After laying off over 2000 employees in 2025, we were notified in an all hands meeting near the end of November that they were done with cuts "for the rest of the year." During an IT All Hands meeting in December, Brian announced that we should expect a 25-40% reduction in staff due to AI implementation (which they strongly pushed on everyone).
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Expect cuts in the IT department. AI promises = Offshore mask. IT leadership will toot the ho-n of AI, while controlling costs with offshore. Perception is AI is saving, but reality is more jobs are moved out of the US. Need to get rid of these con man leaders.
@esr yes, there was. In February. I was "displaced" along with my leader a (VP) and his leader ( a Sr. VP). Both had over 30 years with the company. The cuts started in late 2024. There were big rounds in May 25, Aug 25, October 25, and Jan/Feb 26. I got a good package and was less than a year from retiring, so it didn't su-k for me.
@2wv i believe you ,but Pat G stood there and said he personally picked Brian and "knew right away he was the right person to lead" Hard to tell what is the truth these days.
Brian took CareFirst down to bare bones due to a potential merger, after he had overextended CF financially with his hairbrained multi million dollar renovation of office space and taking on new office space that NO ONE WORKS IN! Merger fell through now new CEO will come in and clean up Brian's mess. Good luck FL.
One of his monthly cringe emails:
All GuideWell Team Members
As part of our last AI-Employee Town Hall, I had the chance to connect on campus with colleagues who were volunteering in support of this year’s Employee Giving Campaign. Seeing more than 200 team members step forward to serve was inspiring and reflected the shared purpose and intention that define us at GuideWell.
What I saw was the best of who we are: our team rolling up your sleeves and making someone else’s day a little brighter. That’s the culture we’re building here: service, compassion, and possibility put into motion.
As our Employee Giving Campaign continues, I encourage each of you to participate in a way that reflects what this campaign means to you. For some, that’s financial giving. For others, it’s dedicating time and energy through volunteerism. And for many of us, it may very well be both — showing up with our resources and our presence, fully invested in the communities we serve. Every contribution, every volunteer hour, every act of service creates real impact for people and communities who need it.
We’re not just a company that operates in communities — as individuals, we’re a part of them. And it goes beyond an annual campaign. It’s a year-round commitment and a key part of what makes us GuideWell. When we show up together, we send a message about who we are and what we value. That’s what Unite and Serve looks like in action
This week, Future Ready showed up in two ways: in how we’re working inside the company, and in real progress across the industry.
What I’m hearing from you
Earlier this week, I sat down for a conversation about what I’m seeing from 30,000 feet and our momentum as a company. Your questions and feedback shaped the discussion.
• Thank you to Human Resources for submitting questions for this conversation.
• Their questions got to the heart of what employees are wondering – how AI is changing their work, and what it means to use technology in service of real people.
• I encourage you to watch it and keep the questions coming.
Moving the industry
We have a health care system where it can take 17 years to move clinical evidence into practice, and where 25 to 30% of care delivered is, at best, ineffective and, at worst, harmful.
• Prior authorization did not create that problem, but it has become one of its most visible symptoms.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and AHIP released a report this week sharing measurable results on the prior authorization commitments that health plans across the industry made last summer.
• Across participating plans, 11% of prior authorizations have been eliminated – representing 6.5 million fewer prior authorizations for patients.
• That matters. And it’s the first step toward eliminating the barriers that stand between people and the care they need.
GuideWell – Florida Blue and Triple-S – signed on immediately last summer. And over the past year, we’ve been doing the work: focusing on the first of the three industry commitments while driving our own efforts to reduce prior authorizations, simplify requirements, and strengthen how we communicate with and support our members.
• One example: Triple-S has trained nearly 70 nurses in intentional listening and empathetic communication – not scripts, but real skill-building – to improve how members experience prior authorization calls.
• That’s what it looks like when you start with the person, not the process.
The progress is real, but so is the underlying problem. Most clinicians are doing their best in a system that doesn’t get them the right information at the right time. That’s what we’re working to change.
• AI can help close that gap by bringing evidence and patient context together at the point of care, in real time.
• In that future, prior authorization doesn’t just get faster, it becomes less necessary. That’s the system we’re building toward.
The thread between these two things – showing up differently inside our company in how we work, how we treat each other, and how we make decisions – and showing up differently in the industry are not separate efforts. They’re the same commitment, applied in different rooms.
Future Ready is a practice. And this week, the practice is visible.
More to come.
Brian
Seems like an absolute travesty to go from Pat Geraghty to this clown. P.G spoke with conviction and empathy, his messages meant something and he truly put people first, B.P does not.
Thomas Kuntz (GuideWell Board of directors) needs to remove him asap.
@gnc . I was hired 27 years ago. Pension was gone long ago.
@czv Anyone hired since 20teens doesn't get a pension or retirement healthcare anyway. Nothing to lose really.
@e5f I worked there 40 years ago expecting health insurance from the ins company I worked for. But they cut that option for retirees. I was part of the buyout and the COBRA for me & spouse was $2500 a month.
They set up a HRA and all you get is 1500 for not of us if we take a CF product. That’s barely a quarter of the premiums. That’s the thanks i get for giving the company 40 loyal hardworking years.
Original post reported an announced "25-40% reduction in staff" back in Dec. Did anything ever come of that? I haven't seen/heard anything about cuts that big from my contacts at FL Blue.
@d2x CareFirst retiree here. When CF offered the voluntary separation package in 2025, here’s what was offered:
For under 65, a one time opportunity to get $4000 for the former employee and $2000 for the spouse toward a CareFirst plan on the Exchange. That is it. Coverage similar to the group plan I had (CareFirst Open Access PPO) would cost me $33K annually and after the stipend $27K until Medicare.
Used to be if you had 10+ years of service and age 55 or over, you got the group coverage for life. BP took that away.
Good luck in Florida. He is the worst. Talks a great game bug in the end it is all about his public image and external optics.
@cz - “he is a snake oil salesman, knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk. It's all BS!”
Sounds like his IT hire.
@d2x CareFirst retirees were NOT grandfathered in for retiree healthcare benefits. For those under 65, they have to go to the market place to purchase their healthcare. Those of us over 65, had to go through Medicare.gov to find and pay for a medicare supplemental, plus look for and pay for Dr-g, Dental and Vision plans. Currently, CareFirst is providing retirees a $1500 HRA ($1000 for retiree and $500 for spouse) per year to help subsidize these premiums, deductibles ONLY if you select a CareFirst MedPlus Supplemental plan (which is a much higher premium than other MedPlus plans offered in MD). I'm sure that $1500 HRA will be the next to go in a year or 2.
@czv when they cut the retiree healthcare, did you lose your healthcare benefits too (or were you grandfathered in) ? Just curious as I know many who retired prior to the benefit cut. I just retired in the January VSP wave and am so happy to be rid of that toxic environment.
@czv Mark your calendars! October 1 is one year after abandoning CareFirst ... pretty sure the typical anti-poaching agreement is one-year. Wait till he pulls his buddies over to Florida Blue!
@OP Brian destroyed CareFirst of Maryland in 7 - 8 years. We are a Not for Profit company, so no stock involved. I know this is not helpful, but GET OUT OF THE FLORIDA PLAN ASAP. If you survive the multiple downsizing, and reorganizations, your benefits will start being taken away from you, i.e. earned PTO, pension, retirement healthcare. As others have said, he is a snake oil salesman, knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk. It's all BS! Tenure means nothing to him and will force out anyone who understands the inner workings of the organization. My words are not vindictive or out of hate. As someone with 40+ years at CareFirst, I experienced many changes over the years, but no one brought down the organization like Brian did. I don't know if it was on purpose to position the organization for a takeover or sheer stupidity. Luckily, I retired several years ago and took my pension lump sum. I hope those in Florida will be able to do the same.
@740 This is 100% true.
I feel bad saying this, but he's your problem now! Brian will smile to your face and stab you in the back.
@740 'tis true. He lists his worthless online degree on his linkedin page. Total dodo bird.
@bg he bought it for 2.something million and sold it for 6 million when he ran off to Florida after ruining CareFirst BCBS of MD. Guy is a snake oil salesman. On 2nd thought, snake oil is actually more useful than what this con man is selling.
No wonder his previous companies stock plummeted.
Looks like this guy jumped ship right before it started sinking. Sounds like he’s bringing same toolset here. Buckle up.
Just sat through a call with the new guy … God help us
Looks like he’s bringing in another 🍪 to amp up the AI hype and send jobs overseas to make the hype look real.
Never seen one man (CULT) take down a whole company , Brian did and blinded so many with his 🍪🍪🍪🍪show! Ask anyone who was there for the last 5 to 10 years. I can’t believe that the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is su-ked in by his Kool-Aid! He actually instructed to delete everything that was BCBSMD history. There is / was nothing left after his tenor. Good luck 😢 His inclusiveness consisted of majority shaking staff .. Don’t drink his water! All his collaborations and partnerships 👎👎👎 His first power stroke was to take every corporate credit card from every top senior executive and ask to hold on to his 4 sizes too small jacket tails!
@2wv Word on the street was he had no college degree coming into CareFirst and in order to ascend to CEO of CareFirst, he had to earn a degree which was supposed to be from the online school of Southern New Hampshire University. If true. SNHU’s most successful alum!
Thanks for sharing the Zillow post of the property sale.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1412-Gerber-Ln-Sparks-Glencoe-MD-21152/67863849_zpid/?view=public
Speaking from a CareFirst perspective, it is concerning BP spoke so often of inequities among socio-economic groups, yet lived in a far from modest palatial estate and from this appearance, did not practice what we heard over several years. BP has a definite gift for conversation and influence so it is no surprise.
Has he sprung the “Week of Equity and Inclusion” at Guidewell for 2026 yet? If so, just remember the image of the Maryland property as you hear the spiel!
Good luck.
This is the house he just sold in MD!
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1412-Gerber-Ln-Sparks-Glencoe-MD-21152/67863849_zpid/?view=public
He has no care or concern for the employees!
Good luck under his leadership. He destroyed his previous company. Go look at all the comments on here for CareFirst BCBS. He is a great talker but all the words that come out are worthless swirl. He lacks leadership skills and has no concept on how to run a business effectively.
@a1 hey, we should all be expected to make sacrifices for the good of the enterprise and prioritize the business over individual gains….says the guy living in a $1.5 million mansion whose job isn’t remotely under threat.
"Exciting!" Isn't that the word that every manager uses when announcing something?