Welcome back for Episode 37 of the Digital Health Heavyweights Podcast. Today Norm is joined by Dave Kerrigan, founder, and CEO of BenefitPitch. Dave shares his journey in the healthcare industry and the changes he has witnessed over the years. He discusses his experience working at Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Willis Towers Watson, as well as his role at the Massachusetts Health Connector. Dave also talks about the challenges and successes of negotiating contracts with insurance carriers and managing vendor strategies. He highlights the shift towards self-funding and the proliferation of startups in the healthcare benefits space. Dave’s personal experiences, including the loss of his mother-in-law and father, led him to found Sante Nasc and BenefitPitch. Dave Kerrigan shares his journey from being forced into entrepreneurship to founding BenefitPitch, a vendor management system for brokerage firms. He discusses the impact and focus of BenefitPitch, as well as the importance of collaboration between vendors and brokers. Dave also talks about the 'Masked Broker' series, which provides insights and tips for vendors on how to work with brokerage firms. He shares his thoughts on the future of the benefits industry and highlights the importance of transparency and engagement. Kerrigan also discusses his personal wellness practices, including running and portion control.

Watch the Masked Broker and sign up for BenefitPitch here with this link: https://www.benefitpitch.com/?utm_term=digital-health-heavyweights&utm_campaign=Podcast%20Appearances%202024&utm_medium=dri&utm_source=podcast

Takeaways

🏥 Dave Kerrigan has had a long career in the healthcare industry, working at various companies such as Optum, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Willis Towers Watson.

💼 He played a key role in negotiating contracts with insurance carriers and managing vendor strategies.

🔄🚀 Kerrigan has witnessed the shift towards self-funding and the emergence of numerous startups in the healthcare benefits space.

💔💼 Personal experiences, including the loss of loved ones, led Kerrigan to found Sante Nasc and BenefitPitch. Dave Kerrigan founded BenefitPitch, a vendor management system for brokerage firms, after being forced into entrepreneurship.

🤝 Collaboration between vendors and brokers is crucial for success in the benefits industry.

🎭💡 The 'Masked Broker' series provides insights and tips for vendors on how to work with brokerage firms.

🔍💬 Transparency and engagement are key factors in the future of the benefits industry.

🏃‍♂️🥗 Dave Kerrigan practices personal wellness through running and portion control.


Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Background

06:55 Role at Buck Consultants and Vendor Strategies

14:41 Heading Vendor Strategy at Buck Consultants

27:03 From Forced Entrepreneurship to Founding BenefitPitch

39:18 Transparency and Engagement in the Future of Benefits

47:40 Personal Wellness Practices: Running and Portion Control

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