Blessing Employees While Saving Money: Two Case Studies
Specific Results Detailed
Client Case Study #1: Weaver Street Market (WSM)
Industry: Grocery Store Cooperative
Employees: 200-300
Results: Saved $229k in year 1 based on health design changes and reinvested that into the plan to share savings with plan members by waiving out of pocket costs for imaging services and surgeries.
The Curse: Too Big for Off the Shelf Too Small to Get the Attention of Their (Former) Broker
After seeing healthcare costs spike above $2 million dollars, WSM could not sustain the ever increasing claims and fees on their health plan. They were struggling with:
No Creative Solutions – They were told they were “already doing everything” they could as a self insured business.
Unsustainable Costs –Medical and pharmacy claims kept rising without an end in sight.
Too Many Middlemen – WSM was not working with any providers directly and felt their members were not being cared for
The Blessing: Found Independent Partners and Providers to Create a Custom Health Plan
Bull Benefits became their new broker of record and built a custom plan, showing WSM they were just the right size for this level of care and plan design.
Direct Plan Design – Justin and Dr Joe identified six independent Direct Primary Care Providers in the area to help create a primary care network for WSM plan members for only $75/month per member—proving that an affordable and high-quality network could be created.
Making It Fun & Optional – Bull Benefits created a cartoon video between the new Direct Plan option compared to a standard Corporate Plan that was offered at open enrollment. The result? After the firs open enrollment 50% of employees picked the new Direct Plan while which exceeded all expectations.
The Results: Direct Plan Outperforms PPO Plan by 30%, Saving $229,000 in Year 1, and Wins Health Rosetta’s “Rosie Award” for Innovative Plan
Substantial Savings: WSM successfully saved money for the coop and its members
Better Care: Direct Primary Providers invested extra time and care for the WSM plan members with hour long visits as the norm versus the standard 7-min in traditional PCP clinics.
Reinvested Savings into Concierge Care: Savings were returned to the members by waiving out of pocket expenses by adding a care navigator and cash concierge team.
Improved Satisfaction: Employees continued to select the custom Direct Plan, now at over 67% of employees on this innovative plan.
What the Client Said:
“Bull Benefits has partnered with us to develop a groundbreaking benefits plan that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of our employees while safeguarding our bottom line. Collaborating with Bull Benefits aligns seamlessly with our core values and priorities.”
Why It Matters
Bull Benefits didn’t just save costs —Justin and the team showed WSM what it feels like to be cared for and wanted as “just the right” size client.
This is what Benefits That Bless looks like in this case study:
✔ Working with the client to create a custom plan
✔ Finding like-minded and like-hearted partners
✔ Education that is fun and helpful
✔ Always improving
Client Case Study #2: Refugee Community Partnership (RCP)
Industry: Non-Profit
Employees: 15-20
Results: Offered benefits for the first time, retained talent, educated employees and avoided a 7% increase in costs
The Curse: Barriers to Offering Meaningful Benefits
As a small nonprofit, RCP faced several common “benefits curses” that many mission-driven organizations struggle with:
No Starting Point – They had never offered health insurance and didn’t know how to begin budgeting or structuring a plan.
Misleading PEO Promises – Their PEO claimed to provide “benefits,” but lacked transparency and true value.
Low Benefits Literacy – With several ESL team members, insurance language created confusion and anxiety.
The Blessing: Thoughtful Benefits That Empower & Educate
Bull Benefits stepped in not just as a broker—but as a blessing partner to RCP. Here's how Bull Benefits helped flip the script:
Creative, Compassionate Plan Design – Justin and Derrick collaborated with RCP’s leadership and their trusted Direct Primary Care (DPC) provider to craft a plan averaging <$650/month per employee—sensitive to their nonprofit budget without compromising on care.
Clear PEO Comparison – Bull Benefits conducted a side-by-side analysis between the PEO offering and a custom-designed group health plan. The result? RCP saved over 7% annually while gaining full ownership and control of their plan.
Education That Engages –Understanding that insurance can feel intimidating, Justin delivered an in-person Health Insurance 101 session tailored for ESL speakers. With simple visuals, friendly analogies (like the “stadium analogy”), and a welcoming environment, he helped transform confusion into confidence.
The Results: When Benefits Become a Blessing
First-Time Coverage: RCP successfully launched its first-ever employee benefits package.
Financial Stewardship: Avoided unnecessary PEO costs, saving 7%+ annually.
Higher Engagement: Staff now understand and use their benefits proactively, especially preventive care.
Improved Retention: Team members felt seen, valued, and cared for—which strengthened long-term commitment.
What the Client Said:
“We were so happy to have an ally with the fun team at Bull Benefits to navigate this big step for our organization. Justin explained insurance in a way that made sense. What stood out most is how our team became genuinely interested in a topic that used to feel intimidating.”
Why It Matters
Bull Benefits didn’t just deliver a health plan—Justin delivered clarity, compassion, and confidence.
This is what Benefits That Bless looks like:
✔ Thoughtfully designed coverage
✔ Stewardship of resources
✔ Education that empowers
✔ Relationships that retain
Because when benefits are given with care, they bless both the employee and the employer.