Episode 37: Andrew Scott, Senior Director of Health, Equity, and Wellbeing at Willis Towers Watson

What if the biggest problem with employee benefits isn't a lack of options, but too many disconnected solutions? In Episode 37 of Digital Health Heavyweights, Norm Volsky sits down with Andrew Scott, Senior Director of Health, Equity, and Wellbeing at Willis Towers Watson (WTW), to explore why offering more employee benefits doesn't necessarily lead to better healthcare outcomes and what employers can do to make their existing benefits more effective. Drawing from his experience leading population health at Goldman Sachs, Andrew shares how even world-class benefits can fall short when employees struggle to find, understand, or use them in their everyday lives. The challenge isn't always the quality of the benefits themselves. It's whether those benefits are accessible, relevant, and connected to what employees actually need. Andrew explains how the paradox of choice, fragmented healthcare solutions, and disconnected vendor ecosystems can make navigating benefits more complicated than it needs to be. He also discusses how personalization, better timing, and smarter use of healthcare data can help employers identify unmet needs and connect employees with the right resources before problems become more serious. But improving engagement isn't just about increasing awareness. It's about understanding the individual, recognizing when they need support, and making the next step easier. As Andrew puts it: “Most employers they don't have a benefits problem. What they have is a fragmentation problem.” The conversation also explores how employers should evaluate healthcare vendors, why traditional ROI doesn't always capture the full value of a solution, and what a more connected, personalized benefits experience could look like. In this episode, you'll uncover: 🏢 Why even world-class employee benefits can fail to improve healthcare outcomes 🧩 How fragmented benefits ecosystems create unnecessary complexity for employers and employees 🤔 Why the paradox of choice can make more healthcare options less effective 🎯 How personalization, relevance, and timing influence employee engagement 📊 How healthcare data can help identify unmet needs and support earlier interventions 🤝 What employers should look for in benefits partners beyond their sales pitches 🔍 Why vendors need to demonstrate where they fit into the broader member journey 📈 Why measuring healthcare value requires looking beyond traditional ROI and engagement metrics 🔮 How connected benefits ecosystems could reshape the future of employer healthcare About Andrew Scott: Andrew Scott is the Senior Director of Health, Equity, and Wellbeing at Willis Towers Watson (WTW), where he focuses on helping employers develop more effective health and wellbeing strategies. Previously, Andrew led population health initiatives at Goldman Sachs, gaining firsthand experience in the challenges of driving employee engagement and improving health outcomes, even within organizations offering comprehensive benefits. His passion for healthcare began with the loss of his grandfather to complications from diabetes, an experience that shaped his commitment to chronic disease prevention and empowering individuals to take greater control of their health. Through his work, Andrew advocates for more personalized, connected, and accessible healthcare experiences that help employees make informed decisions and receive meaningful support when they need it most. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Andrew Scott and Digital Health Heavyweights 01:13 Andrew's Personal Story and What Inspired His Healthcare Career 02:56 Lessons from Leading Population Health at Goldman Sachs 05:37 Why Employees Need Relevant Healthcare Support at the Right Time 07:38 The Paradox of Choice in Employee Benefits 08:05 What Makes a Great Benefits Partner in a Crowded Market 10:02 Competition Within Benefits and the Broader Healthcare System 12:09 Why Employers Need Less Fragmentation, Not More Solutions 13:30 How Employee Benefits Are Becoming Like Cable and Streaming Bundles 16:32 What Actually Drives Employee Engagement and Benefits Utilization 18:38 Using Healthcare Data to Identify Unmet Needs Before a Crisis 21:28 How Consultants Separate Strong Vendors from Sales Pitches 24:26 The Most Important Vendor Question: Where Do You Fit in the Member Journey? 27:10 What Workforce Data Reveals About Healthcare Risk and Spending 28:02 Strategies for Employers Facing Rising Healthcare Costs 30:40 Why ROI Alone Doesn't Capture the Full Value of Healthcare 31:49 Andrew's Biggest Hot Take on Employer Benefits Strategy 33:14 Why Personalization Is the Future of Employee Benefits 34:41 Andrew's Personal Approach to Health, Fitness, and Stress Management 36:10 Reading, Nutrition, and Healthy Habits at Home 37:38 Closing Thoughts Follow, connect and subscribe: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcast Youtube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweights Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast