employee_benefits

St. Louis – September 22, 2026 -- The Gateway Business Health Coalition (Gateway BHC), which represents roughly 70 employers nationwide including Fortune 500 companies and public sector organizations, has partnered with Rezilient Health to expand employer access to a hybrid primary care model.

Gateway BHC members gain same-day access to Rezilient's hybrid CloudClinic model

The partnership pairs Rezilient's same-day primary and urgent care with specialty consults and care navigation, aiming to reduce total healthcare spending for self-funded employers. Rezilient's CloudClinic format combines an in-person clinical medic with a provider joining remotely via secure video, supported by connected diagnostic devices for physical exams, labs and basic imaging during the same visit.

Easton, Pa. – September 19, 2026 -- David Wolff of Kressler Wolff & Miller has laid out a benefits strategy for small businesses competing against larger employers with bigger budgets, in a feature published by HelloNation titled "Creating a Competitive Benefits Package for Small Businesses."

The article argues that a competitive employee benefits package does not depend on matching corporate spending levels but on aligning offerings with what workers actually value, including health insurance, retirement savings, and wellness support.

Wolff recommends tiered health plans to balance cost and coverage

The feature outlines tiered health insurance plans, high-deductible options paired with health savings accounts, and network structures designed to contain premium costs while preserving reliable access to care. Transparency about how a plan functions is presented as equally important to employees as the generosity of the coverage itself.

Pittsburgh – September 12, 2026 -- PNC Bank has launched PNC Workplace Advantage, a workplace banking program targeting employers with 100 or more employees that seeks to boost benefits offerings without adding administrative burden.

PNC ties premium banking tier to workplace direct deposit enrollment

Employees who open a qualifying PNC checking account and set up a qualifying direct deposit method through their employer will be invited to enroll in PNC TotalRewards Silver Tier, a benefit level typically reserved for customers holding at least $25,000 in deposits and investments. The program provides banking rewards, personalized guidance from dedicated financial wellness professionals, virtual or onsite banking access, and financial education through live seminars and on-demand digital resources.

Kansas City, Mo. and Seattle – September 06, 2026 -- SmartConnect Medicare Business Solutions and Benepicks have launched a nationwide partnership that embeds Medicare guidance directly into Benepicks' ICHRA platform, with employers averaging a 15% reduction in healthcare spending, according to recent data cited by the companies.

Standard ICHRA platforms leave 65-plus employees without Medicare support, companies say

Most individual coverage HRA (ICHRA) platforms are built for Marketplace insurance shopping, leaving Medicare-eligible workers to navigate enrollment deadlines and plan selection alone. The gap has produced costly errors for employees, administrative bottlenecks for HR teams, and friction for benefits brokers as employer adoption of ICHRAs accelerates amid rising healthcare costs.