What it does: Solstice Benefits provides dental, vision, pharmaceutical, disability and life insurance benefit plans to groups and consumers.
How it grew to become one of healthcare's hottest: Solstice Benefits' leaders say the company's differentiation in the insurance market has helped drive its growth. Solstice's dental and vision plans take the best features of the most popular plan styles—the open access that you get in a PPO and the cost savings associated with an HMO. According to Chief Operating Officer Carlos Ferrera, providers and employers prefer a fee-for-service arrangement. And patients like the choice, flexibility and ease of making appointments through a plan that offers a broader network of providers.