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The Annual

Employee Health Care Conference - Chicago

Engagement, Cost Control, Outcomes . . . can you have it all?

SEPTEMBER 24 - 25, 2026

MARRIOTT MARQUIS CHICAGO, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Learn more about becoming a sponsor 

Engagement, Cost Control, Outcomes . . . can you have it all?

For over two decades, the Employee Health Care Conference has grown into the premier event for employers and vendors dedicated to redefining their health and benefits strategy.  Year after year, this event delivers "world-class" employer case studies that will inspire, educate, and empower you to transform your employee health care programs. 

Current Agenda

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

04:00 PM - 06:00 PM CT

Early Registration Hospitality Suite & Cocktail Reception
Join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, pick up your conference materials early and network with fellow attendees and vendors. H … More

Thursday, September 24, 2026

07:30 AM - 08:00 AM CT

Continental Breakfast
Continental breakfast.

07:30 AM - 05:00 PM CT

Conference Registration
Conference registration.

08:00 AM - 08:25 AM CT

Welcome and Opening Remarks
Welcome and opening remarks.

08:25 AM - 08:55 AM CT

Priority Paralysis in Modern Benefit Strategy: How Employers A…
The struggles of designing an affordable, well utilized and well-liked benefit strategy are not new. … More

09:10 AM - 09:50 AM CT

Beyond Traditional: Real-World Success with Non-Conventional P…
After several years of near double-digit health cost growth, it’s time for employers to look beyond … More

10:05 AM - 10:30 AM CT

Refreshment Break
Refreshment break.

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Fertility Benefits: Why Design Matters More Than Coverage
As fertility and family-building benefits expand, many employers are asking a harder question: not whether to offer these benefits … More

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Benefit Leaders Weigh In: Metabolic Health Strategies for Toda…
HR and benefits leaders are feeling the pressure to lower costs, improve outcomes, and support a hea … More

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Keep Calm and Adhere On: Smarter Medication Management for Hea…
To rein in skyrocketing costs, benefits leaders need to focus on heart health. Cardiovascular diseas … More

10:30 AM - 11:10 AM CT

Why Workforce Agility Depends on Mental Health Infrastructure
Organizations are under pressure to adapt quickly—to economic shifts, AI, workforce change, and global disruption. Yet adaptabilit … More

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

The Clinical Front Door: Transforming Cardiometabolic Outcomes
Traditional lifestyle programs are falling short as obesity and chronic disease costs climb. Attend and discover how a clinical-fi … More

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Unmet Needs, Untapped Potential
Over a billion people worldwide live with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurodivergent conditions, yet most workplaces offer o … More

11:25 AM - 12:05 PM CT

Reducing Frontline Safety Risk Through Mental Health Support
Frontline work involves inherent physical and psychological safety risks—accidents, injuries, long or irregular hours, and exposur … More

12:05 PM - 01:05 PM CT

Luncheon
Luncheon.

01:05 PM - 01:45 PM CT

Future-Proofing Benefits: Why the New Majority Requires a New …
It’s expected that Millennials and Gen Z combined will make up more than 58% of the total workforce … More

02:15 PM - 02:55 PM CT

Designing Cancer Care for a Distributed Workforce: How Genuine…
Cancer is a leading cost driver—and for employers with mixed workforces spanning field workers, hour … More

02:15 PM - 02:55 PM CT

Beyond the Leave: Rewrite the Mental Health LOA Playbook
A recent study found that 74% of respondents reported an increase in employee requests for leaves of absence or accommodations for … More

02:15 PM - 02:55 PM CT

The Shift to Flexibility: Reimagining Employee Benefits for Im…
Today’s workforce expects personalized benefits but delivering that impact can feel overwhelming wit … More

02:15 PM - 02:55 PM CT

How Koch Lowered Health Care Costs by Empowering Members with …
In 2025, Koch Industries piloted a health plan in Georgia that flipped the traditional model of how … More

02:55 PM - 03:25 PM CT

Refreshment Break
Refreshment break.

03:25 PM - 04:05 PM CT

The New Specialty COE: High-Touch, Low-Friction Care for Compl…
Specialty conditions like Crohn’s, MS, and rheumatoid arthritis impact less than 2% of employees but … More

03:25 PM - 04:05 PM CT

The Role of Financial Care for Employee Health, Wellbeing, and…
Employers have long understood the value of a mentally and physically healthy workforce. Now they re … More

03:25 PM - 04:05 PM CT

The Science of Personalizing Population Health
Traditional population health models rely on averages. But employees aren’t averages—they're individuals with unique biology. This … More

04:20 PM - 05:00 PM CT

Turning Scale Into Savings: How Bank of America Gets Ahead of …
As health care costs rise, relying on lagging claims data is a structural disadvantage most employer … More

05:00 PM - 06:00 PM CT

Cocktail Reception
Cocktail reception.

Friday, September 25, 2026

08:00 AM - 08:30 AM CT

Continental Breakfast
Continental breakfast.

08:30 AM - 09:10 AM CT

Total Rewards Reimagined: Engagement, Cost Control, and Outcom…
Organizations face a persistent tension: how do you drive employee engagement and measurable health … More

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

How 3M Leverages Value-Based Specialty Care to Defy Cost Trends
In this session, learn how 3M has spent the past six years re-engineering its approach to specialty care through value-based care. … More

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Replacing Group Health Insurance with ICHRA: The Path to Cost …
Learn how a large company, after facing double-digit renewals and limited employee choice, transitio … More

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Financial Health and Your Company's Bottom Line
For global workforces, financial stress is driving costly impact across employee health, productivity, and retention. With 88% of … More

09:25 AM - 10:05 AM CT

Checking Every Box: How the Atlanta Police Department is Redef…
Like many first responders, the approximately 1,800 sworn officers of the Atlanta Police Department … More

10:15 AM - 10:55 AM CT

Reactivating Preventive Care: An Employer Case Study in Access…
Despite widespread coverage, preventive care utilization remains low across employer populations. Th … More

10:15 AM - 10:55 AM CT

Stop Losing Employees at Open Enrollment — AI Is Changing the …
Open enrollment is often the first and most important touchpoint in an employee?s health care journe … More

10:15 AM - 10:55 AM CT

PBM Transition Playbook: Leading a Benefits Transformation
Successful pharmacy benefits transitions are about partnership as much as they are processes. Drawing on a large employer?s real-w … More

10:55 AM - 11:20 AM CT

Refreshment Break
Refreshment break.

11:20 AM - 12:00 PM CT

MSK Is Not an Economic Problem – It’s a Clinical Resolution Pr…
Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions remain the #1 driver of employer health care spend, yet costs conti … More

12:10 PM - 12:20 PM CT

Conference Wrap-Up & Prizes
Recapping key conference topics and themes, this wrap-up session will bring major conference takeaways to life, providing you with … More
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Learn more about becoming a sponsor

What Participants Say

I always bring back so much knowledge that I can utilize to my organization! — Victoria G. , American Medical Association

The content is so practical and applicable. Its real-world takeaways that we can immediately take back and work on. — Danel E. , Gardant

Marriott Marquis Chicago

2121 South Prairie Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60616

Phone: (312) 824-0500

RESERVE YOUR ROOM

Hotel Cutoff Date: August 31, 2026

Discounted Rate: $379.00

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Pricing varies per event, please check our website for specific pricing for each event. Most events also offer special Member-discounted pricing for our Members.

  • When registering for an event, you will be able to apply your membership discount during checkout.

  • Please reach out to our Customer Service team at +1 212 339 0345.

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Employee Health Care Conference - Chicago

Engagement, Cost Control, Outcomes . . . can you have it all?

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