By Jason Coon
March is synonymous with excitement, basketball, and the rush of March Madness – the annual college basketball tournament that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. But beyond buzzer-beaters and brackets, March is also a time when some organizations decide on their health and wellness strategy for 2026. Others are prepping for a July 2025 deadline and making adjustments for the upcoming open enrollment season.
As this season of change unfolds, why not seize the opportunity to reassess and evaluate your health plan? Just as sports teams adjust their strategies to stay competitive, it’s similarly important for us to adapt our health strategies to stay on top of the evolving legal landscape, learn about innovative Catholic solutions, and ensure you’ve incorporated CBA protections for our Catholic Identity into your plan.
Reviewing Your Health Plans and Protections: A Strategic Approach
Health plan compliance is an ongoing game, and it’s easy to get caught up in the routine. Much like watching a basketball team go through the motions without considering changes in play, we might neglect to reassess our health plan needs until something goes wrong.
Here’s how to use the “March Madness” spirit – and the Lenten season – to make a strategy to prioritize creating a truly Catholic health plan:
- Review Your Health Plan Benefits, Exclusions, and Silent Coverages
Just as sports teams set goals at the beginning of the season, it’s important to regularly review what’s in your health plan. You might have set a goal of reviewing your plans, but perhaps it’s been some time since you’ve reviewed them using a Catholic approach.
- How long has it been since your organization has evaluated the Catholic experience of your plan? Are there benefits that are misaligned with the faith?
- Is your plan protected from today’s health care mandates?
- Are there silent coverages or exclusions not mentioned in your plan? Did you know there is some risk associated with this?
- How does your plan approach whole-person care (mind, body, and soul) and authentic Catholic health care (aligned with Catholic teaching)?
March is the perfect time to review: analyze these questions, and make the necessary adjustments. Need help? Call a time-out and call in CBA – an MVP in Catholic health plans.
2. Schedule a Health Plan Check-up
Just like coaches review stats and game film to prevent future losses, it’s important to regularly assess your health through a check-up and screening. Did you know that CBA offers:
- Free Catholic check-ups or health plan screenings
- A health plan score (Moral Compliance Score)
- CBA legal protections review
Taking charge of your plan “preventative” health is one of the most proactive steps you can take, ensuring your plan is in top form for the rest of the year.
Our free member roadmap is an easy tool for identifying areas of concern and includes recommended plan language changes to further align your plan with our faith and the mission of your organization. What a great way to amp up your offense this season!
3. Strengthen Your Defense
There’s no shortage of opinions and analysis on the strategies used in college basketball these days, but one of the oldest debates is: “Does defense wins championships?”
While you might have an opinion on the role of defense in basketball, what we do know is that a strong defense is necessary in a court of law. This is no different for Catholic employers. When was the last time your organization reviewed its defensive strategy?
Did you know that there are many layers of defending your organization from a health plan perspective? Some questions to ask to enhance your defense:
- What type of health plan do you have? Self-funded? Fully Insured?
- Are you a church plan or ERISA?
- Are there stronger protections if the plan is overseen by federal versus the state laws?
- Did you know the CBA is a line of defense?
CBA can provide you with a strategic evaluation of your current line of defense and help you strategize for a stronger, more protective strategy. Check out this helpful GUIDE as a quick next step.
4. A Health and Wellness Bench
Undoubtedly, the success of the greatest teams in the tournament this year will look to their bench for contributions. A productive bench provides fresh legs and unique scoring and defensive skills. A productive bench requires a strategy of its own. Who will replace who and for how long? What value will the bench player bring?
As you review your health plan strategy, don’t forget about some wonderful value-added, Catholic solutions in the marketplace today:
- My Catholic Doctor – for convenient urgent care and Catholic health and wellness services.
- CMF Curo’s new HOPE Program – HOPE empowers your employees to achieve their Best Health and be transformed by Christ’s healing love for them.
- Utilize your local Catholic clinics who are focused on a Catholic model of care.
- Don’t forget about fitness – Check out Hypuro Fit and Fit Catholic Mom!
Taking care of your employees and their families can include organizations focused on a Catholic way of life. These organizations are wonderful players that can make a significant contribution to your strategy today.
Conclusion: Your March Health Game Plan
As March Madness captivates you with its basketball drama, let it inspire you to take a moment to reassess your health and wellness strategy. Whether it’s setting new goals, doing a health plan check-up, updating your benefits, or boosting your plan experience by adding value from the bench, this month is the perfect time to bench the status quo and make your health plan review a slam dunk!
So, as the madness unfolds on the court, be sure to also check in on your health plan’s fitness, make adjustments where necessary, and set yourself and your organization up for a successful, healthy, and more Catholic rest of the year.