🚗 We're hitting the (virtual) benefits engagement highway! Register for Engage on April 9. 🚙

Jellyvision Acquires Picwell to Simplify the Employee Benefits Puzzle

15 years ago, Jellyvision set out to reimagine how employees choose their benefits by launching a platform called ALEX. And we’ve come a long way since then—helping millions of employees learn about, choose, and use the resources their employers provide them.

But over the course of the last decade and a half, the healthcare landscape has only become more complicated. Employers are expanding their benefits packages to attract and retain talent. Non-traditional benefits are taking the spotlight as holistic health becomes a priority. And health equity is centerstage as employers look for ways to meet the diverse needs of their workforces.

In other words, it’s never been harder to connect employees with the right benefits, at the right times, in the right places.

That’s why we’re proud to announce that we’ve acquired Picwell, a benefits decision support company. As we enter a new era, Jellyvision and Picwell will partner to help employees piece together the increasingly complex benefits puzzle, all while increasing employers’ return on their investment. 

Jellyvision + Picwell: putting the puzzle pieces together

Why are Jellyvision and Picwell a perfect pair? Simply put, we’re combining Jellyvision’s time-tested behavioral science approach with Picwell’s data-driven predictive analytics to connect more humans with highly personalized benefits guidance, in the moments when they need it most. 

Okay, you got us—that still sounds like a lot of jargon if you’re not knee-deep in benefits technology every day like we are. So let’s break it down: 

What is behavioral science, and why does Jellyvision use it?

Behavioral science studies human actions—and how our own biases, lack of knowledge or previous experience can influence our decision-making. ALEX uses behavioral science to identify common benefits pitfalls, and steer employees towards the right plans and decisions for them—based on their own personal health, finances, and other factors.

For example, behavioral science tells us that people are much more likely to want money in their pockets right now, rather than save for later. And when it comes to 401(k)s, that trend isn’t very helpful to employees—because they’re missing out on exponentially more dollars down the road if they fail to save now. 

So ALEX shows employees a comparison of their current vs. ideal 401(k) contributions, and how much their money will grow if they decide to save now and spend later.

What is predictive analytics, and why does Picwell use it? 

Predictive analytics uses data and machine learning to identify how likely it is that a future event will happen. When it comes to benefits, predictive analytics can guide employees towards healthcare choices that will give them the best coverage at the best cost, based on data from other people just like them. 

Here’s how Picwell’s technology does it: 

  1. Analyze healthcare claims from millions of people all over the country
  2. Identify hundreds or thousands of people who match an employee’s demographics
  3. Use that data to accurately predict how (and how much) employees will use their healthcare
  4. Estimate annual costs for each health plan available to the employee
  5. Layer on an employee’s preferences, like how comfortable they are taking on financial risk
  6. Rank each plan, based on total costs and personal preferences

Jigsaw puzzle complete ✅ 

By bringing together Jellyvision’s behavioral science-backed approach to benefits engagement and Picwell’s data-driven decision support technology, ALEX will improve lives by delivering a hyper-personalized benefits experience for even more employees. 

That means a healthier, happier, more engaged workforce—and a better return on your organization’s benefits investment. 

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to meet employees’ unique health and wellness needs; each person has different wants, which are always changing based on time, circumstance, and even learning styles. But this doesn’t mean we throw in the towel. Now, our joint technology offering will make connections between increasingly complex wellness benefits and the people who need them. We’re striving to eliminate waste, complexity, and confusion so employees can finally understand, appreciate, and effectively use their benefits.”
amanda lannert
Amanda Lannert
CEO, Jellyvision

What will ALEX look like now? 

Your employees demand personalization. And you need to maximize the millions of dollars you spend each year on benefits. So ALEX will tackle those big challenges with big solutions.

ALEX gets more inclusive

Jellyvision and Picwell’s joint technology will prioritize inclusivity. ALEX will account for every employee’s needs by giving them choices on how they want to engage: with a fast path and a voiced, interactive experience. It’s the ALEX you love, with options on language, device type, learning style, location, and more.

A revolutionized ALEX Go and expanded capabilities drive inclusivity and give your employees the freedom to choose their own path and the flexibility to switch it up, based on  their circumstances.

ALEX gets smarter

Everyone values benefits differently, and helpful guidance starts by understanding everyone’s unique needs and risk tolerance. Now powered by predictive analytics, ALEX will not only understand where each individual has been on their health journey, but where they are going.

ALEX will make sense of the mountains of benefits data to help your employees make healthier, more financially secure choices. Unbiased data from similar groups of people will uncover relevant insights for each individual and predict future needs that they might not have anticipated, making way for a clearer path to benefits decisions.

0 %
of employees would rather use a self-service system than speak with an HR specialist
“Health insurance selections are more complex decisions than most people realize. We see that without proper education and guidance people make costly mistakes, both when choosing health plans and using benefits throughout the year. This is why we’re thrilled to join forces with Jellyvision to continue working towards our shared vision to simplify the healthcare benefits experience, and empower everyone to make informed health benefits decisions.”
Brian Morgan
President, Picwell

What will this mean for Jellyvision and Picwell customers?

We’re going to hit the ground running to make ALEX smarter and more personalized for your employees. In 2023, you’ll have even more options for how to use ALEX, tailoring your company’s needs to our improved platform. From there, the possibilities are endless—and we can’t wait to share what’s next! 

As always, we’ll bring you along for the journey. And if you ever have any questions or concerns about what’s new, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Jellyvision account rep. 

The time to solve this puzzle is now.

As the Great Resignation lingers, companies like yours may be scrambling to attract and retain talent. And with inflation at high levels, employees need your financial support and guidance more than ever. Plus, as businesses brace for a recession, company leaders are looking for ways to boost their bottom line and make the most of their investments in employees. 

The common denominator for all of these challenges? Employee benefits.

10 %
of employees say benefits are a deciding factor when accepting a job
10 %
of their healthcare spending is wasted due to employee confusion

An upgraded benefits experience is the missing puzzle piece when it comes to strong recruiting, employee engagement, and financial wellness for your company. And we’re looking forward to continuing to help you achieve those goals—now, with the power of Jellyvision and Picwell combined. 

Jump to section

Celebrate with us, won’t you? 🎉

Find out how Jellyvision and Picwell are simplifying the employee benefits puzzle.

Hey you, join our community!

Join 22,000+ HR pros who receive monthly employee benefits insights, straight to their inbox.

You're using an unsupported browser.

The Jellyvision website no longer supports Internet Explorer. Please switch to Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome to access the site.