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Michigan Planners
800-674-9235

Employee Benefits Strategies Beyond Renewal

Because you and your team deserve the best.

We help employers design benefit strategies that control costs, support retention, reduce HR strain, and deliver more value to your employees.

Michigan Planners was built on the belief that clients deserve both depth and closeness: the expertise, market access, and strategic resources expected from the largest firms, paired with the steadiness, accountability, and warmth of a family-owned business. For more than 60 years, that balance has defined our work and the relationships we are proud to keep for decades.
 
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See What Makes Us Different

Employee Benefit Services

No guesswork. Just better support for you and your team.

Strategic Consulting

  • Multi-year benefits strategy aligned with company goals, workforce needs and budget
  • Benchmarking against peers and market trends
  • Renewal planning built around long-term value, not short-term reactions
  • Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary and ancillary benefits planning
  • Carrier and vendor analysis, marketing, negotiation and implementation support
  • Funding analysis including fully insured and alternative funding strategies where appropriate

Cost Management

  • Claims and utilization analysis to identify cost drivers and inefficiencies
  • Cost-containment strategies that protect value for both the employer and employees
  • Contribution modeling and plan comparisons to support better decisions

Compliance Support

  • Guidance on ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA and related employer responsibilities
  • Help reviewing plan documentation, notices, filings and administrative processes
  • Ongoing check-ins to help reduce risk and prevent costly oversights

HR and Employee Support

  • Day-to-day service support for HR questions, carrier issues and eligibility matters
  • Claims advocacy and help resolving employee benefit issues
  • Open enrollment planning, employee meetings and communication support

Administration and Technology

  • Benefits administration support and platform guidance
  • Coordination with payroll, HRIS and enrollment systems
  • Process improvement to reduce manual work and service delays

Our Conviction

The same capabilities as national firms. A better experience.

We do everything you would expect from a major benefits brokerage: strategic planning, carrier marketing, compliance support, employee communication, administration guidance and year-round service. What sets us apart is how we deliver it. Our clients get thoughtful strategy, direct access to experienced people and a team that stays engaged long after open enrollment is over.

What Clients Feel

  • Known by name, not passed between departments
  • Supported with proactive guidance, not reactive answers
  • Confident that someone is looking around corners on their behalf

What Clients Gain

  • National-level capabilities with personal accountability
  • Strategy tied to growth, retention and financial discipline
  • Year-round support for leadership, HR and employees

The pressure on employers is real.

So is the need for a better partner.

For many organizations, employee benefits have become
one of the most complex and expensive parts of doing
business. Leadership teams are being asked to manage
rising costs, attract and retain talent, support employee wellbeing, keep up with changing regulations and do it all without adding more strain to HR.

What We Solve

  • Plan decisions made last-minute or without industry insights
  • Rotating points of contact and feeling like a number
  • Support only during enrollment and renewals

For the C-Suite

  • Better visibility into benefits spending and utilization
  • Strategy to promote hiring, retention, and growth
  • Recommendations based on your needs, not just on renewal cycles

For HR Leaders

  • Relief from constant employee education and fielding questions
  • Organized, regular meetings to help handle day-to-day concerns
  • Extensive resources and compliance communication
A Michigan Planners team member smiles with a client at an industry event.

A smarter benefits strategy starts with the right partner.

If your current broker is only showing up at renewal, reacting to problems or leaving your HR team to carry too much of the load, it may be time for a different kind of relationship.

We are happy to connect with you virtually, take you to lunch, or do whatever fits into your schedule. Most importantly, we’ll talk through your pain points and determine if our services can improve your benefit strategy and quality of work you deserve.

Get a Free Risk Assessment

Check Out these Resources

Employer Services

Learn How We Support Executives and HR Leaders »

Employee Services

Discover What We Do for Your Team »

Claims Support

Visit Our Claims Support »

Industry News

Stay Updated on The Industry »

Compliance Resources

Browse Compliance Resources »

Employee Navigator

Access the Employee Navigator »

Free Risk Assessment

Get a free risk assessment »

Open Enrollment

How we guide you and your team »

Events

Register for Upcoming Events »

Frequently Asked Questions

What are group benefits?

Group benefits are employer-sponsored plans that help cover things like health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance for employees. They are designed to support employees while helping employers offer a stronger overall compensation package.

A package can include medical, dental, vision, prescription, life, disability, wellness programs, mental health support, HSAs, FSAs, and other voluntary benefits. The right mix depends on the company’s goals, budget, and workforce needs.

That depends on your size, budget, industry, employee demographics, and long-term goals. Michigan Planners helps employers evaluate their options and build a strategy that fits the business instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all plan.
No. Businesses of many sizes can offer group benefits. Plan availability and options may vary, but even smaller employers can build meaningful packages that support employees and stay aligned with their budget.
Costs vary based on the type of coverage, carrier, employer contribution strategy, employee participation, and overall plan design. Michigan Planners helps employers understand the true cost drivers and identify smarter ways to manage spending over time.
Many employers want to know if their current package still makes sense for their employee population. We help review workforce needs, utilization trends, recruiting challenges, and budget goals to build a strategy that feels current and intentional.
Sometimes the question is not about replacing core benefits, but strengthening the overall package. We help employers evaluate whether additional offerings could create more value for employees without significantly increasing employer costs.
Benefits play a major role in how employees view the overall value of working for an organization. We help employers think through whether their offerings are helping them stay competitive in attracting and keeping talent.
Why work with Michigan Planners instead of a larger national firm?

Michigan Planners offers the experience and capability employers need with a more personal, relationship-driven approach. We are big enough to serve and small enough to care, which means clients get strategic guidance backed by real, hands-on support.

Yes. Many employers come to Michigan Planners looking for a fresh perspective on their current plan. We can review what you have, identify gaps or inefficiencies, and recommend improvements based on your goals.
Yes. Cost is one of the biggest concerns employers have, and we work to uncover practical strategies that can create savings without losing sight of employee needs. That may include plan design changes, funding alternatives, claims analysis, or other long-term cost-containment strategies.
No. Group benefits often go beyond medical coverage. Michigan Planners also helps with dental, vision, life, disability, and other supporting benefits that round out a more complete employee package.
Yes. Employee education is an important part of a successful benefits program. Michigan Planners helps make benefits easier to understand so employees can make more informed decisions during enrollment and throughout the year.

Our support does not stop at implementation. Michigan Planners provides ongoing service, including claims support, employee questions, renewal guidance, and day-to-day assistance for HR teams and leadership.

Can you help with compliance, too?
Yes. Benefits decisions often connect to compliance requirements, and employers need to stay on top of changing rules. Michigan Planners helps clients stay informed and supported so there is less confusion and less risk.
HR leaders are often balancing benefits strategy with a changing compliance landscape. We help clients stay informed on relevant requirements, deadlines, notices, and potential action items that may affect their plan.
How can we control rising benefits costs without making coverage worse for employees?
This is one of the most common questions we hear. The answer usually involves looking beyond just renewal rates and evaluating plan design, contribution strategy, funding options, claims trends, pharmacy spend, and other long-term cost drivers.
HR leaders often want to know how their benefits compare in the market. We help provide perspective on trends, cost-saving strategies, contribution approaches, and plan structures other employers are considering.
A rate increase does not always tell the full story. We help employers review plan performance, carrier options, claims activity, and funding structure to determine whether the current approach is still competitive and effective.
This question comes up often as fully insured costs continue to rise. We help employers understand the pros, risks, fit, and financial impact of different funding models based on their size, goals, and risk tolerance.
A strong benefits strategy also needs strong communication. We help employers simplify employee education, improve enrollment communication, and support a smoother experience for both employees and internal teams.

HR teams are often the first stop when employees are frustrated. Michigan Planners provides claims support and advocacy to help resolve issues, answer questions, and take some of that burden off internal HR teams.

Contribution strategy has a major impact on affordability, participation, and employee perception. We help employers evaluate whether their current approach still aligns with business goals and employee needs.
Michigan Planners
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