Why More Healthcare Data Won't Lower Your Costs (And What Actually Will)

By Jacob Davis , CEO, Weltrio

The healthcare industry has never collected more data — and costs have never climbed faster. Aon projects another 9.5% jump in 2026, the third straight year near double digits. If more dashboards and smarter algorithms were the fix, we’d have fixed it by now.

Here’s my honest take, after years in tech and now running Weltrio: data isn’t the bottleneck. Action is. The expensive claims are largely predictable — Aon finds more than half of high-cost claimants are. What’s missing is getting people to change behavior before the claim ever forms, and that’s a human problem, not a software one. The employers who actually bend the curve aren’t the ones with the most analytics. They’re the ones who turn data into engagement.

So why does the data-first mindset keep letting benefits leaders down — and what works instead? Four things I’d push every employer and broker to rethink.

We don’t have a data problem. We have an action problem.

Every vendor in this space sells analytics. That’s table stakes now, not a differentiator. Data only earns its keep when it changes what a member actually does. Aon reports that 5% of members drive about 60% of spend, and Mercer ranks managing those high-cost claimants as employers’ number-one priority. The gap isn’t insight — it’s the last mile: turning a risk flag into a phone call, a plan, and a new habit.

AI is being oversold to employers

I say this as someone who loves what AI can do: in healthcare, it’s being oversold. Real personalization needs petabytes of data the industry doesn’t have yet, so a lot of tools are generalizing and, frankly, faking it. AI absolutely amplifies a great coach — it can make them ten times more effective. What it can’t do is manufacture empathy, and empathy is what gets a hesitant member to act. Be skeptical of any product that promises to replace the relationship.

Engagement is a trust problem, and trust is human

In my experience, engagement in typical wellness programs sits in the single digits. People don’t enter their data, and they don’t trust where it goes. We get past 90% not with a slicker app, but with coaches who start without shame, set small goals collaboratively, reach out first, and earn trust over time. It’s unglamorous work — and it’s the entire ballgame.

The next five years: own your data, act before the claim

My honest vision: everyone gets a DNA test and a full blood panel, understands their markers, and changes behavior long before a claim. And your health data should be yours — to see, to share, and to take back. Today you can’t even see what an underwriter knows about you when they price your plan. I’m skeptical of “monetizing” that data; what I care about is ownership and transparency. Fix that, and pre-claim stops being a buzzword and starts being how care works.

The bottom line

If your health plan is still managed from the rearview mirror, that’s the conversation worth having. We broke down the full discussion on Behind the Premium. And if you want to see what pre-claim analytics plus human coaching looks like in practice, reach out to our team at Weltrio.

Watch the full episode.

Partnership Disclosure: Benefits 3.0 is part of the Behind the Premium network, produced in partnership with Weltrio. This is a promotional collaboration, not a paid sponsorship. Co-host Jacob Davis is the CEO of Weltrio. Disclosed in accordance with FTC guidelines.

Disclaimer: The content shared on this series, part of the Behind the Premium network, is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. Discussions of employee benefits, health plans, insurance, coverage, claims, costs, and related topics are general in nature and are not financial, insurance, tax, legal, or benefits-planning advice, and should not be relied upon for any specific decision. Benefit plans, coverage options, pricing, and applicable regulations vary by individual, employer, and location, and change over time. Engaging with this content does not create a professional, advisory, broker-client, agent, or fiduciary relationship of any kind. Always consult a licensed insurance broker, benefits advisor, attorney, tax professional, or other qualified expert before making decisions about your benefits, coverage, or finances. Statements made by hosts, guests, and panelists — including any who are owners, employees, or representatives of a partner company — are their own. You are solely responsible for any decisions or actions you take based on this content. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the hosts, guests, panelists, and Behind the Premium disclaim any and all liability arising from your use of or reliance on this content.