More than 11 million people work in the U.S. hospitality industry, but only 32% are offered employer-sponsored health coverage.
That sobering truth inspired New Orleans native Elizabeth Tilton to marry her experience in both the culinary and business worlds to try and make a difference. After launching Oyster Sunday in 2019 — a kind of corporate office for independent restaurants — Tilton’s latest venture, OS Benefits, debuted last year, offering the first affordable health insurance and wellness benefits marketplace made for the hospitality industry by the hospitality industry.
Using economies of scale, Tilton said OS Benefits has been able to negotiate rates with providers to offer hospitality employers nationwide access to five different plans that start at a few hundred dollars a month.
Tilton also offers employers the opportunity to participate in OS Benefits’ Wellness Marketplace. Brokering deals with more than 25 nationwide vendors, the company offers benefits relating to preventive care, continuing education, mental and physical wellness, family planning, culinary tools, and apparel for just $35 per employee.
“This includes everything from dog walking and childcare to teeth aligners, to women’s health, continuing education, kitchen knives, and aprons, and so forth,” said Tilton. “All of the benefits we offer are either free, or between 20% and 80% off depending on our partnership.”
The offerings have quickly gained attention, with Fast Company listing OS Benefits among their most innovative companies of 2024.
For Tilton, it’s all about making a difference in her hometown.
“I love the city, and it means a lot to me to build a company in and of New Orleans as well,” she said. “One in eight residents are in hospitality in New Orleans, and that’s a lot of our population that needs to be protected.”
