People-Driven Success Story
How 23andMe Upgraded Their Employee Benefits Package
23andMe is a leading consumer genetics and research company. Founded in 2006, their mission is to help people access, understand, and benefit from the human genome.
550+
Employees
8
Medical plans
2021
year of IPO
Making big changes to 23andMe’s insurance plans and perks wasn’t something that Senior Benefits Manager Krizel Casanova, was looking forward to, particularly during a period of market instability. The company wanted to find a benefits provider that had the technology, customer service, and benchmarking that would help 23andMe take its package to the next level.
“It was a big undertaking,” she said, and privately, she worried that the transition would be difficult with its employees all working remotely.
Those concerns began to subside once she connected with a Sequoia consultant, who asked thoughtful questions and walked the company through all of the available options, as well as what other companies were doing in the market, so 23andMe could remain competitive.
“That partnership was what Sequoia brought in right off the bat,” Krizel said.
Evaluating the benefits package
Indeed, Krizel said, she was impressed by Sequoia’s in-depth evaluation of 23andMe’s existing benefits package, and their transparency around fees and cost.
Sequoia also examined the skewed distribution of enrollment across 23andMe’s health plans and identified potential concerns in the future if not corrected. To remain competitive, the company needed to lay the groundwork for a more balanced offering for employees.
“Sequoia was able to educate us and provide us with a cost structure that was clear and attractive,” Krizel explained. That cost savings was not insignificant, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, and by switching carriers they were even able to make enhancements for employees to receive better benefit options without affecting the cost.
Sequoia was able to educate us and provide us with a cost structure that was clear and attractive.
Making the transition
“Still, the process of making the switch over to five new carriers from health to dental to life, before open enrollment was a big concern,” said Savita Pillai, Director of People, Technology, and Operations at 23andMe. “It could have been a disaster,” Savita said, and she feared an uphill battle with employees who were skeptical of the change. But, she said, Sequoia supported them through the process, helping with employee education and communication in advance of open enrollment, including hosting Lunch and Learn events with employees to answer questions about the new offerings. Krizel and Savita also encouraged employees to download Sequoia’s mobile app, which had a dynamic plan comparison tool to help employees understand their options and make their decisions. Armed with this personalized information about plans and pricing, the resistance subsided. “Employees didn’t feel rushed, they felt very prepared, and like they had enough information to make their choices,” Savita added. “We got a lot of support from Sequoia’s team.”Getting the right feedback
Ultimately, Krizel said, employees began to appreciate the tool they had at their fingertips with Sequoia’s mobile app. And she appreciated the ease of HRX, particularly when it comes to staying on track with communication and compliance. “It allows me to spend more time thinking about the big picture than caught up in the weeds of the day-to-day,” Krizel said. The partnership with Sequoia, she said, “has allowed me to exhale.”
Meet the Client
Krizel Casanova Senior Benefits Manager, 23andMeSequoia Delivers
Sequoia supports 23andMe’s mission by delivering the following key services and products:23andMe relies on Sequoia guidance and
technology to create the best employee experience
Healthcare Services
A smarter way to impact employee health
Sequoia is the partner people-driven companies turn to when it’s business-critical to get healthcare benefits right. We put useful data, insights, and guidance at your fingertips so you can make smarter choices about healthcare spend and make sure your programs serve the needs of your people and your business.
Sequoia People Platform
Sequoia's platform lets you see all your benefits program data—alongside benefits insights and benchmarks—in one place, as well as communicate with your people in-app; employees can access the platform for their full plan details, digital ID cards, provider search, wellbeing program access, and more.