Latest news with #IndividualCoverageHealthReimbursementArrangement
Axios
27-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Healthee lands $50M to streamline benefits
Health benefits navigation startup Healthee raised $50 million in Series B funds led by Key1 Capital. Why it matters: This is one of several recent bets on benefits tech, as investors seek AI-native tools for legacy HR pain points. Follow the money: The capital gives Healthee roughly four years of runway, per CEO Guy Benjamin, who says he expects the company will raise again in about three years. Previous investors Fin Capital, Glilot Capital Partners and Group11 joined the raise. How it works: Based in New York City, Healthee uses AI to help employees navigate health and benefits options. A core offering is Zoe, an AI assistant designed to decode dense insurance terms and recommend care options based on personal needs and plan coverage. It can answer questions like "Is this lab in-network?" or "What's left on my deductible?" Customers include Instacart, SiriusXM and Celonis. "We leverage LLM models," says Benjamin. "It's like ChatGPT for benefits." Inside the room: Healthee didn't set out to raise this round, per Benjamin; Key1 approached the company based on its traction. Stunning stat: Half of employees said they wish they were more informed about their company's benefits, per a 2023 MetLife survey. Reality check: While Healthee's growth and backers are strong signals, the health benefits space is crowded — with legacy players and other AI startups vying for employer attention. For example... Thatch, a startup helping employers offer Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) to employees, earlier this month raised $40 million in Series B funds from Index Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, and others. Auxa Health, another benefits navigation startup, last year collected a $5.2 million seed from backers including Zeal Capital Partners and AlleyCorp. The bottom line: Investors are betting that AI-powered simplicity can power better benefits navigation, but company success will depend on sustained user engagement and measurable outcomes.
Chicago Tribune
12-03-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Porter County commissioners dole out latest round of opioid settlement funds to nonprofits
Five Porter County entities will receive a portion of this year's $125,000 in Opioid Settlement money. The county's Opioid Settlement Funds Committee began taking applications for the awards in January and made its recommendations to the Porter County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Tuesday morning. Commissioner Barb Regnitz, R-Center, explained it was agreed five recipients would be selected so as not to create an undue burden in the process. Duneland Schools will receive $10,000 for student education and prevention, as well as developing a diversion program for students who have been affected by the crisis. Moraine House, Portage Recovery Association, and Three20 Recovery will each receive $25,000. Moraine House will use the money for house repairs and remodeling. Three20 Recovery will use the money for music, art, fitness, nutrition and faith initiatives to 'continue to try to remove barriers and meet people where they're at,' said executive director Allen Grecula. Similarly, the Portage Recovery Association will use the money to flesh out a variety of all-inclusive services at its new facility. 'To give them all of these tools to go forward is beyond amazing,' said director Jake Monhaut. The Caring Place will receive $40,000 to aid its women's recovery program. Porter County will receive approximately $336,000 per year between 2022 and 2038. The county sets aside $200,000 of that to pay the salaries and benefits of the two social workers at the Porter County Sheriff's Department. After the five annual awards, a small balance remains in reserve. The state's opioid settlement and litigation page on states that at the height of the opioid crisis in 2012, 112 opioid prescriptions were being written for every 100 Hoosiers. In other business, the commissioners gave General Insurance Services permission for its advisory panel to explore the possibility of the county adopting an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICRA) for the 1,100 to 1,200 employees and dependants that it insures. GIS Employee Benefits Advisor Candace Arvin explained to the commission that there are long lead times for implementation of any changes and now is a good time to simply understand what else is available in terms of employee health insurance. Regnitz said the switch this year to a health savings account-based plan for employees was already a big shift for the county and it should do nothing more than explore at this point. Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, told Arvin, 'You've got to figure out how to get more aggressive with our plan because it's only going to get more expensive.' Regnitz praised GIS for keeping the county's health insurance cost increases below industry averages. 'But they have another gear, Barb,' Biggs insisted.
