---
title: "Lockton vs Marsh Employee Health Benefits"
description: "Lockton People Solutions publishes quarterly medical-trend research; Marsh McLennan Agency lists stop-loss, captives and actuarial placement services."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/employee-health-benefits"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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[Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/employee-health-benefits)

# Lockton vs Marsh Employee Health Benefits

Lockton People Solutions publishes quarterly medical-trend research; Marsh McLennan Agency lists stop-loss, captives and actuarial placement services.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Lockton and Marsh for Employee Health Benefits against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Lockton’s People Solutions practice designs and places employee benefits around experience, total rewards and measurement, and publishes quarterly U.S. health-plan cost data. Marsh McLennan Agency lists group health, stop-loss, captives, actuarial services and legal-team compliance support for the same line. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance")

## What Is Lockton?

Lockton is a privately held insurance brokerage that arranges commercial risk, employee benefits and retirement programs. US pages describe a technology practice and intermediary placement with insurers, not Lockton as the policy’s insurer. [1](https://global.lockton.com/us/en "Lockton United States") [2](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/technology "Technology") [3](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/terms-of-business "US Terms of Business")

[Lockton profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/lockton)

## What Is Marsh?

Marsh is a global insurance broker and risk advisor. In the United States it places coverage through core Marsh teams and through Marsh McLennan Agency for many middle-market buyers, including technology, cyber, property, casualty and benefits programs. [5](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html "Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments") [6](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf "Compensation guide for US clients") [7](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html "Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)") [8](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html "Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management")

[Marsh profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/marsh)

## What Are Employee Health Benefits?

Employee health benefits help eligible employees pay for medical care through an employer-sponsored plan or arrangement. [10](https://www.cms.gov/files/document/nsa-health-insurance-basics.pdf "Health Insurance Basics") [11](https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/learn-more/ "Health Insurance for Businesses")

## Key Differences in Employee Health Benefits

### Brokerage Practices, Not Underwriting

Lockton People Solutions and Marsh McLennan Agency both design and place employee health programs; both reviewed pages describe brokerage and consulting, not the firm as the benefits underwriter. Lockton groups work into employee experience, total rewards design, and program management and measurement. MMA lists named solutions such as group health, absence/disability/life, voluntary benefits and stop-loss. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance")

### Cost Commentary Versus Named Funding Tools

Lockton publishes a quarterly People Solutions Market Update with U.S. health-plan cost data; the Q3 2026 update reported 2025 medical and pharmacy trend at 7.7% after 8% the prior year. MMA’s reviewed page does not publish that trend series. MMA does name Captive Solutions, stop-loss solutions and actuarial services to measure financial exposure. Lockton’s reviewed page does not name captives or stop-loss as products.

MMA lists group health, absence/disability/life insurance, voluntary benefits and stop-loss solutions for self-funded employers among the programs it helps design and place, alongside non-insurance services like compliance support and pharmacy benefit consulting. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA employee health and benefits page, Our Solutions section; a catalogue of services, not a specific plan's terms..)

### How the Engagement Starts

MMA says consultants assess the business, cross-reference demographics and survey data, and match needs and budget to market plans. Lockton’s reviewed page does not describe that survey-led matching or an online quote. Neither page names the insurers whose plans they place. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance")

## What to Confirm in Employee Health Benefits Quotes

- Ask Lockton how the published 7.7% trend would be used in your renewal model. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions")
- Ask MMA whether stop-loss, a captive or fully insured group medical is the structure it would market. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance")
- Compare Lockton’s three People Solutions workstreams with MMA’s actuarial, pharmacy and legal-compliance services. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance")
- Get medical and stop-loss carrier identities from both. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Lockton People Solutions Employee Benefits Brokerage | Marsh McLennan Agency Employee Health & Benefits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Lockton's People Solutions practice designs and places employee health and benefit programs; the reviewed page describes brokerage and advisory services, not Lockton acting as the benefits underwriter. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: People Solutions page as read 2026-09-23. The page URL for this line moved from the 'employee-benefits' path cited on Lockton's provider record to 'people-solutions'..) | Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) is an employee benefits consulting and brokerage practice: it says it helps translate a client's business goals into a benefits plan, negotiates with carriers, and does not itself insure the plans it places. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA employee health and benefits page..) |
| Issuing Insurer | The page does not name the insurers or carriers whose employee-benefit plans Lockton places for clients. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: People Solutions page checked 2026-09-23..) | The reviewed page does not name a specific health or benefits carrier; MMA describes its role as negotiating with multiple carriers on a client's behalf rather than underwriting plans itself. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: MMA employee health and benefits page as read on 2026-09-23..) |
| Coverage Features | Lockton publishes a quarterly People Solutions Market Update with U.S. health-plan cost data; its Q3 2026 update reported 2025 medical and pharmacy trend at 7.7% year-over-year, following 8% the year before. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: People Solutions page as read 2026-09-23. Cost-trend figures are company-reported market commentary, not a specific client's premium..) | MMA lists group health, absence/disability/life insurance, voluntary benefits and stop-loss solutions for self-funded employers among the programs it helps design and place, alongside non-insurance services like compliance support and pharmacy benefit consulting. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA employee health and benefits page, Our Solutions section; a catalogue of services, not a specific plan's terms..) |
| Risk Services | Lockton describes three service areas for employee benefits clients: employee experience and engagement, total rewards and benefits design, and program management and measurement, aimed at balancing talent attraction and retention against cost control. [4](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions "US People Solutions") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: People Solutions page as read 2026-09-23..) | MMA lists a range of services beyond placement, including actuarial services to measure financial exposure, compliance support and oversight from its legal team, HR technology consulting, and Captive Solutions, an alternative risk tool MMA says limits stop-loss policy volatility for its clients. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA employee health and benefits page, Our Solutions section..) |
| How to Apply | Not described in the reviewed sources. | MMA says its consultants assess a client's business, cross-reference employee demographics and survey data, and match needs and budget to a range of market plans during plan design; the page describes an advisor-led process rather than an online quote. [9](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html "Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: MMA employee health and benefits page, What does an employee benefits consultant do? FAQ..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Lockton vs Marsh](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Are Employee Health Benefits?](https://spot.insure/coverage/employee-health-benefits): Employee health benefits help your team pay for medical care through an employer-sponsored plan or arrangement.
- [Lockton vs Marsh Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/commercial-property)
- [Lockton vs Marsh Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/crime)
- [Lockton vs Marsh Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/cyber)
- [Lockton vs Marsh D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/directors-officers)
- [Lockton vs Marsh Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/employment-practices)
- [Lockton vs Marsh Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/fiduciary)
- [Lockton vs Marsh Surety Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/surety-bonds)
- [Lockton vs Marsh Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/lockton-vs-marsh/workers-compensation)
- [Founder Shield vs Lockton Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-lockton/employee-health-benefits)
- [Founder Shield vs Marsh Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/foundershield-vs-marsh/employee-health-benefits)
- [Gallagher vs Lockton Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-lockton/employee-health-benefits)
- [Gallagher vs Marsh Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/gallagher-vs-marsh/employee-health-benefits)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Lockton Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-lockton/employee-health-benefits)
- [Heffernan Insurance Brokers vs Marsh Employee Health Benefits](https://spot.insure/compare/heffernan-vs-marsh/employee-health-benefits)

## Sources

### Lockton

1. [Lockton United States](https://global.lockton.com/us/en). Lockton; Opening description of independent insurance brokerage for risk, benefits and retirement; Ask an Expert link to contact-us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
2. [Technology](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/technology). Lockton; Industry introduction; cyber liability heading; dedicated technology team; listed services including claims advocacy, contract review, directors and officers liability, and international program design; 24/7 service model. Accessed 2026-09-16.
3. [US Terms of Business](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/terms-of-business). Lockton; Opening entity definition; Surplus Lines; Use of a Particular Insurer; Compensation Disclosure; servicing, claims handling and renewal language in Confidentiality section; Intermediaries. Accessed 2026-09-16.
4. [US People Solutions](https://global.lockton.com/us/en/products-services/people-solutions). Lockton; Introducing Lockton People Solutions; employee experiences, total rewards and benefits, management and measurement; People Solutions Market Update Q3 2026 healthcare cost data. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Marsh

5. [Marsh | Leader in risk, strategy, people, and investments](https://www.marsh.com/en/home.html). Marsh; Hero and capability tiles; FAQ: What does Marsh do?; industries served; Is Marsh the same as Marsh McLennan? January 2026 brand change. Accessed 2026-09-16.
6. [Compensation guide for US clients](https://www.marsh.com/content/dam/marsh/Documents/PDF/US-en/us-client-compensation-guide.pdf). Marsh; US broking segments; broker role; retail commissions, client fees, wholesale, insurer consulting, contingent and supplemental commissions; Marsh LLC and Marsh USA LLC; page 3: broker role and Marsh & McLennan Agency segment; page 7: copyright © 2024 Marsh LLC. Accessed 2026-09-16.
7. [Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA)](https://www.marsh.com/en/services/marsh-mclennan-agency.html). Marsh; Middle-market US organizations; wholly-owned subsidiary; business insurance, employee health and benefits, retirement, private client. Accessed 2026-09-16.
8. [Technology | Insurance Broking & Risk Management](https://www.marsh.com/en/industries/technology.html). Marsh; Opening Technology Practice description; practice links including data center insurance, fintech and Stratus; Talk to us. Accessed 2026-09-16.
9. [Employee Health & Benefits Group Insurance](https://www.marshmma.com/us/services/employee-health-and-benefits.html). Marsh McLennan Agency; Our Solutions list (Absence/Disability/Life, Actuarial Services, Captive Solutions, Compliance Support, Pharmacy Benefit Solutions, Stop Loss Solutions, Voluntary Benefits, Workers' Health 360); FAQs: What are the advantages of working with an employee benefits consulting firm?; What does an employee benefits consultant do?; What are the advantages of a group health insurance plan?. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Employee Health Benefits Guide

10. [Health Insurance Basics](https://www.cms.gov/files/document/nsa-health-insurance-basics.pdf). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; PDF p.1: What is health insurance? What is a health insurance plan?; PDF p.2: Self-Insured Employer Plans vs. Fully-Insured Plans. Accessed 2026-09-16.
11. [Health Insurance for Businesses](https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/learn-more/). HealthCare.gov / CMS; Group health insurance coverage; Health reimbursement arrangements. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

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