Creating great culture & innovative benefit solutions

In 2009, Scott M. Wood co-founded Benefit Commerce Group. He has saved clients millions of dollars while improving employee benefits and health. Since 2020, Scott's healthcare consumerism initiatives utilize big data to compare and access quality medical providers.

Scott Wood launched a "crusade" through Benefit Commerce Group after 27 years of leading health insurance companies. As an entrepreneur, he assists employers in minimizing health plan expenses and promoting healthcare consumerism. He is continually collaborating with other businesses to enhance employee health programs.

 

Beginning in 2020, he has partnered with other entrepreneurs to focus employee health plans on quality healthcare outcomes and simplifying how healthcare is accessed.

Focusing on strategy and having a plan is important to Scott’s success. Without a strategy, says Scott, we lack direction. His team strategizes who, how, and what, and then monitors the outcomes. He recommends strategy, implementation, measurement, and communication as the key ingredients to success.

Scott is acclaimed for providing his leadership team thought-provoking books to enhance their business and career development.

Scott's leadership emphasizes teamwork, communication, and intentional culture-building. A wonderful culture is respectful, supportive, passionate, kind, happy, empowered, appreciated and committed. Scott believes engaged, motivated frontline employees know how to best serve customers.

“We're using a new system to find the best-performing doctors for our clients’ employees and families. These tools analyze patient data for the best outcomes and to save the most money long-term,” Scott said.

“Top doctors cannot be found by asking friends or checking web reviews,” Scott added. “It is with the statistics derived from large data pools that show which doctors use the best methods to get the best results, the fastest healing times, and the fewest infections, hospital readmissions, and unnecessary tests and treatments.”

Case studies illustrate Scott's approach. One non-profit employer was upset with the cost of benefits and quality. There also were incorrect plan data and compliance issues. Reconstructing historical financial data, evaluating compliance, and creating a new benefits plan boosted benefits and saved costs. “We did one-on-one enrollment for employees and new hires to provide personal guidance. They have maintained the value of their employee benefits for 6 years, while saving $7.7 million. In 2021, workers at this company were able to pay 21% less for their medical insurance plan than in 2015. Employees get $600-$1,000 and families $1,200-$2,000 in an annual healthcare account, depending on health coverage. Better benefits, lower employer costs, reduced payroll deductions for employees... Triple-win!”

Another case study focuses on healthcare quality for a multi-state company: This 1,100-person company's four medical plans had been the same for eight years, with 300 locations across 48 states. Like many employees, they're change-resistant. This company sought better benefits to attract and retain employees.

“We offered the same 4 plans PLUS a 5th plan that steered members to top providers to produce better benefits and lower prices,” Scott said. This plan decreased out-of-pocket costs by 75%. 250 (20%) of employees chose the new plan. As of April 2022, 71% have registered to use the tools and healthcare concierge, 88% of those have received at least one recommendation, 79% have searched online or used the app, and 64% have spoken with the healthcare concierge. The new health plan had health claims that were 41% lower than the whole insured population.

 

“Our achievements are both qualitative and quantitative in nature,” adds Scott. “For the past five years, we've grown at a 27% annual compounded rate. This year, we're at 160% of our sales goal by midyear. We know how important goal-setting is and how it helps sales teams achieve their best.

“As we move into the future, we know that the ‘flight to quality’ concept will benefit healthcare consumers. Top doctors offer the best outcomes and affordable care.

“Adopting innovative programs to help employees and their families find outstanding providers will enhance health and recovery and reduce healthcare costs. These programs minimize sick days by 2.7 per employee each year and save an average of 27% per episode of care.”

Scott believes in improving your health to save money on healthcare. “People must act, and since different workforces demand and respond differently, no ‘silver bullets’ exist. That is why it is so important for employers to have strong and knowledgeable benefits consultants. Our ideas and strategies consistently help our clients.”