Healthcare costs generally rise faster than inflation. In 2024, the average family premium reached $25,572, up 7% from the previous year. For small and midsize employers with tight budgets, savings on benefits create breathing room without sacrificing employee coverage. One effective way to reduce costs is by offering Health Savings Account contributions through a Section 125 […]

Expanding Its Healthcare Data and Navigation Capabilities  Greenwich, CT – The Difference Card, a leading provider of cost‑effective health insurance solutions, announced today that it has acquired HealthCorum, a healthcare data analytics company known for its provider quality scores, insights, and navigation technology that help organizations guide members to high‑value care.  HealthCorum scores more than 1.5 million providers […]

Building Better Outcomes Through Partnership At The Difference Card, we recognize the brokers and consultants who go above and beyond to help employers control healthcare costs while improving the employee experience. This month, we are proud to recognize Joanna Antongiovanni of Higginbotham’s San Antonio, Texas office as our Broker of the Month. Joanna has established […]

Tax Benefits of a MERP Employer-sponsored healthcare costs increase year after year, putting pressure on businesses of every size. Many employers want to offer competitive health benefits without taking on steadily rising costs, and a Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) offers just that, an employer-funded benefit that reimburses employees for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses. Beyond helping employees […]

When members search for a doctor, they rely on provider directories to find in-network clinicians and avoid surprise bills. But what happens when those directories are riddled with inaccuracies? In Pennsylvania, 44.8% of provider listings contain at least one inaccuracy, and only 11.6% were accurate at follow-up. Contact information errors are the most common issue, and 24.6% […]

Delivering Innovative Healthcare Savings for Public Sector Employers At The Difference Card, we are proud to recognize Shawn Hill of Marsh McLennan Agency as our Broker of the Month for his outstanding commitment to helping public sector employers deliver exceptional employee benefits while protecting taxpayer dollars. Shawn has established himself as a trusted advisor to municipalities […]

A level-funded health plan is a hybrid model that combines the best features of traditional insurance with modern cost-control strategies. You get the financial protection and predictable monthly payments of a fully insured plan, plus the flexibility and potential savings of a self-funded approach. Instead of paying premiums to your insurance carrier and hoping for […]

As healthcare costs continue to challenge employers across the country, organizations are searching for innovative ways to protect their budgets without asking employees to sacrifice the quality of their healthcare benefits. Through a collaborative partnership between Chris Frascarelli, Senior Sales Consultant for The Difference Card’s Southern California market, and the employee benefits team at Higginbotham, […]

Healthcare pricing has long been a source of frustration for employees and their families. For decades, the true cost of medical services remained hidden behind layers of negotiation, complex billing systems, and opaque insurance processes. Patients often received care without knowing what they would owe until bills arrived weeks or months later. This lack of […]