5 questions employers should ask during a mid-year benefits checkup
A mid-year benefits checkup is a good opportunity to look at your plan with fresh eyes and make sure it’s still doing its job.
For small and mid-sized employers, this doesn’t need to be complicated. It’s about asking the right questions before renewal season, so you can better understand what’s changed, what employees are using, and what may need attention.
Here are five questions employers should ask as part of a mid-year benefits checkup.
1. What are your claims trends telling you?
Start with the data. Where are employees using the plan most? Prescription drugs? Dental? Paramedical services? Mental health supports? Disability?
The answer can help you see what employees value and where the plan is working hardest.
Prescription drug claims are one area to review closely. A recent report on cost drivers in public and private drug plans found that private drug plan expenditures increased eight per cent in 2024, following a 12.9 per cent increase in 2023. The report also found that changes in the types of medications being used continued to influence drug plan costs.
For smaller businesses, changes in drug claims can show up more clearly in the overall cost of the plan.
The goal is to understand where claims are changing, what may be driving those changes, and what options are available before renewal. This is exactly the kind of insight a mid-year benefits checkup is meant to surface.
2. Do employees understand what they already have?
A benefits plan works best when employees know what’s available and how to use it.
Does your team know how to access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)? Are they aware of virtual care, mental health resources, or their Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) or Wellness Spending Account (WSA)? Do they know where to find plan details when they need them?
Before adding something new, take a closer look at whether employees understand what they already have. Plain-language communication that explains what’s covered, how to submit a claim, and where to go for help can go a long way, and it’s a natural focus area for a mid-year benefits checkup.
3. Is the plan easy to use when employees need support?
Mental health continues to be a major workplace issue in Canada.
A recent report found that 39 per cent of Canadian employees report feeling burnt out, up from 35 per cent in 2023. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety also offers a workplace mental health toolkit to help employers build healthier, more supportive workplaces.
When someone on your team needs help, is it clear where they should start? Look at your mental health coverage, EAP, disability support, and manager resources.
Are employees clear on where to go? Are the coverage limits still useful? Do managers know how to direct someone to the right support?
Small improvements in access and communication can make the plan easier for employees to use and easier for employers to manage, another good reason a mid-year benefits checkup is worth the time.
4. Does the plan still fit your workforce?
Your team may look different than it did when your plan was first designed.
You may have more employees with young families, more caring for aging parents, more thinking about retirement, or more employees looking for support with financial stress.
A recent survey found more than 84 per cent of Canadian employers say they’re worried about employees’ mental health and financial stress from economic stability. The same survey found that 86 per cent believe businesses should offer benefits that help reduce employees’ financial stress.
The answer may be a better fit rather than a bigger budget. That could mean clearer communication, a health spending account, a different cost-sharing approach, stronger support in high-use areas, or a plan design that better reflects your team today.
5. What can you address before renewal season?
A mid-year benefits checkup gives employers time to make informed decisions before renewal season.
That timing is helpful. Statistics Canada reported that the Consumer Price Index rose 3.2 per cent year over year in May 2026, while food purchased from stores rose 4.3 per cent. At the same time, average hourly wages increased 3.0 per cent year over year in May 2026.
Employees are watching household costs. Employers are watching business costs. A mid-year benefits checkup gives you a clearer picture of what’s being used, what employees value, and where the plan may need attention before renewal.
Let’s build a plan around your people
A mid-year benefits checkup can help you understand what’s working, what employees are using, and where your plan may need attention before renewal season.
We’ll help you review your current plan, identify opportunities, and build a benefits strategy that supports your employees’ well-being, improves engagement, and brings greater clarity to your benefits spend.
Connect with your Westland Benefits advisor to book a mid-year benefits checkup and strategy session.
