Nationwide employee benefits brokerage firm warns that ACA tax credits obscure rising medical costs and outdated broker models, and encourages employers to explore smarter strategies.

(PRUnderground) November 19th, 2025

Since its founding in 2020, The Benefit Doctor has been redefining how employers structure and manage employee healthcare plans. While Washington argues over Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, the firm is calling for a reality check in the national benefits conversation. Founder and CEO Zak Harlow believes the real healthcare emergency is happening in every employer’s budget. The political spotlight on subsidies is masking a deeper crisis caused by runaway medical costs and outdated broker models that leave businesses footing the bill.

More than 15 million Americans rely on ACA subsidies to afford coverage.¹ The Benefit Doctor warns that those subsidies hide a much larger, systemic problem. The average family health insurance premium had increased 53% since 2015,² according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey report. Enhanced ACA tax credits have kept premiums stable for millions of Americans, but they haven’t reduced the actual cost of healthcare. If those subsidies expire, families and businesses could face the full financial burden.

Despite rising costs, many employers continue to take a reactive approach to managing benefits, often with the help of benefits brokers. However, these brokers often focus on annual renewals rather than ongoing plan performance, leaving employers with limited insight into utilization, plan design, or cost-saving opportunities. Zak Harlow describes this as a “set it and forget it” approach that can quietly drain resources.

“Employers think they’re being taken care of because their broker shows up once a year with renewal paperwork,” Harlow said. “But the reality is the market has evolved. Without a proactive benefits strategy, employers are missing opportunities to control costs and maximize value.”

The Benefit Doctor is calling on employers to take a more proactive approach to their health insurance benefits for employees, by asking four fundamental questions:

1. Have we explored self-funded or level-funded options in the past 12 months?
2. Is our plan designed to reduce misuse and encourage smarter utilization?
3. Do we have access to real-time claims transparency and forecasting?
4. What underwriting flexibility has our broker negotiated this year?

“Whether ACA subsidies stay or go, premiums are still rising,” Harlow said. “That’s what the data from the last decade tells us. If you’re signing renewals for the same plans as last year, only with higher premiums, you’re not managing your plan. It’s time to start asking the hard questions and making healthcare work for you and your team.”

The Benefit Doctor’s solution to rising healthcare costs lies in its proprietary Cure the Pain Framework, which helps employers reclaim control through transparency, smarter funding models, and employee education. Their health insurance brokers help businesses understand which benefits fit their team demographics and how to provide those benefits cost-effectively.

To learn more about The Benefit Doctor’s approach to helping companies find, implement, and maximize innovative healthcare solutions that provide real benefits and keep costs down, visit www.TheBenefitDoctor.com.

¹https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/explainer/2025/feb/enhanced-premium-tax-credits-aca-health-plans

²https://www.kff.org/health-costs/2025-employer-health-benefits-survey/

About The Benefit Doctor

The Benefit Doctor helps employers and employees save $1 BILLION in healthcare spending through their proven 5-step treatment protocol. With a mission to be a reliable employee benefits broker, they specialize in making employee benefits an actual benefit and reducing overall spend on healthcare.

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Original Press Release.