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Risk in Context Podcast: Optimising health and benefits programmes across private equity portfolios

Listen to Marsh specialists discuss why private equity firms should consider portfolio-wide health and benefits programmes and share some actions PE firms can take to implement these programmes.

12/05/2026 · 2 minute read

As healthcare costs continue to surge, private equity (PE) firms managing diverse portfolios have the opportunity to mitigate the impact by adopting portfolio-wide health and benefits strategies. Portfolio-wide programmes enable PE firms to harness the scale of their portfolio to rein in escalating expenses and enhance employee retention and recruitment across their investments.

But for portfolio-wide programmes to achieve their intended results, they need to go beyond one-size-fits-all solutions and instead focus on tailoring coverage, claims management, and resiliency efforts to the unique needs of each portfolio company. Early and rigorous diligence is critical, enabling sponsors to uncover hidden optimisation opportunities and embed them into financial models and transition plans, setting the stage for stronger exits.

In this episode of Risk in Context, Alex Ackermann, Marsh's Private Equity and M&A Services Practice Leader for North America, speaks with Katherine Gensheimer, Chief Client Officer for Marsh's North America Private Equity and M&A business, and Tom Shea, Senior Principal and Health and Benefits Consultant at Mercer. They discuss why PE firms should consider portfolio-wide health and benefits programmes and provide actionable steps to implementing these strategies effectively.

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Key takeaways

Rising healthcare costs demand proactive management

With healthcare spending reaching its highest increase in 15 years and projected to continue rising, organisations must actively manage funding structures, plan designs, pharmacy benefits, high-cost claimants, and more to mitigate financial impact.

Early diligence identifies optimisation opportunities

Integrating health and benefits considerations during the due diligence phase enables sponsors to uncover cost-saving opportunities up front, incorporate them into financial models, and build effective transition plans that support successful exits.

Data-driven stewardship maximises value creation

Ongoing analytics and stewardship reporting allow PE firms to monitor healthcare spend, identify outliers early, and implement corrective actions, helping to maintain control over costs and maximise portfolio value.

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