Discover why offering transparent pharmacy benefits through a modern PBM is no longer optional, it’s a powerful strategy for retaining top talent, especially in hybrid and remote workplaces.
Table of contents
- Why employee retention is a business imperative #employee-retention
- The hidden power of pharmacy benefits #hidden-power
- What makes a PBM “Transparent”? #pbm-transparent
- How transparent PBMs improve employee experience #employee-experience
- Competitive advantage in remote & hybrid work environments #remote-hybrid-work-environments
- Pharmacy Benefits as a retention lever for HR and brokers #hr-brokers
- Conclusion: Transparent PBMs are the future of employee retention #future-employee-retention
- Key Takeaways #key-takeaways
Why pharmacy benefits are a make-or-break factor in retention
In today’s workforce, offering a competitive salary is no longer enough to keep employees loyal and satisfied. Job seekers and current employees are placing increasing importance on their total benefits package especially healthcare. One often overlooked component? Pharmacy benefits.
Yet, for millions of employees, managing prescriptions can still mean high out-of-pocket costs, surprise denials, or confusion over formularies. These pain points don’t just frustrate your workforce, they can push your top performers to look elsewhere.
In fact, a Glassdoor survey found that 63% of job seekers say benefits are a top factor in deciding whether to accept a job offer.¹ In a climate where skilled professionals have more choices than ever, especially with the rise of remote work, transparent, high-impact pharmacy benefits are becoming a strategic necessity.
That’s where transparent Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) come in. A modern, transparent PBM helps employers take control of prescription costs while enhancing the employee experience making your benefits package a powerful tool for attracting and retaining talent in 2025.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- Why employee retention is more critical (and more challenging) than ever
- How transparent PBMs support HR teams and brokers
- The connection between Rx benefits and long-term employee loyalty
- What makes a PBM truly transparent and how it affects your workforce
Let’s dig into why employers and brokers alike need to rethink pharmacy benefits as a core retention strategy.
Why employee retention is a business imperative
Keeping your best employees has never been more important or more expensive. When a talented worker walks out the door, the cost to replace them goes far beyond recruiting fees. It includes lost productivity, training expenses, cultural disruption, and time. According to a Forbes article, replacing a single employee earning $45,000 per year costs employers an average of $15,000 or about 33% of that employee’s annual salary. ²
Multiply that across departments or even a single team, and you’ll quickly see why retention is a strategic priority, not just an HR metric. For small to mid-sized businesses especially, high turnover can stunt growth, drain resources, and impact morale across the organization.
The lasting effects of the great resignation
The urgency around retention has only intensified since the rise of the Great Resignation, a historic wave of voluntary employee departures that began in early 2021. Triggered by pandemic burnout, changing workplace expectations, and a growing demand for flexibility and well-being, the trend shook industries from healthcare and tech to retail and hospitality.
Over 47 million Americans quit their jobs in 2021 alone and the aftershocks are still being felt. While the labor market has stabilized in some sectors, the pressure to retain skilled, high-performing employees remains sky-high. Workers are increasingly willing to leave roles that don’t align with their values, goals, or lifestyle needs.
The role of benefits especially pharmacy benefits
So, what helps employees stay? More than ever, benefits are shaping the decision to stay or go. Health insurance, paid leave, mental health support, and retirement plans are all high on the list, but pharmacy benefits are often the most directly felt by employees and their families.
Prescription medications are a part of daily life for millions. When employees face confusing formularies, high copays, or medication denials, it creates frustration and financial stress, two major drivers of dissatisfaction. On the flip side, a well-designed, transparent pharmacy benefit signals that the company genuinely cares about employee well-being.
The takeaway for HR leaders and brokers? Pharmacy benefits are no longer a back-office function they’re a frontline strategy for engagement, retention, and loyalty.
The hidden power of pharmacy benefits
For many employers, pharmacy benefits seem like just another line item in the healthcare budget. But for employees, these benefits are personal. Whether it’s managing a chronic condition, caring for a family member, or accessing treatment after a diagnosis, pharmacy benefits touch people’s lives in ways few other benefits do.
Yet despite their importance, pharmacy benefits are often a source of frustration rather than relief. Employees don’t see the cost in their paycheck but they feel it when:
- They’re hit with unexpected out-of-pocket expenses at the pharmacy counter
- They face confusing formularies that change frequently or deny access to preferred medications
- They deal with delays in medication approvals that affect their health and peace of mind
These friction points create a cycle of dissatisfaction and can negatively affect overall employee well-being. When employees don’t understand or trust their pharmacy benefits, they begin to question the value of their entire compensation package.
Transparent PBMs flip the script
This is where a transparent Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) becomes a game changer. Unlike traditional PBMs that may profit from hidden fees and rebate schemes, transparent PBMs like Intercept Rx focus on clarity, cost savings, and simplicity.
They’re built to align with the employer’s and the employee’s best interests by:
- Reducing unnecessary costs
- Improving medication access
- Offering predictable, user-friendly experiences
- Removing the “fine print” confusion that plagues many plans
In short, transparent PBMs restore trust in a system that has long felt opaque and impersonal. And when employees feel supported, especially in something as critical as their health, they’re far more likely to stay.
➡️ Want to learn how to evaluate PBMs more effectively?
Check out our guide: How to Choose the Best Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) for Your Company in 2025
What makes a PBM “Transparent”?
The term “transparent PBM” gets used often but not all PBMs live up to the title. In a landscape where hidden fees, rebate traps, and complex contracts are far too common, true transparency stands out as a critical differentiator. It’s also one of the most powerful tools employers can use to build a benefits package that earns employee trust.
So, what actually defines a transparent Pharmacy Benefit Manager?
1. No hidden fees or rebate hoarding
Traditional PBMs often retain a percentage of manufacturer rebates, inflate drug prices, or add undisclosed fees into contracts. These practices create misaligned incentives and make it nearly impossible for employers to understand where their money is going.
Transparent PBMs take a different approach:
✅ They pass through 100% of rebates and negotiate pricing directly in the employer’s interest.
✅ No surprises, no side deals, just honest pricing that leads to real savings.
2. Real-time data and claims visibility
With legacy PBMs, employers often receive delayed, partial reports that obscure what’s actually happening in their pharmacy spend. Transparent PBMs offer real-time data access, so you can see:
- Which medications are being used
- What they cost
- How those costs impact your bottom line
This level of visibility empowers HR teams, brokers, and finance leaders to make smarter, faster decisions.
3. Aligned incentives
When a PBM is transparent, it means their success is tied to yours. They’re not profiting from driving up drug costs or withholding rebates. Instead, they’re focused on:
- Helping members access the medications they need
- Ensuring employers control their pharmacy spend
- Creating a win-win structure for long-term value
4. Predictable pricing for employers and members
Transparent PBMs remove the guesswork from both sides of the table. Employers know what they’re spending, and employees know what they’ll pay. No sticker shock at the pharmacy counter. No confusing tiers or benefit cliffs.
Predictability isn’t just convenient it’s essential for trust and satisfaction.
5. Seamless support for employees
A truly transparent PBM doesn’t stop at pricing and data. It also includes dedicated support for members, helping them navigate prior authorizations, find the lowest-cost alternatives, and get prescriptions delivered quickly.
This human-first approach doesn’t just improve medication adherence it improves the entire employee experience.
Together, these principles redefine what a PBM can and should be. For employers, they offer cost control and confidence. For employees, they deliver peace of mind and that’s a retention strategy with real staying power.
How Transparent PBMs improve employee experience
Attracting and retaining top talent isn’t just about offering the highest salary it’s about building trust, meeting employees’ everyday needs, and reducing the stress that comes with managing their health. That’s where transparent PBMs like Intercept Rx deliver meaningful impact.
Pharmacy benefits are often the most frequently used part of a health plan. From chronic medications to acute prescriptions, employees rely on quick, affordable access to treatments. When the process is frustrating or expensive, it erodes confidence not just in the benefit itself, but in the employer that provides it.
Intercept Rx’s Rx Optimization Program: Designed for people, not profit
Intercept Rx’s Rx Optimization Program is specifically built to simplify the pharmacy experience while lowering costs for both employers and employees. Key features include:
- ✅ $0 copays for members on many medications
- 🚚 Free home delivery of prescriptions, eliminating the need for pharmacy runs
- 📲 Easy access to support, status updates, and refill management
These features are more than just convenient they remove financial and logistical barriers that often prevent people from staying on their medications. And that contributes directly to better health outcomes, higher satisfaction, and stronger retention.
Advocacy that builds loyalty
Transparent PBMs understand that healthcare is deeply personal. That’s why Intercept Rx offers a dedicated member advocacy team that goes beyond customer service. From navigating prior authorizations to explaining formularies and coverage, advocates work one-on-one with members to solve problems quickly and with empathy.
This human-centered approach fosters real trust between employee and employer. It shows that the company isn’t just offering a benefit it’s investing in the well-being of its people.
“Sometimes what our members need most isn’t just a medication it’s someone to guide them through the process. That’s what we do here every day.” – Pharmacist at Intercept Rx
Why it matters for retention
When employees feel supported and cared for, they’re more likely to stay. According to the 2024 Employee Benefits Trends Study, 88% of employees consider health benefits when choosing a job, and 66% say benefits are a deciding factor in staying.³
These numbers make it clear: pharmacy benefits aren’t optional they’re strategic. By making the process stress-free, affordable, and member-first, transparent PBMs like Intercept Rx help employers build the kind of benefits culture that keeps people engaged and loyal.
Competitive advantage in remote & hybrid work environments
In today’s workplace, flexibility is an expectation. Millions of employees now work from home full-time or in hybrid roles, and companies that want to stay competitive must design benefit programs that reflect this new reality. That includes pharmacy benefits, which are often built for a time when every employee commuted to the office and to the local pharmacy.
Remote employees face unique pharmacy challenges
Traditional pharmacy plans assume employees can walk into a nearby pharmacy, wait in line, and pick up their medications without disruption. But for remote employees, especially those in rural or underserved areas, that assumption can create unnecessary stress and delay.
Common challenges include:
- Limited access to in-person pharmacy locations
- Long travel times or transportation issues
- Lack of real-time digital support
- Delays caused by manual prior authorizations or unclear formularies
These small but persistent obstacles impact health, morale, and loyalty especially for employees managing ongoing health conditions from home.
Transparent PBMs streamline the experience
Modern, transparent PBMs are built to support distributed teams. They eliminate many of the pain points remote workers face by offering:
- Free mail-order delivery that ensures prescriptions arrive at employees’ doors, no matter where they live
- Digital-first tools for refill management, claims tracking, and support
- Proactive communication and member advocacy to prevent disruptions
With Intercept Rx’s Rx Optimization Program, for example, remote employees enjoy $0 copays, easy access to medication, and concierge-style support, all without needing to leave home. That’s not just convenient it’s a retention advantage in a competitive job market.
Remote-friendly pharmacy benefits boost employer brand
When your benefits meet employees where they are it sends a powerful message: “We see you. We support you. And we’ve designed this plan with your life in mind.”
For HR teams and brokers, this approach enhances your company’s brand as a flexible, people-first employer. It also increases engagement across remote and hybrid teams, ensuring that no matter where your employees are working, they feel valued and taken care of.
➡️ Want to go deeper?
Explore our guide: Pharmacy Benefits for Remote Workers in 2025: What Employers Need to Know
Pharmacy Benefits as a retention lever for HR and brokers
While salary and career growth still matter, today’s workforce is looking for something more: support, trust, and meaningful benefits. As HR teams and benefits brokers rethink how to retain top talent in a competitive landscape, one area that often goes underutilized is the pharmacy benefit.
It’s time to change that.
A strategic tool for HR teams
For HR professionals, pharmacy benefits are often viewed through a cost lens but they’re also a powerful cultural and engagement tool. When employees face constant roadblocks accessing their medications, it reflects poorly on the entire HR operation. Conversely, smooth, supportive, transparent pharmacy benefits enhance the employee experience and position the company as a caring, responsive employer.
Switching to a transparent PBM, like Intercept Rx, can dramatically improve outcomes by:
- Reducing employee complaints about high costs or confusing policies
- Offering easy-to-understand plans with predictable pricing
- Delivering $0 copays, home delivery, and member advocacy that employees appreciate
- Giving HR leaders clear insights into pharmacy spend and performance metrics
Transparent PBMs make HR’s job easier by aligning the benefit with the needs of the workforce and that drives real retention.
A differentiator for brokers
For brokers, transparency is a competitive advantage. Offering clients a PBM that’s not only cost-efficient but also retention-focused allows brokers to:
- Strengthen client relationships by offering higher-value solutions
- Demonstrate how benefits can impact both the bottom line and employee loyalty
- Position themselves as strategic advisors, not just benefits administrators
When brokers introduce clients to a transparent PBM like Intercept Rx, they’re not just improving pharmacy savings, they’re delivering a benefit that keeps employees healthier, happier, and more loyal.
The bottom line: Retention starts with better benefits
Transparent PBMs have the power to transform pharmacy benefits from a compliance issue into a retention lever. For HR leaders and brokers alike, that means more than savings it means creating a workplace that employees are proud to be part of, and reluctant to leave.
Conclusion: Transparent PBMs are the future of employee retention
In today’s talent-driven economy, the companies that win aren’t just the ones offering the biggest salaries, they’re the ones offering the most meaningful support. That support starts with healthcare, and at the heart of healthcare is a benefit employees rely on every single day: pharmacy coverage.
Unfortunately, for too long, pharmacy benefits have been clouded by complexity, hidden costs, and misaligned incentives. But transparent Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are rewriting that story, making it easier for employers to save money, and easier for employees to access the care they need.
Transparent PBMs like Intercept Rx are delivering healthcare that works, not just on paper, but in real life. And the payoff is clear: healthier, happier employees who are more likely to stay.
In a world where top talent can work from anywhere, companies that offer transparent, flexible, and compassionate pharmacy benefits will stand out. Not just as employers of choice but as employers of trust.
Ready to rethink your Pharmacy Benefits?
If you’re an HR leader, benefits manager, or broker looking to improve retention, control costs, and provide real value to your workforce, it’s time to take a closer look at what Intercept Rx can offer.
Explore Intercept Rx’s transparent PBM model and Rx Optimization Program today and start building the kind of benefit package your employees won’t want to leave.
Visit intercept.health to learn more.
Key Takeaways: How Transparent PBMs drive employee retention
- Employee retention is a growing challenge in today’s hybrid and remote work environments especially with rising turnover costs averaging $15,000 per departure.
- Transparent Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are emerging as a strategic advantage for HR teams and brokers focused on long-term talent retention.
- Pharmacy benefits have a direct impact on employee satisfaction, yet many traditional PBMs create confusion, high out-of-pocket costs, and limited access to medications.
- Transparent PBMs like Intercept Rx eliminate hidden fees, pass through 100% of rebates, and offer real-time data visibility to help employers better manage costs and improve employee experience.
- With features like $0 copays, free home delivery, and dedicated member advocacy, transparent PBMs reduce stress and support better health outcomes for employees.
- According to a Glassdoor study, 63% of job seekers say benefits are a top factor when deciding whether to accept a job offer making competitive pharmacy benefits essential for talent acquisition and retention.
- Transparent PBMs empower remote and hybrid teams by delivering flexible, mail-order pharmacy services that adapt to today’s work-from-anywhere culture.
For brokers, recommending a transparent PBM like Intercept Rx positions them as a strategic advisor, helping clients not only save on pharmacy costs but also retain their top performers.
