Difference Card Broker of the Month: Congratulations to Steve Freeman, USI San Francisco
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The Difference Card is proud to recognize Steve Freeman of USI’s San Francisco office as our Broker of the Month, spotlighting his commitment to innovative healthcare cost-containment strategies and his strong partnership with the Difference Card consulting team.
Steve is a trusted advisor to public sector and education-based employers across California, known for helping organizations navigate complex renewals while preserving benefit quality for employees. Most recently, Steve partnered closely with Scott Bezanson from the Difference Card California consulting team to help a large California school district overcome a challenging health insurance renewal.
The Challenge: Unsustainable Renewal Pressure
The school district was facing a significant medical renewal increase that threatened to strain already tight public-sector budgets. With limited flexibility to reduce benefits or shift additional costs to employees, district leadership needed a solution that would:
- Reduce overall healthcare spend
- Avoid disruption to existing medical plans and provider access
- Deliver guaranteed financial results
Traditional market alternatives failed to produce meaningful savings, prompting Steve to explore advanced cost-containment strategies beyond standard plan design changes.
The Solution:Difference Guarantee MERP Strategy
Working together, Steve Freeman and Scott Bezanson implemented the Difference Card Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) with the added protection of the Difference Guarantee.
This approach allowed the school district to:
- Offset a meaningful portion of claims costs through MERP reimbursements
- Maintain their existing medical carrier and network
- Deliver immediate, predictable savings backed by the Difference Guarantee
- Protect employees from benefit reductions or increased out-of-pocket exposure
By integrating the Difference Guarantee MERP feature into the renewal strategy, the team successfully reduced the district’s net healthcare costs while providing leadership with confidence that results would be delivered as promised.
Results: Guaranteed Savings with Stability
The implementation resulted in a lower effective renewal for the school district, preserving benefit stability while achieving guaranteed financial relief. The district’s leadership praised the solution for its transparency, predictability, and minimal disruption, key factors in a public education environment.
This success underscores Steve Freeman’s consultative approach and his willingness to bring innovative solutions to clients when traditional options fall short.
A True Partnership
Steve’s collaboration with Scott Bezanson and the Difference Card California team exemplifies the power of partnership between forward thinking brokers and specialized cost-containment experts. Together, they delivered a solution that aligned financial stewardship with employee well-being, exactly what today’s public-sector employers demand.
Congratulations to Steve Freeman on being named Difference Card Broker of the Month and thank you for your continued leadership in helping California employers control healthcare costs through proven MERP strategies and the Difference Guarantee.
About The Difference Card
The Difference Card helps employers across all industries deliver better benefits at a lower cost. Our clients average 18% annual savings on healthcare, often while improving the employee experience. With a proven, multi-year strategy and tailored plan designs, The Difference Card is a trusted partner for brokers and employers seeking smarter solutions to rising healthcare costs.
Curious how much you could save? Request a proposal here.
