Corporate HR departments managing self-funded health plans face a persistent challenge: cost leakage and compliance gaps that go undetected until they become expensive problems. At Chelko Consulting Group, our analysis and reporting services give plan sponsors the ongoing oversight needed to catch issues early — before they escalate into major financial or regulatory consequences.
You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure
Everything we do starts with detailed analysis of your plan’s performance against your management goals and market-wide trends. Many advisors rely on quarterly or annual data provided by carriers to service their clients. We’ve always believed that timely, accurate data is critical to making informed decisions — which is why we invested in our proprietary Performance Scorecard and best-in-class analytics tools like Innovu to identify claim-level management opportunities throughout the year.
That ongoing visibility is what separates proactive plan management from reactive damage control.
What Our Analysis and Reporting Process Covers
Our audit and analysis work draws on three core capabilities:
Monthly Performance Scorecards We produce our proprietary Performance Scorecard every month, using it as a foundational tool to identify emerging plan trends, compare actual to budgeted plan costs, flag unusual claims, and focus plan design and management efforts. Available in a combined Medical & Rx version as well as a standalone Rx module, each month’s Scorecard includes key observations from your consulting team on the measures that matter. We think of it as twelve opportunities per year to assess how the plan is running and make better, more timely decisions.
Benchmarking As an independent firm, we’re not restricted to using our own data. We collect and curate benchmark data from international consulting firms, health plans, PBMs, specialty firms, foundations, industry professional organizations, and data warehouses including Innovu. We also maintain our own proprietary survey data representing about 600,000 plan members in aggregate. Our Annual Review & Planning Report uses this data to help clients understand how their primary plan design features and performance results compare to curated benchmarks and serves as a platform for discussing future plan management actions and compliance matters.
Claims Analysis We use licensed claims data analysis and reporting software, backed by decades of in-house expertise developed through technical and leadership roles within major insurance companies and consulting firms. We also have direct access to health plan and PBM systems for ad hoc reporting and analysis. The depth of what we find in our clients’ claims data consistently drives meaningful plan improvements.
How This Protects Employers From Cost and Compliance Risk
Regular, rigorous analysis of plan performance does more than surface savings opportunities — it also supports the fiduciary obligations that corporate HR departments carry under ERISA and federal regulations. Documenting ongoing oversight and demonstrating prudent, data-driven decision-making is increasingly important as regulatory scrutiny of self-funded plans intensifies.
Our conflict-free model matters here too. We never accept commissions, overrides, or any form of vendor incentive compensation. That means every finding we surface and every recommendation we make is based solely on what’s best for the plan and its members — not on what benefits a carrier or vendor relationship.
We were also the first health and welfare benefits consulting firm in the United States to serve contractually as a named fiduciary alongside employers, formalizing our commitment to accountability and transparency in writing.
Let’s Take a Closer Look at Your Plan
If your plan isn’t being monitored regularly — or if you’re not confident your current advisor is giving you the full picture — we’d welcome a conversation.
Learn More About Our Analysis & Reporting Services →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a health plan audit and analysis process typically include? Our process covers claims data analysis, plan design review, vendor contract performance, benchmarking against curated industry data, and ongoing monthly performance monitoring. The goal is to identify cost management opportunities and support compliance obligations throughout the year — not just at renewal.
How often should corporate HR departments review plan performance? We recommend monthly monitoring through our Performance Scorecard, supplemented by an Annual Review & Planning Report that provides deeper benchmarking and compliance updates. Regular monitoring allows early identification of emerging issues before they escalate into major costs or violations.
How does a conflict-free approach improve audit outcomes? When your advisor doesn’t accept vendor incentives or commissions, every finding is made without competing financial interests. That means you can trust that what we surface reflects what’s actually happening in your plan — not what’s convenient for someone else’s revenue stream.
Can ongoing plan analysis reduce overall health plan costs? Yes. Regular claims analysis and performance monitoring consistently uncover cost management opportunities in plan design, vendor performance, and claims trends. Early identification and data-driven recommendations help employers act before small inefficiencies become large ones.