmarks, and identifying areas where the terms no longer serve you.
SBA takes a line-by-line approach to contract evaluation, flagging vague language, misaligned incentives, and overlooked liabilities. With experience negotiating hundreds of contracts across the HR and benefits space, we help plan sponsors enter renewal conversations with confidence—and come away with agreements designed to support long-term performance, transparency, and accountability.