Dive Into Wellbeing | Q4 2026

Don’t Leave Wellness Dollars on the Table: Leveraging Carrier Funds for Wellbeing Success

As the year comes to a close, employers have a unique opportunity to maximize the value of both their current and future carrier resources. This means not only identifying and utilizing any remaining 2026 wellness funds before they expire but also incorporating 2027 wellness funding discussions into this year’s renewal conversations.

One often-overlooked opportunity? Carrier wellness funding.

Each year, employers leave available dollars unspent simply because funding opportunities are not identified early enough or integrated into benefits planning. At the same time, renewal season presents an ideal opportunity to explore available funding, wellness resources, and partnership opportunities that can support 2027 initiatives. When strategically leveraged, carrier funding can help enhance employee wellbeing programs, increase engagement, improve benefits utilization, and support workforce objectives, often without requiring additional budget allocation.

Why It Matters

Carrier wellness funding can help offset the cost of initiatives, including but not limited to:

• Health screenings and preventive care campaigns
• Wellbeing challenges and employee engagement programs
• Mental health and resilience initiatives
• Educational seminars and wellness events
• Chronic condition management programs
• Employee communications and incentive campaigns

Note: The most successful organizations don’t wait until funding deadlines approach. They proactively incorporate carrier-sponsored opportunities into their annual wellbeing and benefits planning process.

Three Questions to Ask Before Year-End:

• Have all available 2026 carrier wellness funds been identified and utilized before they expire?
• Have you discussed available 2027 funding opportunities and resources with your carrier partners?
• Are carrier-funded initiatives aligned with your organization’s workforce and wellbeing priorities?

2027 Wellbeing Strategy Planning Checklist

To help guide your planning efforts, we’ve created a practical executive checklist designed for HR and Benefits leaders. Download the checklist using the form below.

From Funding to Strategic Impact

Leading organizations use carrier wellness funding to support larger objectives such as improving employee experiences, managing healthcare costs, increasing benefits engagement, and strengthening workforce performance.

By maximizing available 2026 dollars and securing support for 2027 during renewal discussions, employers can create a more sustainable approach to wellbeing while extending the value of their benefits investment.

Looking Ahead

As you plan for 2027, now is the time to align wellbeing priorities, carrier resources, and strategic investments. Taking a proactive approach helps ensure available funding is fully utilized today while positioning your organization to take advantage of future opportunities.

Need Support with Your 2027 Wellbeing Strategy?

EPIC’s Wellbeing & Health Management team helps organizations identify available carrier funding opportunities, prioritize investments, and build wellbeing strategies that support both employee health and organizational performance. Working closely with clients and carrier partners, we help ensure available resources are leveraged effectively and aligned with long-term business objectives.