2026 Annual Benefits Forum

Registration, Lunch and Networking

Polaris Ballroom

Welcome

Health Care Headlines LIVE

Hosts of Employers Health’s Health Care Headlines podcast, Mike Stull and Madison Connor, will kick off the 2026 Annual Benefits Forum with a live episode.

Submit a question or topic for Mike and Madison to cover on stage here.

Mike Stull, MBA
Chief Sales Officer, Employers Health

Madison Connor, J.D., CEBS
Senior Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and External Affairs, Employers Health

Rising Rates & Risk Strategies: The Latest in Stop Loss

Hear from Ryan Siemers, founder and principal of Aegis Risk and nationally-recognized expert on self-funding and catastrophic claimant risk management with over 30 years of experience in health plan underwriting and benefits consulting as he shares:

• Key stop-loss policy provisions, an outlook on coverage, rising rates and the current market;
• High-cost claims reinsurers and plan sponsors should be aware of;
• Various distribution methods and potential transparency issues;
• Actions for use on your next stop loss renewal or review.

Ryan Siemers, CEBS
Principal, Aegis Risk

Larry Morgan Award

This award is presented each year for outstanding support and contributions to Employers Health. It has been presented annually since 1988. It recognizes the effort and service rendered to Employers Health.

Learn more about the award and past recipients at https://www.employershealthco.com/who-we-are/awards/larry-l-morgan-service-award/.

Break and Networking

Pharmacy Benefits: Perspectives from Leading Consultants

Drawing from their collective experience, pharmacy benefit consultants will participate in a panel discussion sharing how they work with plan sponsors to mitigate rising pharmacy costs while also improving health outcomes by ensuring plan participants get the right drug, at the right price, at the right time.

Rebecca Lich, PharmD, MBA
Senior Vice President, Managing Director, West Region, Lockton

Chris Ruegg
Vice President Employee Benefits, Gallagher

Douglas Rasmussen, PharmD
Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy, Alera Group

Moderator:

Eric Dublikar, MBA
Vice President, Business Development (East), Employers Health

The Questions That Shape Strong Leadership

Health care and benefits leaders are navigating constant change, new regulations, shifting pharmacy models, rising costs and relentless pressure to perform. Leaders who ask better questions make stronger decisions, identify surface risks earlier and help teams adapt without burnout or loss of focus. Using real-world examples and practical frameworks, Dr. Debra Clary will lead this session, showing how curiosity can become a leadership advantage by covering:

• Why expertise and past success can limit adaptability in times of change;
• How curiosity improves decision-making, accountability and alignment;
• Practical leadership behaviors to guide teams through uncertainty and sustain performance.

Dr. Debra Clary
Founder and Leadership Advisor, The Clary Group

After-Hours Activity

Topgolf Columbus
2000 Ikea Way, Columbus, OH 43240

Join us for cocktails, appetizers and fun at Topgolf Columbus, located four minutes from the Hilton/Polaris. 

Breakfast, Registration and Networking

Polaris Ballroom

Welcome

Innovators in Employee Benefits: An Employer Panel

In this panel discussion, you’ll hear from benefits leaders from three employers – the City of Wilmington, Delaware; Bath and Body Works; and Hargrove and Associates – as they share their unique approaches to managing benefits for diverse workforces. Hear how they are building healthier workforces through well-designed benefits program by:

• Building collaborative relationships with providers to create solutions employees trust
• Taking a practical approach to investing in your employee population
• Provide a comprehensive total rewards package to recruit and retain employees
• Utilizing proven techniques to talk with leadership about benefits

Dany Bourjolly Smith
Manager of Communications, Programs and Strategic Partnerships, City of Wilmington, DE

Elizabeth Corll
Benefits Director, Bath & Body Works

Susan Vining, SHRM-CP, CPSP
Benefits Leader, Hargrove & Associates

Moderator:

Josh Pedrozo, MBA, CEBS
Senior Vice President, Client Solutions, Employers Health

Heavy Decisions: Managing Obesity Spend and Trend

Obesity treatments continue to evolve rapidly, creating new opportunities and complex decisions for self-insured plan sponsors. With FDA approval of the first oral GLP-1 therapy for weight loss, along with the expansion of direct-to-consumer platforms, employers are reassessing their coverage strategies. Attendees will hear from Employers Health’s Kevin Wenceslao and Alexis Sova as they utilize Employers Health book of business data to discuss the importance of:

• Defining and documenting your anti-obesity coverage philosophy;
• Monitoring emerging medications and therapies and what they can mean for your population;
• Clearly communicating with members about your organization’s coverage decisions and ensuring they are aware of alternative resources.

Kevin Wenceslao, PharmD, MBA
Senior Clinical Advisor, Employers Health

Alexis Sova, PharmD
Clinical Advisor, Employers Health

Excellence in Benefits Award

The Excellence in Benefits Award, presented annually by Employers Health, seeks to recognize an individual who has made meaningful impact in the field and/or delivery of employee benefits.

Break and Networking

Pharmaceutical Pipeline Update: What Employers Need to Know

As self-funded employers face soaring specialty costs and hundreds of specialty drugs are expected to launch in the next few years, it’s more important than ever to stay up to date on the latest in the pharmacy benefit pipeline. Join us to hear from Jeff Casberg and Julie Kendle from IPD Analytics as they cover:

• Key biosimilar and generic products that will impact employer costs in 2026;
• How new developments in GLP-1s, changes in rebates and the cash pay market will impact pharmacy benefits;
• How Most Favored Nation pricing and Maximum Fair Price negotiations could reshape pharmacy benefit administration and influence commercial costs over time.

Jeffrey Casberg, M.S., RPh
Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy, IPD Analytics

Julie Kendle, PharmD
Senior Director, Clinical Pharmacy, IPD Analytics

Redefining Women’s and Family Health Benefits in the Workplace 

Family health needs have outgrown traditional benefits. Both men and women expect support across fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, parenting, menopause and prevention, yet many employers still offer fragmented solutions. In this session, Flory Wilson of Reproductive and Maternal Health Compass and Caitlin Ardrey of Maven Clinic will outline how comprehensive family, fertility and pregnancy support strengthens retention, advances equity and reduces avoidable health care costs.

The conversation will highlight gaps in traditional coverage, especially in family formation and new-parent health, and offer practical guidance for closing these gaps. Speakers will share how integrated family and women’s health programs improve clinical outcomes, lower high-cost claims and deliver measurable ROI—while aligning with broader well-being strategies that support mental health, chronic conditions and long-term workforce stability. Attendees will learn how to:

• Build a compelling business case for comprehensive family health benefits, including fertility, pregnancy and postpartum support;
• Identify overlooked stages in the new parent health journey and align policies, coverage and workplace practices to close critical gaps;
• Measure success through meaningful outcomes such as utilization, retention, clinical improvements and overall return on investment.

Flory Wilson
Founder & CEO, Reproductive & Maternal Health Compass

Caitlin Ardrey
Senior Director, Maven

Moderator:

Matt Harman, PharmD, MPH, MBA, CEBS
Vice President, Clinical Solutions, Employers Health

Lunch and Networking

Inflammatory Insights

Year over year, autoimmune conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis continue to drive specialty spend for plan sponsors. Employers Health’s Ernesto Munoz and Hannah Whitesel take the stage to highlight practical strategies plan sponsors can use to lower spend from formulary placement and biosimilar promotion to customized management programs and point solutions, including:

• Analyzing pharmacy benefit claims to understand utilization and gross cost trends;
• Evaluating different programs currently available and their applicability for your population;
• Applying utilization management and program opportunities to make strategic plan changes.

Speakers:

Hannah Whitesel, PharmD
Director, Clinical Solutions, Employers Health

Ernesto Munoz, PharmD, MBA, CEBS
Clinical Advisor, Employers Health

AI in Benefits

From claims adjudication to enhanced security, AI is everywhere, even in your health plan. So, where do you start and what do benefits professionals need to consider when evaluating AI for their plans? Hear from Michael Stoyanovich, vice president and senior consultant of administration and technology consulting at Segal as he covers:

• How to implement AI in your role while prioritizing safety, ethics and well-being;
• Opportunities to enhance employee communications and engagement utilizing AI;
• The importance of quality data and how it can be used with AI to evaluate claims history, predict future costs, enhance security and more.

Michael Stoyanovich
Vice President and Senior Consultant, Segal

2026 Medical Cost Trend: Behind the Numbers

Join Jasmine Macies and Jihan Howard, as they share PwC’s Behind the Numbers report, offering insight into the key factors employers should consider when budgeting for 2027 and beyond.

Jasmine Macies, MPH
Senior Manager, PwC

Jihan Howard, PharmD, AAHIVP
Health Care and Pharmacy Benefits Consulting Manager, PwC