Paying Attention to Our Health — and Our Health Benefits

I recently learned that “aura” is the new word for cool. “Aura” and “Oura” sound the same—unfortunately, I can’t claim the cool factor. I only have the ring. 

After the New Year, I decided it was time to be a little more intentional about my own health—move more, drink more water, eat better, and (my personal challenge) get better sleep. This year I added one new tool: a wellness wearable. After a lot of research, I landed on the Oura Ring—and let’s just say…it has opinions. 

For those of you who haven’t gone down the wearable wellness rabbit hole, it tracks things like sleep, heart rate, activity, and stress. I originally got it because I wanted to be more intentional about my own wellness. Like many people, I thought I had a pretty good sense of how much sleep I was getting and how my body was responding to long days. 

It turns out the ring had some thoughts. 

It has helped me be more accountable, especially with sleep. It tracks my resting heart rate. It even gives me clues about when my stress levels may have gone up. I’ll admit, there have been times when I’ve looked back at the data and thought, “Hmm… who was I meeting with at that exact moment?” Don’t worry, I won’t name names! 

But joking aside, what I appreciate about it is that it helps me pay attention. Not perfectly. Not obsessively. Just a little more consistently. 

And that is really what wellness requires from all of us. We have to pay attention — to our sleep, our stress, our preventive care, our chronic conditions, and sometimes to the systems and benefits that help support our health. 

That brings me to open enrollment.

Our benefits open enrollment period has begun, and I know this is an important time for our employees and families. Choosing a health plan is not always easy. The language can be confusing, the tradeoffs are real, and the decisions are personal. 

We have heard from many of you about what matters most: affordability, access, choice, and clarity. We also know that some of the limitations in our current plans are frustrating. For example, the lowest-cost option is connected to using GBMC HealthCare providers when possible, but there are some services we do not offer. In those cases, care may fall into a higher-cost tier. That is not lost on us.

This year, based on employee feedback, we introduced an additional plan option. It is one step toward offering more flexibility and helping more people find a plan that fits their needs. We know it does not solve every concern, but it reflects something important: your feedback is shaping our decisions. 

We are making these changes in a healthcare environment that is challenging for employees and families across the country. According to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research organization, average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $9,325 for single coverage (up 5%) and $26,993 for family coverage (up 6%). Family premiums have increased 26% over the last five years. That number does not make anyone’s individual situation easier, but it does reflect what many people are feeling: health benefits are taking up more space in family budgets, and the choices during open enrollment are getting harder.

And I want to say this clearly: if you’re feeling the squeeze, you’re not alone and it’s not a small thing.

I also want to acknowledge the broader reality we’re managing: the cost of providing coverage is rising significantly for employers across the country. At GBMC, our responsibility is to navigate that reality without losing sight of what matters most — the real impact on our people. That’s why we’re working to limit increases as much as we can while still improving choice and support, including adding an additional plan option based directly on your feedback. There are no easy answers, but that does not mean we stop trying to make things better.

During open enrollment, I encourage you to take a little time to review your options, compare the plans, check provider networks, and ask questions to our benefits team. A few extra minutes now can make a meaningful difference later. 

Just like my Oura Ring reminds me to pay attention to what my body is telling me, open enrollment is a moment to pay attention to what you and your family may need in the year ahead. 

Thank you for continuing to share your feedback honestly. We are listening, learning, and working to make steady improvements together.