How a Wisconsin Church Cut Healthcare Costs by 64% While Improving Care

When one of Wisconsin’s largest churches faced a staggering 54% increase in their fully insured health insurance plan, they knew something had to change. Like many non-profits, every dollar in their budget needed to stretch further.

The culprit behind the massive rate hike? Several high-cost specialty medications and ongoing health conditions. It’s a familiar story for many organizations, but this church refused to accept that their only options were to either burden their employees with huge premium increases or slash their coverage.

That’s when they connected with us.

Taking a Different Path
Rather than simply shopping for new carriers or raising deductibles, we took a fundamentally different approach. We examined each aspect of the church’s healthcare spending and identified opportunities for dramatic savings without compromising care quality.

The biggest breakthrough came from medication costs. Our team worked individually with employees who needed specialty medications, helping them source these drugs directly from manufacturers and through international programs. This personalized approach ensured employees could continue their necessary treatments while eliminating inflated middleman costs.

Results That Matter
The impact was immediate and substantial:

Instead of a 54% increase, the church saw a 10% decrease in premiums
Employees kept their existing doctors and medications
Staff gained access to new benefits including $0 mobile clinic visits and 24/7 physician access
Total savings represented a 64% swing in health plan costs

What made this possible wasn’t just clever cost-cutting—it was a complete reimagining of how healthcare dollars could work smarter for both the church and its employees.

Beyond the Numbers
While the financial results are impressive, equally important was maintaining continuity of care. Employees continued seeing their trusted healthcare providers and taking their prescribed medications. The addition of mobile clinic access and round-the-clock physician availability actually improved healthcare accessibility for the staff.

This approach shows that controlling health insurance costs doesn’t require sacrificing quality care or disrupting employees’ lives. By focusing on eliminating wasteful spending and connecting directly with drug manufacturers, we helped this church redirect money away from inflated health plan costs and back into their mission.

A Model for Others
This church’s experience highlights how organizations can break free from the cycle of ever-increasing health plan costs. The key is working with advisors who understand how to:

Target the real drivers of healthcare costs
Navigate direct sourcing opportunities for medications
Maintain employee satisfaction while reducing expenses
Add valuable services that improve care access

For non-profits and businesses alike, this case demonstrates that accepting massive rate increases isn’t the only option. With the right strategy and support, organizations can significantly reduce costs while taking better care of their employees.

If your organization is facing similar health plan cost challenges, remember: there are alternatives available. Sometimes the most effective solution isn’t found in traditional insurance markets, but in reimagining how healthcare dollars can work harder for everyone involved.