Three Questions Every Benefits Tech Leader Should Be Asking About 2026
As we head into 2026, I've been thinking a lot about the conversations I'm having with clients and partners across the benefits ecosystem. The market isn't just changing—it's being reshaped by two powerful forces: relentless cost pressure and significant legislative uncertainty.
For those of us building, selling, or investing in benefits technology, this isn't a time for incremental tweaks. It's time to ask fundamental questions about our strategy. Based on what I'm seeing, three questions stand out as the most critical for the year ahead.
1. Is Your Platform a Cost-Saver or Just Another Line Item?
This is for leaders at Ben Admin platforms, decision support tools, and digital health solutions.
The numbers are impossible to ignore. Employers are facing health benefit cost increases of 6.7% to 9% in 2026, pushing the average cost per employee over the $18,500 mark. This isn't just a budget challenge; it's a C-suite-level crisis.
For years, the value proposition of benefits technology was about digitizing enrollment and creating a better user experience. That's now table stakes. In 2026, employers will be scrutinizing every dollar, and the winning platforms will be those that can prove, with data, that they actively lower costs.
So, the question is no longer, "Is your platform easy to use?" but rather, "Does your platform guide employees to more efficient plans? Does it reduce unnecessary ER visits through better engagement? Does it connect to solutions that deliver better outcomes for less money?"
If your answer isn't a clear and confident "yes," you risk being seen as just another expense in an increasingly expensive system.
2. Is Your ICHRA Strategy Ready for the Spotlight?
This is for ICHRA platforms, carriers, and brokers.
The legislative whiplash in Washington D.C. around the expiring ACA subsidies has created a lot of noise. But if you listen closely, you can hear a clear signal: the momentum behind defined contribution health benefits is real and growing.
With the individual market facing potential disruption, employers are looking for stability and cost predictability. The leading legislative proposals all point toward an expanded role for Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs). This is no longer a niche product; it's rapidly becoming a mainstream strategy.
But as I noted in a previous post, the success of ICHRA hinges on making individual enrollment simple and intuitive. This is where the opportunity lies.
For ICHRA platforms: Your moment is now. The platforms that win will be those that offer a frictionless, end-to-end experience for both employers and employees. How easy is it to transition from a group plan? How seamless is your integration with payroll?
For carriers and brokers: Your role is evolving. Carriers that build strong partnerships with ICHRA platforms will open up a powerful new distribution channel. Brokers who embrace these tools will become indispensable advisors in a complex market.
In 2026, having an ICHRA solution won't be enough. The winners will be those who have made it simple, scalable, and broker-friendly.
3. Is Your Partnership Strategy Built on APIs or Spreadsheets?
This is for everyone: HCMs, Ben Admin platforms, carriers, and technology vendors.
Both of the trends above lead to one simple conclusion: the siloed benefits platform is a relic. The future of benefits is a connected, interoperable ecosystem. Your success in 2026 will be defined less by the features you build and more by the connections you enable.
Employers are done with manual data entry and brittle file feeds. They expect—and deserve—real-time data synchronization between payroll, benefits, and carrier systems. This isn't a nice-to-have; it's a core requirement.
This means your partnership strategy needs to be built on a foundation of modern, open APIs. It's about creating an ecosystem that makes you indispensable.
For HCM and Ben Admin platforms: Are you building an open ecosystem that attracts best-in-class solutions, or a walled garden that will eventually be bypassed?
For point solutions and insurtech startups: If your product requires a custom, weeks-long implementation, you're already behind. The future belongs to plug-and-play.
For carriers: The days of proprietary data formats are numbered. The carriers that embrace open integration will become the preferred partners for the entire ecosystem.
At RevGem, I spend my days working at the intersection of these three questions, helping companies build the partnerships and integration strategies that will define the future of benefits.
The market is shifting faster than ever. Is your strategy built to last? Contact us for a strategic review.