In a recent Affinity Benefits podcast, Richard Bright, CEO of ASA,  sat down with Chris Cordon, Benefits Advisor at Affinity Benefits, to unpack one of the most pressing challenges facing small and mid-sized businesses today: the rising cost and growing complexity of healthcare coverage. What followed was a candid, practical conversation about why the system feels broken, what business owners get wrong, and how association-based solutions are quietly changing the game.

Q: What led you into the benefits and insurance space?

Chris Cordon’s journey is deeply personal. He entered the industry more than 16 years ago after watching his mother struggle through serious illness and ultimately losing her to ALS. That experience lit a fire in him, especially as he began working with small and mid-sized business owners and hearing the same frustration year after year: costs climbing, options shrinking, and no clear path forward.

Q: What has changed most for small businesses trying to access healthcare?

Healthcare has become the second-largest expense for many small companies. While regulations like the Affordable Care Act were intended to protect consumers, mechanisms such as the Medical Loss Ratio have unintentionally encouraged higher premiums. When insurers earn a percentage of total spend, rising costs increase profit. Add vertical integration and reduced competition, and the pressure continues to mount.

Q: Why are premiums rising so quickly?

Individual market premiums recently jumped an average of 18% nationwide, while small-group plans rose about 10%. Pharmacy costs now make up nearly 40% of total healthcare spend, driven by consolidation and expensive specialty drugs. For small businesses, these increases compound each year, creating unsustainable long-term costs.

Q: What mistakes do business owners commonly make?

Many owners stick with their current providers, as they have limited time, tools or carrier access. Others choose the cheapest plan, often at the expense of meaningful coverage for employees. Both decisions can result in higher long-term costs and employee dissatisfaction.

Q: How does an association-based health plan help?

By pooling risk across a large group, association plans offer greater stability and predictability. While individual and small-group plans frequently see double-digit increases, the association plan discussed in the podcast has averaged increases closer to 5%, with some members seeing flat or even reduced rates.

Q: Is it difficult or risky to explore?

No. There is no cost or commitment to getting a quote, and the digital process takes about six minutes to start. Enrollment is ongoing, so businesses are not locked into traditional renewal timelines.

Q: Can members keep their doctors?

In most cases, yes. The program offers access to broad national PPO networks and simple provider lookup tools to confirm coverage before making any changes.

Big Takeaways

• Healthcare inflation is accelerating, and small businesses feel it first.
  • Fewer carrier choices mean doing nothing is no longer neutral.
  • Stability and predictability matter as much as price.
  • Exploring alternatives does not mean abandoning relationships—it means being informed.

Call to Action

If you are facing yet another double-digit premium increase, the real question is why you would not explore better options. Association-based health plans provide a proven path to stability, cost control, and better outcomes for both employers and employees.

There is no cost, no obligation, and no downside to taking a closer look. Spend six minutes to get informed and decide from a position of strength. Your business and your people deserve it.