MTADA INSURANCE TRUST NAVIGATING THE NOISE Why I Do What I Do (and Why You Might Want to Care) By Jacquelyn Gomes, Principal and Owner, Canalise Consulting Let’s be honest: No one’s flipping open this magazine thinking, “Finally — an article about health insurance!” I get it. Benefits aren’t flashy. They’re not fun. And most of the time, they feel like something we just have to deal with. But here’s the reality: If you’re running a business in 2025, your benefits strategy is more important than ever — and more expensive, too. Healthcare costs are rising at some of the fastest rates we’ve seen in a decade. Employers are feeling it in their premiums. Employees are feeling it in their paychecks, deductibles and prescription costs. And no one — on either side — really thinks they’re getting their money’s worth. And yet ... benefits still matter. They’re part of how you attract talent. They’re part of how you show employees they’re valued. And when done right, they’re one of the few investments that support both your business and your people. But let’s be real: Building a plan that actually works — for your budget, your employees, your retention and your sanity — takes more than checking a renewal box once a year. That’s where I come in. A QUICK INTRODUCTION (AND A CONFESSION) My name is Jacquelyn Gomes. I’m an independent insurance consultant, a business owner and a full-blown health insurance nerd. And no — I didn’t grow up dreaming about this career, either. My path into the industry started back in 2006 when my husband and I moved back to Montana. After working in auto sales and finance before the move, he had one request: anything but dealership hours. Just find a regular 8-to-5 job. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana called first, and I started in customer service — answering phones, talking to members and learning the hard way how confusing and overwhelming insurance can be when you’re on the other end of a claim or diagnosis. But something clicked. I loved figuring it out. I loved translating the jargon. I loved helping people actually understand what their plan covered and how to use it. Fast forward a few years (okay — more than a few), and I’ve now spent most of my career working with self-funded employers, associations and complex group plans across Montana. I went out on my own because I wanted to do this work my way — with less sales pressure, more listening and a lot more hands-on support. FULL CIRCLE: FROM DEALERSHIP FLOORS TO DEALER BENEFITS My relationship with the Montana Automobile Dealers Association Group Benefits Trust goes back quite a few years — through several iterations. I first worked with MTADA from the carrier side when I was at BCBSMT as their account executive. Let me tell you — if you want to sharpen your negotiation skills quickly, try sitting across the table from a group of auto dealers. They definitely kept me on my toes. 48 MONTANA AUTO DEALER
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