Bridging the gap between ICHRA and Medicare: Two industry leaders combine tax-free health allowances and zero-cost advocacy to combat rising healthcare costs for the aging workforce. 

• The Problem: Standard ICHRA platforms lack Medicare integration, leaving aging workers to navigate complex transitions alone while HR teams face administrative gridlock.
• The Solution: SmartConnect’s “Medicare Intelligence Layer” is now embedded into Benepicks’ human-centered ICHRA platform, providing real-time, licensed agent support.
• The Impact: Employees unlock zero-cost Medicare advocacy, lower deductibles, and richer coverage, while organizations eliminate HR headaches and average a 15% reduction in healthcare spending according to recent data.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. and SEATTLE, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SmartConnect and Benepicks today announced a nationwide partnership to eliminate one of the most critical friction points of ICHRA platforms: the Medicare transition for 65+ employees.

As rising healthcare costs accelerate employer adoption of ICHRAs, a major structural gap has emerged. Many platforms are built for individual Marketplace insurance, leaving Medicare-eligible employees to navigate complex decisions on their own. This gap often results in costly healthcare mistakes for workers, administrative paralysis for HR departments, and client friction for benefits brokers and ICHRA administrators.

This partnership bridges the gap by embedding SmartConnect’s dedicated “Medicare Intelligence Layer” directly into Benepicks’ human-centered ICHRA platform.

“The old way is broken,” said Andrew Lydens, CEO of Benepicks. “Handing a 65-year-old a stack of Medicare mail and a deadline is a poor way to thank someone for twenty years of work. Now every Medicare-eligible employee gets a real person to call and tax-free dollars that help pay for the plan they choose.”

Medicare-eligible employees on the Benepicks platform are now seamlessly introduced to SmartConnect’s purpose-built ecosystem. Employees receive personalized, unbiased Medicare consultations from agents licensed in all 50 states. Consultations evaluate each individual’s specific doctors, prescriptions, and financial goals.

With broad visibility across Medicare plan options, SmartConnect handles the enrollment details, transition logistics, and ongoing lifetime policy advocacy, ensuring the employee feels supported from day one and has a Medicare partner for life. Employees can then use their tax-free Benepicks ICHRA allowance toward their selected plan premiums and HR has a trusted partner for this complex topic.

The alliance combines two health benefit heavyweights with deep national reach who expect to transform the healthcare transition experience for thousands of aging workers while securing predictable, optimized costs for their employers.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be trailblazing the intersection of Medicare and ICHRA alongside Benepicks,” said Michael Celi, General Manager & SVP of SmartConnect. “By integrating our Medicare solution directly with Benepicks’ innovative experience, we are delivering a market-leading solution that optimizes the employer’s benefits strategy while giving employees the ultimate peace of mind.”

Beyond operational ease, the financial benefits are substantial. Transitioning 65+ employees to tailored Medicare plans via an ICHRA allowance routinely unlocks lower deductibles and richer coverage for workers.

Enterprise leaders and HR Directors seeking to optimize healthcare spend can learn more by visiting Benepicks.com. Employee benefits brokers, TPAs, and organizations looking to incorporate Medicare guidance into their offerings can connect at SmartConnectPlan.com.

About SmartConnect
SmartConnect Medicare Business Solutions is responsible for managing and executing dedicated Medicare support across thousands of corporate partnerships. As a business unit of Spring Venture Group, they provide industry-leading Medicare education and enrollment solutions. As a broader organization, Spring Venture Group operates across multiple brands with 1,100 employees and stands as a national leader in Medicare distribution.

About Benepicks
Benepicks is a modern ICHRA technology platform built on a human-first service model. Powered by a dedicated network of 120+ licensed agents, Benepicks combines intuitive digital shopping, automated payroll integrations, live webinars, and ancillary benefit support with year-round member advocacy. With built-in Medicare eligibility detection and agent routing, Benepicks delivers flexible, high-touch health reimbursement solutions for forward-thinking employers nationwide.

Media Contacts:
SmartConnect Media Relations: businessdevelopment@smartmatch.com 
Benepicks Media Relations: media@benepicks.com 

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SOURCE SmartConnect Medicare Business Solutions