Gravie Launches Industry's First Hybrid Benefit Solution as an Answer to Employers Facing Rising Healthcare Costs

Edge™ is a first-of-its-kind plan design that allows employers to use level-funded and employer-funded individual-market coverage options within one coordinated benefits program.

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Gravie, the health benefits company reinventing coverage for small and midsize employers, today announced the launch of Edge, a first-of-its-kind health benefits solution that allows employers to offer both an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) and level-funded coverage within a single coordinated program.

Edge is designed around a simple premise: an employer shouldn't have to choose a single benefits model for its entire workforce.

An ICHRA lets an employer set a defined contribution and gives employees access to the full individual market, expanding access to coverage while giving the employer clear control over cost. Gravie pairs that with a guided shopping experience and a market-leading carrier network, so employees get real support choosing a plan, not just a stipend and a login. Level-funded plans give employers the cost transparency and potential savings of self-funding, with the predictability of a fixed monthly payment and protection against high claims, backed by Gravie's curated plan designs and an end-to-end service model built for small and midsize businesses.

Each is a complete solution on its own. With Edge, Gravie runs both as a single coordinated program so HR teams manage one relationship, one account team, and one administrative experience, rather than stitching together multiple vendors.

For employers that are a strong fit for a hybrid benefit solution, Edge can deliver premium savings of 15% or more while preserving access to high-quality coverage for employees. Rather than responding to rising healthcare costs by reducing benefits or shifting more expense to employees, Edge gives employers the option to match different parts of their workforce with the coverage model that delivers the strongest combination of cost and value. The new solution is built to widen access rather than narrow choices for employers looking to best serve their evolving workforce.

The launch comes in response to two market trends: rising healthcare costs and a desire for more plan design flexibility. A recent KFF research analysis projects double-digit premium increases for small and midsize businesses heading into 2027, as these companies continue to face particular pressure from rising hospital, physician and prescription drug costs. At the same time, employers and benefits brokers are increasingly considering alternatives to traditional fully insured coverage, including both level-funded plans and ICHRAs.

"We heard from our clients and the market that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work. They need a solution that meets the diverse needs of today's evolving workforce," said Steve Wolin, CEO of Gravie. "Edge is designed to fill this gap by allowing employers to match group coverage where it works and use the individual market where it creates a better fit, while managing both as one benefits strategy. In essence, Edge lets an employer meet their whole workforce where they are."

With Edge, employers can extend coverage that actually fits across their whole workforce. Two of the most common approaches are matching coverage to where people live, so employees in different markets each get the strongest local option, and matching it to how people work, so full-time, part-time and seasonal employees can each land on the plan that fits them best. In total, there are 11 federally recognized ways to design it, giving employers real flexibility to build coverage around how their business actually runs.

About Gravie
Gravie is a health benefits company on a mission to improve the way people purchase and access healthcare. Serving small and midsize employers, Gravie offers level-funded plans, ICHRA, and Edge - giving employers modern, flexible coverage options built around the needs of their workforce. Gravie is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

SOURCE Gravie, Inc