July 28, 2025 • 9 mins
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Episode Transcript
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fbmc-production_2_07-08-2025 (00:00):
Hi everyone, and thank you for
listening to Risky Benefits andwelcome to today's episode.
Today we'll be diving into atopic that is close to the heart
of many small businesses findingaffordable, innovative benefit
solutions when the options feelvery limited.
So I'm thrilled to welcome ourguest today, our very own Tina
Wyatt, program manager for FBMC'S Benefits Bridge.
(00:23):
Is our dedicated small businessblock.
So Tina, welcome to the show.
Thanks for coming on.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (00:29):
Thank you for having me.
I'm very excited and I'm excitedto share what we can offer the
small group, clients in theindustry.
fbmc-production_2_07 (00:39):
Fantastic.
Well, before we get started, whydon't you tell us a little bit
about yourself?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (00:44):
let's see.
I am a mother of two.
I've been working in employeebenefits for 25 years.
So that is a really long time.
I have a medical background aswell, so that kind of helps
within the process of claims andsuch in this industry as well.
squadcaster-jebf_1_07-08- (01:07):
Yeah, absolutely.
And if you guys have not metTina directly or gotten a chance
to work with her, you're missingout because I know from
experience that her clients loveher.
They have nothing but wonderfulthings to say and she is just,
we're lucky to have her.
So,
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (01:24):
Thank
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (01:24):
yeah.
tina_1_07-08-2025_1345 (01:24):
consider them like family to me.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (01:27):
Yeah.
And they can tell.
And I think that's definitelyappreciated.
Let's start with the bigpicture.
What is benefits bridge and whydid FBMC feel like it was
something that was necessary tobring on?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (01:39):
that's a great question.
Benefits Bridge was created tosolve a really, huge problem
that we kept seeing in smallbusiness.
Often they feel stuck between arock and a hard place when it
comes to benefits and thechoices can feel very limited
and the cost can be very high,and the administrative burdens
(02:01):
obviously in a small businesscan be overwhelming.
So we wanted to bridge that gap.
Hence the name.
So by creating a program thatbrings creative, flexible, and
scalable solutions to theundeserved segment is what we
were striving for, and I thinkwe achieved it.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (02:22):
Yay.
Always good to achieve thatgoal.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (02:26):
Yeah.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-202 (02:27):
And what an important mission.
So let's talk about some of theinnovations that Benefits Bridge
is offering to small groups, andwhat are the standout options
that are available?
tina_1_07-08-2025_1345 (02:37):
Awesome.
Yes, absolutely.
One of the most exciting optionsthat are offered now in the
small business market is thelevel funded plans.
The plans can, are, the planscan combine the cost control of
self-funded.
With the predictability of afully insured, so they drive
just like a fully insuredproduct.
(02:58):
They're often more affordableand come with the potential for
a refund if the claims are lowerthan expected, which is a game
changer for our employer.
Small employers.
fbmc-production_2_0 (03:09):
Absolutely.
So kind of off script, but do alot of the groups that you work
with, small employers, theymight not know much about
benefits or what they should beoffering to their to their
employees.
So is that something that youand your team can come in and
help educate them on levelfunded, fully insured, all of
(03:29):
that?
Yeah.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (03:31):
we actually, we, we, first of all
the combination of experience onmy team is close to 40 years.
Okay?
So
fbmc-production_2_07-08 (03:43):
Mm-hmm.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (03:43):
have a wealth of knowledge as well.
And we always, always give ourclients small group clients the
education that they need to makeinformed decisions.
Especially when it comes to thechoices they have, we also think
about, as you know, it's, it thecosts are very astronomical in a
(04:05):
small group.
and so we try to make sure thatwe're bringing solutions that
will not only benefit theiremployees, but also help the
employer to offer those benefitsto their employees at a cost at
a low cost.
fbmc-production_2_07 (04:22):
Absolutely what a win.
Especially when budgets aretight.
That's, I mean, I'm sure that'ssuper helpful.
What about for older populationsor employees with retire, or
excuse me, employers that haveretirees?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (04:35):
So we offer Medicare supplement
options, so we, I am an agent.
For Blue Cross Blue Shield,Florida Blue, and we offer
Medicare supplement options ofregular supplements or Medicare
Advantage, which is tailored tothe geographic location of the
person we consider where thebusiness is based.
(04:56):
We also, we actually go to ourlarger clients and tell them
about the solutions as well, ifthey have any kind of.
Medicare recipients that they,that is employed in their
organization.
It gives the employers a way tosupport their older team members
without inflating the cost oftheir core benefit.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (05:17):
Wow, that kind of flexibility is key.
I'm and I'm sure that, you know,some of those smaller groups
might not otherwise be able toserve their retirees, so
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (05:27):
It, it, I mean, it's a benefit to
both small and large.
So it, and it helps to keep thecost down for the employer and
it, it gives the, thatindividual member a great option
as
fbmc-production_2_07-08 (05:41):
Mm-hmm.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (05:42):
the Medicare supplements go.
fbmc-production_2_0 (05:44):
Absolutely.
So another big concern for smallbusinesses I can imagine is
staying compliant, staying up todate with all the different
compliance and regulations.
How does benefits bridge helpwith that?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (05:56):
I'm kind of a compliance guru, or I
think I am.
I'm a nerd addict, to be honestwith you.
I'm continually look, as thisindustry changes, but we've
integrated a compliance supportdirectly into the program.
it's a c, a reporting coveradministration, or ERISA
documentation we're making surethat our clients are covered and
(06:19):
confident in, in, in ourabilities to keep them
compliant.
Small employers often don't havean HR department, so they need a
partner who understands thedetails and can keep them out of
trouble basically.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (06:35):
Love it.
Always, you know, always a goalto stay outta trouble.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (06:38):
Right.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (06:39):
Yeah.
Anytime we can help, that'salways a plus.
It's not just about offeringbenefits, it's also about making
the entire experience manageablefor the employers and, easy also
for the employees.
So, speaking of that experience,how do small groups typically
enroll their employees?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (06:58):
Well, I, I mean, we certainly do what
the, the small group would,wants to do, but we provide
multiple enrollment platforms,options, depending on the
group's needs and size, whetherit's simple, mobile, friendly
platform, or a more robust.
HRIS system, we make sure itfits.
(07:18):
The key is giving smallemployers tools that make
enrollment clear, quick, andstress free.
fbmc-production_2_07-08- (07:25):
That's awesome.
Well, you are super passionateabout helping small businesses
succeed and it sounds likeBenefits Bridge is a great
solution for that.
Before we wrap up, is thereanything else that you want our
listeners to know?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (07:39):
Yes, I would say this, you do have
options, even if you're toldotherwise.
Benefits bridge exist because webelieve small businesses deserve
the same care, creativity, andcustomization as the big guys
do, and we're here to help makethat happen.
fbmc-production_2_07-08- (07:57):
That's awesome.
Beautifully said.
And actually one more, one morequestion.
What size groups does BenefitsBridge serve?
What's the population size thatyou guys typically.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:06):
we do from two to 250 lives.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (08:12):
Okay.
All the way down to two.
Amazing.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:15):
yes, everybody deserves a chance.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (08:19):
Love it.
And is there any limitations onwhere geographically?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:24):
No, we are across the United States,
fbmc-production_2_07-0 (08:28):
Awesome.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:29):
we can go anywhere you are.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-202 (08:31):
All the way to Alaska.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:33):
Yes.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (08:34):
Tina just got back from Alaska and
was telling us before thepodcast about how wonderful it.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:39):
It was totally awesome and phenomenal,
breathtaking.
fbmc-production_2_07-0 (08:43):
Awesome.
Well thank you so much Tinanaand thank you for coming on.
And thank you to our listenersand as always, if you have any
questions or wanna know more,you can find us on our
homepage@www.fbmc.com and youcan find us and subscribe on any
podcast app.
Thank you.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (09:02):
Thank you.
Hi everyone, and thank you for
listening to Risky Benefits andwelcome to today's episode.
Today we'll be diving into atopic that is close to the heart
of many small businesses findingaffordable, innovative benefit
solutions when the options feelvery limited.
So I'm thrilled to welcome ourguest today, our very own Tina
Wyatt, program manager for FBMC'S Benefits Bridge.
(00:23):
Is our dedicated small businessblock.
So Tina, welcome to the show.
Thanks for coming on.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (00:29):
Thank you for having me.
I'm very excited and I'm excitedto share what we can offer the
small group, clients in theindustry.
fbmc-production_2_07 (00:39):
Fantastic.
Well, before we get started, whydon't you tell us a little bit
about yourself?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (00:44):
let's see.
I am a mother of two.
I've been working in employeebenefits for 25 years.
So that is a really long time.
I have a medical background aswell, so that kind of helps
within the process of claims andsuch in this industry as well.
squadcaster-jebf_1_07-08- (01:07):
Yeah, absolutely.
And if you guys have not metTina directly or gotten a chance
to work with her, you're missingout because I know from
experience that her clients loveher.
They have nothing but wonderfulthings to say and she is just,
we're lucky to have her.
So,
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (01:24):
Thank
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (01:24):
yeah.
tina_1_07-08-2025_1345 (01:24):
consider them like family to me.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (01:27):
Yeah.
And they can tell.
And I think that's definitelyappreciated.
Let's start with the bigpicture.
What is benefits bridge and whydid FBMC feel like it was
something that was necessary tobring on?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (01:39):
that's a great question.
Benefits Bridge was created tosolve a really, huge problem
that we kept seeing in smallbusiness.
Often they feel stuck between arock and a hard place when it
comes to benefits and thechoices can feel very limited
and the cost can be very high,and the administrative burdens
(02:01):
obviously in a small businesscan be overwhelming.
So we wanted to bridge that gap.
Hence the name.
So by creating a program thatbrings creative, flexible, and
scalable solutions to theundeserved segment is what we
were striving for, and I thinkwe achieved it.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (02:22):
Yay.
Always good to achieve thatgoal.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (02:26):
Yeah.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-202 (02:27):
And what an important mission.
So let's talk about some of theinnovations that Benefits Bridge
is offering to small groups, andwhat are the standout options
that are available?
tina_1_07-08-2025_1345 (02:37):
Awesome.
Yes, absolutely.
One of the most exciting optionsthat are offered now in the
small business market is thelevel funded plans.
The plans can, are, the planscan combine the cost control of
self-funded.
With the predictability of afully insured, so they drive
just like a fully insuredproduct.
(02:58):
They're often more affordableand come with the potential for
a refund if the claims are lowerthan expected, which is a game
changer for our employer.
Small employers.
fbmc-production_2_0 (03:09):
Absolutely.
So kind of off script, but do alot of the groups that you work
with, small employers, theymight not know much about
benefits or what they should beoffering to their to their
employees.
So is that something that youand your team can come in and
help educate them on levelfunded, fully insured, all of
(03:29):
that?
Yeah.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (03:31):
we actually, we, we, first of all
the combination of experience onmy team is close to 40 years.
Okay?
So
fbmc-production_2_07-08 (03:43):
Mm-hmm.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (03:43):
have a wealth of knowledge as well.
And we always, always give ourclients small group clients the
education that they need to makeinformed decisions.
Especially when it comes to thechoices they have, we also think
about, as you know, it's, it thecosts are very astronomical in a
(04:05):
small group.
and so we try to make sure thatwe're bringing solutions that
will not only benefit theiremployees, but also help the
employer to offer those benefitsto their employees at a cost at
a low cost.
fbmc-production_2_07 (04:22):
Absolutely what a win.
Especially when budgets aretight.
That's, I mean, I'm sure that'ssuper helpful.
What about for older populationsor employees with retire, or
excuse me, employers that haveretirees?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (04:35):
So we offer Medicare supplement
options, so we, I am an agent.
For Blue Cross Blue Shield,Florida Blue, and we offer
Medicare supplement options ofregular supplements or Medicare
Advantage, which is tailored tothe geographic location of the
person we consider where thebusiness is based.
(04:56):
We also, we actually go to ourlarger clients and tell them
about the solutions as well, ifthey have any kind of.
Medicare recipients that they,that is employed in their
organization.
It gives the employers a way tosupport their older team members
without inflating the cost oftheir core benefit.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (05:17):
Wow, that kind of flexibility is key.
I'm and I'm sure that, you know,some of those smaller groups
might not otherwise be able toserve their retirees, so
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (05:27):
It, it, I mean, it's a benefit to
both small and large.
So it, and it helps to keep thecost down for the employer and
it, it gives the, thatindividual member a great option
as
fbmc-production_2_07-08 (05:41):
Mm-hmm.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (05:42):
the Medicare supplements go.
fbmc-production_2_0 (05:44):
Absolutely.
So another big concern for smallbusinesses I can imagine is
staying compliant, staying up todate with all the different
compliance and regulations.
How does benefits bridge helpwith that?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (05:56):
I'm kind of a compliance guru, or I
think I am.
I'm a nerd addict, to be honestwith you.
I'm continually look, as thisindustry changes, but we've
integrated a compliance supportdirectly into the program.
it's a c, a reporting coveradministration, or ERISA
documentation we're making surethat our clients are covered and
(06:19):
confident in, in, in ourabilities to keep them
compliant.
Small employers often don't havean HR department, so they need a
partner who understands thedetails and can keep them out of
trouble basically.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (06:35):
Love it.
Always, you know, always a goalto stay outta trouble.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (06:38):
Right.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (06:39):
Yeah.
Anytime we can help, that'salways a plus.
It's not just about offeringbenefits, it's also about making
the entire experience manageablefor the employers and, easy also
for the employees.
So, speaking of that experience,how do small groups typically
enroll their employees?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (06:58):
Well, I, I mean, we certainly do what
the, the small group would,wants to do, but we provide
multiple enrollment platforms,options, depending on the
group's needs and size, whetherit's simple, mobile, friendly
platform, or a more robust.
HRIS system, we make sure itfits.
(07:18):
The key is giving smallemployers tools that make
enrollment clear, quick, andstress free.
fbmc-production_2_07-08- (07:25):
That's awesome.
Well, you are super passionateabout helping small businesses
succeed and it sounds likeBenefits Bridge is a great
solution for that.
Before we wrap up, is thereanything else that you want our
listeners to know?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (07:39):
Yes, I would say this, you do have
options, even if you're toldotherwise.
Benefits bridge exist because webelieve small businesses deserve
the same care, creativity, andcustomization as the big guys
do, and we're here to help makethat happen.
fbmc-production_2_07-08- (07:57):
That's awesome.
Beautifully said.
And actually one more, one morequestion.
What size groups does BenefitsBridge serve?
What's the population size thatyou guys typically.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:06):
we do from two to 250 lives.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-2 (08:12):
Okay.
All the way down to two.
Amazing.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:15):
yes, everybody deserves a chance.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (08:19):
Love it.
And is there any limitations onwhere geographically?
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:24):
No, we are across the United States,
fbmc-production_2_07-0 (08:28):
Awesome.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:29):
we can go anywhere you are.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-202 (08:31):
All the way to Alaska.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:33):
Yes.
fbmc-production_2_07-08-20 (08:34):
Tina just got back from Alaska and
was telling us before thepodcast about how wonderful it.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (08:39):
It was totally awesome and phenomenal,
breathtaking.
fbmc-production_2_07-0 (08:43):
Awesome.
Well thank you so much Tinanaand thank you for coming on.
And thank you to our listenersand as always, if you have any
questions or wanna know more,you can find us on our
homepage@www.fbmc.com and youcan find us and subscribe on any
podcast app.
Thank you.
tina_1_07-08-2025_134509 (09:02):
Thank you.
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