2025 New Benefits Recap
2025 Recap: New Enhancements, Smarter Tools & More Value for 2026
As the employee benefits landscape continues to evolve, New Benefits remains focused on delivering high-impact solutions that simplify administration, improve access, and enhance the member experience. This 2025 New Benefits recap highlights the major updates, new offerings, and strategic improvements we released last year—each one designed to help brokers and employers bring more value to their clients in 2026.
From our redesigned, even more secure Client Portal to a permanent telemedicine safe harbor, expanded workplace protection, and new family planning support, 2025 marked a year of meaningful progress. Throughout 2025, we prioritized enhancements that make benefits easier to manage, easier to understand, and easier to use. Below is a summary of the updates shaping a stronger, more flexible, and more employee-centered experience.
Telemedicine Safe Harbor Becomes Permanent — Strengthening a Benefit We’ve Offered for Years
A major policy change in 2025 reshaped the virtual care landscape. On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) into law, permanently reinstating first-dollar (pre-deductible) telehealth coverage for HDHP-HSA plans.
This means employers can now offer low- or no-cost telehealth before the deductible while maintaining full HSA eligibility. Under the updated Internal Revenue Code Section 223(c)(2)(E):
“A plan shall not fail to be treated as a high deductible health plan by reason of failing to have a deductible for telehealth and other remote care services.”
This safe harbor applies retroactively to plan years beginning after December 31, 2024, providing long-term stability for employers and brokers.
What This Means for Employers and Employees
- Telehealth can be accessed before the deductible
- HSA qualifications remain fully intact
- Employers may reimburse earlier 2025 telehealth expenses
- Virtual care becomes more affordable and accessible
New Benefits Was Ahead of the Curve
While many are now adapting to the new rules, New Benefits has been a first mover, offering HSA-compatible $0 telemedicine for years. Bundled with our broader suite of non-insured benefits, telemedicine remains a core component of building modern, high-value benefits packages.
Introducing Work Shield: A New Standard in Workplace Protection
Workplace culture and misconduct management remain top concerns for employers. To support safer, more transparent workplaces, 2025 marked the introduction of Work Shield to our benefit suite.
Work Shield provides:
- Confidential misconduct reporting
- Independent third-party investigations
- Fast, documented resolutions
- Reduced legal and compliance risk
This partnership helps employers protect their people while reducing HR burden and reinforcing organizational trust.
New Family Planning Bundle: Support for Every Stage of the Journey
This year, we also introduced a comprehensive Family Planning Bundle, supporting employees through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and early childhood. This support provides 90% of the U.S. population with access to a fertility specialist within just 30 minutes.
The bundle includes services such as:
- Fertility guidance and education
- Provider navigation and referrals
- Postpartum mental health resources
- Pediatric support tools
Family-building benefits are a top priority for today’s workforce, and this new bundle empowers employers to offer meaningful, inclusive support.
Gated Content to Support Broker Growth: Guides & Benefits Tune-Up Tool
Our expanding library of gated content continues to help brokers elevate conversations, win new business, and guide strategic decisions. Top-performing 2025 resources included:
Association Guide – How to Boost Member Engagement: A deep dive into how associations can use non-insured benefits to strengthen membership value and engagement.
Guide to Combat High Cost of Healthcare: A guide which reveals four proven strategies to lower healthcare expenses using non-insured benefits, preventive health initiatives, digital health solutions, and cost-saving discount programs.
Benefits Tune-Up: A consultative diagnostic tool helping brokers evaluate benefit gaps, compare market offerings, and position high-value solutions.
These assets are ideal for prospecting, client reviews, and new sales opportunities in 2026.
Client Portal Upgrade: Faster, More Intuitive and Built on Trusted Security
One of the biggest upgrades this year was the launch of our enhanced Client Portal, delivering a modernized, streamlined experience for managing Groups and Member Eligibility—backed by our SOC 2 Type II certification, which validates our commitment to data security, availability, and operational integrity.
Key improvements include:
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A cleaner, more intuitive user interface
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Faster, secure performance for high-volume eligibility updates
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Simplified navigation for day-to-day benefit administration
Together, these enhancements give HR teams and brokers the tools they need to work more efficiently while managing sensitive data with confidence. And as always, our support team is here to help with any questions.
What These 2025 Enhancements Mean for 2026
Every update in this 2025 New Benefits recap reflects our commitment to accessible digital tools, high-impact benefits, and employer flexibility. Going into 2026, clients can expect:
- Continued enhancements to secure digital platforms
- Deeper virtual care support
- Expanded workforce wellness solutions
- New bundles that address real employee needs
- More tools to help brokers educate clients and grow their business
With 35+ years of innovation behind us, New Benefits remains dedicated to helping brokers and employers build benefit strategies that support today’s workforce—and tomorrow’s.
If you’d like help planning for 2026, our team is ready to partner with you.
