Everything you want
to know about
benefits savings.

We are compensated by the carrier or PEO you ultimately choose — only after you have locked in a lower rate. This is the same commission structure used across the insurance industry, but unlike traditional brokers whose incentive is to renew you at the highest rate, our incentive is entirely aligned with finding you the lowest possible cost. You pay nothing directly to Aether Benefits, ever.

No — there is absolutely no obligation. We present your options clearly and give you our honest recommendation. If your current plan turns out to be genuinely competitive after we shop the market, we will tell you that. The decision is always yours, with no pressure and no cost if you stay where you are.

We work with businesses of all sizes — from solo founders offering benefits for the first time to companies with several hundred employees. We have specialized programs for businesses under 9 employees (PremiumCut), and PEO negotiation services that work best for companies with 10 to 500 employees. Our benefit specialists will recommend the right approach for your specific situation.

Yes. Aether Benefits operates under Easy Growth Consulting LLC and works with licensed benefit professionals to provide brokerage services in California and nationwide. All recommendations are made by licensed professionals who are legally obligated to act in your best interest.

Health insurance premiums include built-in broker commissions paid as a percentage of your premium — meaning everyone in the chain earns more when your premium is higher. Without competitive pressure from multiple carriers, there is no incentive for anyone to lower your rate at renewal. Most small businesses renew the same plan year after year without ever shopping the market, which means they pay more than necessary every single year.

Our benefit professionals have helped businesses save an average of up to $5,000 per employee per year. Savings vary depending on your current plan, company size, industry, and workforce profile. Companies currently on standard fully-insured carrier plans and those who have not shopped the market recently tend to see the largest savings. Businesses with fewer than 9 employees may qualify for our PremiumCut program, which can deliver some of the most significant savings available to small teams.

None. There is no consultation fee, no retainer, no success fee, and no invoice of any kind from Aether Benefits. The only cost to you is 20 minutes for an initial conversation. Our compensation comes from the carrier or PEO after you have confirmed your lower rate.

A Professional Employer Organization (PEO) pools employees from many small businesses together to access large-group health insurance rates. Because the PEO represents thousands of employees collectively, it can negotiate significantly lower premiums than any individual small business could alone. PEOs often also bundle HR administration, payroll, and compliance support. Aether Benefits negotiates PEO terms on your behalf to ensure you get the best available rate.

PremiumCut by Aether Benefits is a custom-structured group coverage solution designed specifically for businesses with fewer than 9 employees. Standard small group plans are often priced unfavorably for very small teams. PremiumCut uses alternative structuring to access significantly lower premiums for qualifying groups. Contact us to find out if your business qualifies — it takes about five minutes to determine eligibility.

Covered California for Small Business (CCSB) is a state-regulated health insurance marketplace for California businesses with 1 to 100 employees. Because carriers must compete on the marketplace, rates are regulated and often lower than direct-to-carrier plans. Employees can choose their own carrier and plan, and small employers may qualify for federal tax credits. Aether Benefits evaluates whether CCSB is the right fit for your company as part of every consultation.

Yes — if a direct carrier arrangement is the most competitive option for your company, we will recommend it. Major carriers like Kaiser Permanente, Cigna, Anthem, and Blue Shield are all part of the competitive quoting process. The goal is to find the best combination of cost and coverage for your workforce, whether that means staying with a familiar carrier or moving to a PEO or alternative structure.

The initial consultation takes about 20 minutes. From there, our team typically takes 1 to 2 weeks to gather quotes from multiple carriers and PEOs and prepare your comparison. The full process from first conversation to implementation is usually 3 to 6 weeks, depending on your renewal date and the complexity of your workforce. We recommend starting at least 60 days before your benefits renewal date to ensure the maximum number of options.

The earlier the better — ideally 90 to 120 days before renewal. Starting early gives us time to shop more options, negotiate better terms, and handle any complications without timeline pressure. That said, we have helped companies transition even with as little as 30 days before renewal. If your renewal is coming up soon, reach out now rather than waiting.

Our partners manage the transition and open enrollment process to minimize disruption. In most cases, employees receive clear communication about their new plan options, complete a straightforward enrollment process, and experience no gap in coverage. The goal is a seamless transition that employees barely notice — except potentially for lower payroll deductions.

Very little to start. For the initial consultation we only need your company name, approximate headcount, current carrier if you have one, and your upcoming renewal date. If you decide to move forward, we will request a current benefits summary and census data (employee ages and zip codes) to get accurate quotes. We handle the rest.