Publication Date: September 29, 2026
🕒 10-minute video

Employers are spending more on healthcare, yet employees continue to struggle with costs, access to care, and navigating a complicated healthcare system. So, does spending more actually mean employees are receiving better care?

In this episode of Dear HR Insider, hosts Cinthia Williams and Lisa Cooper sit down with Rick Abbott, Co-Founder & CEO of Manifest, to explore how employers can get more value from their healthcare investment while improving the experience for employees.

Rick shares a different perspective on employer-sponsored healthcare – one that emphasizes connecting employees with high-quality local providers, making it easier to access the right care, and helping people make more informed healthcare decisions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why increasing healthcare spending doesn’t necessarily lead to better outcomes
• Why access to high-quality local providers matters
• How better healthcare navigation can improve the employee experience
• Where employers can start without completely redesigning their benefits plan

The takeaway? Improving healthcare isn’t always about adding more benefits or spending more money. Sometimes, it’s about helping employees more easily find and access the right care.

💡 About Dear HR Insider

Dear HR Insider is a video series from Cooper People Group where we answer real workplace questions and bring together HR leaders and industry experts to share practical insights on today’s biggest workforce challenges.

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Connect with Rick Abbott & Manifest

Want to connect with Rick Abbott or learn more about Manifest?

✉️ rick@manifest.health
🔗 linkedin.com/in/rick-abbott-6430633a
🌐 manifest.health
📧 hello@manifest.health

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