The employee benefits pool was an attractive area to monetize for startups - if insurers weren't willing to pay, it makes sense that employers would be looking for ways to attract (and retain) top talent, with benefits being a huge portion of it. Countless startups have ridden the employee benefits wave to superstardom (see: Hinge Health), but there is a downside - when the economy experiences a downturn, benefits are one of the first things on the chopping block. Collective Health is not immune to this, as shown by recent layoffs. However, it's hard to believe that employee benefits will totally go away - and there's always going to be a space to manage these benefits more efficiently and effectively. (August 2023)