Joe CourcyAs we close out 2025 and finalize employee benefits for the coming year, there’s one question every small to medium-sized business owner should ask: Are your employees truly understanding—and maximizing—the benefits you’re providing them?
I’m Joe Courcy from CH Insurance, and I’ve seen this scenario play out countless times. Business owners invest significantly in their employee benefits packages, yet many team members don’t fully grasp the value they’re receiving. This disconnect becomes especially critical now, as insurance rates continue climbing across the board. When employees don’t understand their benefits, they can’t appreciate them—and that’s money left on the table for everyone involved.
That’s precisely why we created BOOST: Benefits Optimization Opportunities for Small Business Teams.
What Makes BOOST Different?
Here’s the reality: companies with fewer than 100 employees typically can’t afford dedicated HR departments or benefits specialists. You’re competing for talent against corporations with extensive HR resources, yet you’re expected to navigate complex benefits decisions alone. BOOST changes that equation entirely.
Through the proprietary BOOST program, your small to medium-sized business gains access to enterprise-level HR resources and expertise—without the enterprise-level price tag. As an independent agency, CH Insurance brings you the power of choice from multiple carriers and plans, not just one-size-fits-all solutions. We evaluate options across the marketplace to find the right fit for your specific team and budget.
But BOOST goes beyond just selecting plans. We provide hands-on guidance through every step: plan selection, implementation, compliance, and critically important—employee education.
The Education Advantage
This is where BOOST truly shines. We offer virtual or in-person meetings with your employees to walk them through their benefits package in plain language. We explain what they have, how to use it, and how to extract maximum value from their coverage. In an era of rising costs, employees deserve to understand exactly what they’re getting.
These sessions transform benefits from sometimes confusing paperwork into tangible value that employees can see and appreciate. When your team understands their healthcare options, retirement contributions, and additional perks, it strengthens retention and demonstrates your investment in their wellbeing.
Expertise and Guardianship
With BOOST, you get my personal expertise and that of our entire group benefits and HR resources team standing in your corner—every day, every way. We monitor your plans, identify optimization opportunities, and proactively address issues before they become problems. Think of us as your dedicated benefits department, working tirelessly to ensure you’re getting exponentially more value, even as rates increase.
Experience the CH Insurance Difference
Our commitment extends beyond insurance policies. Check out our reviews online and hear what other business owners have to say about our five-star customer service. Follow us on social media to see true stories of how CH gives back to the community—it’s vital to our DNA and who we are and it says a lot about the kind of experience, you can expect to have with us by your side.
As you finalize your 2026 benefits, ask yourself: Does your current broker provide this level of support, education, and advocacy? Can you truly say that your insurance broker is in your corner all year long, not just at renewal time? Visit us at chinsurance.cc to learn how BOOST can transform your benefits program and ensure your team truly understands the value you’re providing them.
Joe Courcy is Asst. Vice President of Group Benefits at CH Insurance. He leads the firm’s BOOST program, which helps small to mid-sized companies design, communicate, and optimize employee benefits that build both trust and retention. Learn more about CH’s 100 Under 100 program and how it helps businesses in Central New York compete for top talent.
