Episode #346
Your Employer Picks Your Health Plan. Mike Markland Wants to Change That
Most employees never choose the health plan their employer buys for them. Mike Markland believes that model is ready for a rethink. In this episode of the Colorado Business Podcast, Mike shares the personal healthcare experience that pushed him into employee benefits, the numbers that convinced him to leave a traditional brokerage, and why employer-funded individual coverage may give workers more control over how they use their benefits. Mike and the hosts unpack ICHRA, now discussed in the episode as CHOICE Arrangements, the incentives built into group health insurance, direct primary care, the role of consumer choice, and the pressure rising costs place on employers and employees. The conversation also moves into building ATMA PMF, hiring people who default to action, systems over goals, personal responsibility, and the standards Mike learned through sports and family. Specific savings figures and healthcare-system claims discussed in the episode reflect the guest's experience and perspective. Results and plan suitability vary by employer, employee, market, and coverage design. FEATURED GUEST Mike Markland Founder, ATMA PMF Website: https://atmapmf.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 The health plan choice most employees never get 00:52 Colorado Business Podcast intro 01:01 Meet Mike Markland of ATMA PMF 07:19 Climbing Kilimanjaro and pushing through the summit 12:16 The health experience that changed Mike's direction 16:18 How employer-funded individual coverage works 19:02 Diamond sponsor read 22:56 Why Mike left to build ATMA PMF 25:44 Who carries the rising cost of health insurance 32:20 What healthcare can learn from unbundling cable 36:20 Direct primary care and access beyond insurance 40:38 What changes for employers and employees 43:15 Opting out of the traditional group model 45:19 The pressure building across American healthcare 48:14 Why the policy has bipartisan momentum 49:17 Bellwether sponsor read 52:29 Industry pushback and employee responsibility 57:29 Using AI to help employees choose coverage 58:10 Building the company and hiring for action 64:30 Books, mentors, and systems over goals 73:20 Responsibility, agency, and changing yourself first 79:45 What football taught Mike about standards 83:24 Where to find Mike and ATMA PMF 83:54 Outro SPONSORS Diamond sponsor read: EXCO Advisors: https://excoadvisors.com/ LINE-X of Colorado Springs: https://linexcoloradosprings.com/ RAIN: https://rain.tech/ Savion HQ: https://savionhq.com/ Data Hubz: https://datahubz.com/ Reveal Med Spas: https://revealmedspas.com/ Awesome Home Services: https://awesomeservice.com/ Dream Accounting Solutions: https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Exponential Impact: https://exponentialimpact.com/ Standard sponsor read: Bellwether Homes: https://bellwetherhomes.com/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://pioneerrodeo.com/tickets/ Lightning Glassworks and Screens: https://fastglassrepair.com/ Bright Leaf Energy: https://brightleafenergy.co/ Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: https://planetduct.com/ FASTSIGNS: https://fastsigns.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: https://pinnacleapc.com/ ABOUT THE COLORADO BUSINESS PODCAST The Colorado Business Podcast features entrepreneurs, founders, builders, and leaders shaping Colorado's business community. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coloradobusinesspodcast Explore more episodes: https://coloradobusinesspodcast.com/ If your employer gave you a benefits budget instead of one group plan, what would matter most in your choice? Share your answer in the comments. #ColoradoBusinessPodcast #MikeMarkland #EmployeeBenefits
