Kansas City, Mo. and Seattle – September 05, 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.
SmartConnect's Medicare Intelligence Layer now routes Benepicks employees to licensed agents
Under the deal, Benepicks' platform automatically identifies Medicare-eligible employees and connects them to SmartConnect agents licensed in all 50 states for personalized consultations covering doctors, prescriptions and financial goals. SmartConnect manages enrollment, transition logistics and ongoing policy advocacy, while employees apply their tax-free Benepicks ICHRA allowance toward premiums for the plan they select. "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," said Andrew Lydens, CEO of Benepicks.
Benepicks' 120-plus agent network pairs with SmartConnect's Spring Venture Group backing
Benepicks operates with a network of more than 120 licensed agents delivering digital shopping, payroll integration and year-round member advocacy. SmartConnect is a business unit of Spring Venture Group, which employs 1,100 people across its Medicare distribution brands. Michael Celi, General Manager and SVP of SmartConnect, said the integration "optimizes the employer's benefits strategy while giving employees the ultimate peace of mind." The companies position the alliance as unlocking lower deductibles and richer coverage for transitioning workers while giving HR departments and benefits brokers a dedicated Medicare partner.