Rebecca Matulonis is the new CEO of Excel Health Plans LLC, a company disrupting the health care industry by offering affordable high-quality healthcare for small business employers.
Matulonis joined Excel Health Plans LLC in 2022, about a year after the company's inception. She came with an impressive resume as a successful leader and strategist, consulting businesses for growth and sustainability while serving as COO at a prominent NYC real estate firm.
Excel founder and president, Michael Patton shared the news by saying, "Rebecca is the right option for CEO. We have been through a lot of highs and lows and I know she has the best interest of Excel at heart and always puts it first. Her character is second to none, she is dependable, smart, organized and polished. I am extremely proud of Rebecca, and she deserves this!"
When Matulonis joined the company, Excel was experiencing unprecedented growth.The company grew to over 20,000 members without venture funding. But this growth bottlenecked processes and impacted members' claims.
Patton explained, "The setup we initially had couldn't handle our rapid growth. We want to ensure a smooth experience for brokers, employers, and members. That's why we're appointing Rebecca as CEO."
Patton says, "She has accurately predicted how to maneuver with other members. She managed the budget when we didn't receive any cash for three months at the start of this year, and she was crucial in getting us paid nearly one million in past due financing."
Patton and Matulonis are evolving with the company to find solutions and diversify partners for a smooth experience. They will continue working in the trenches of the company's needs, giving 100% with every employee.
"Success is never built on anything other than a firm foundation," explained Matulonis. "As CEO, I'll ensure every decision strengthens our foundation to continue our success and fulfill Excel Health Plans' mission of offering quality health care at an affordable price."
But merging her two passions wasn't easy.
Matulonis started her career in HR thinking it would be the best way to use business to help others. She quickly found herself yearning for something more competitive.
She transitioned to the real estate and development industry, building a career in management, strategic planning, and leadership. She served as Chief Operating Officer for a prominent real estate firm in NYC, a city known for cut throat real estate enterprises.
The work was stimulating, but not fulfilling for Matulonis. She needed to help others. She added consulting and podcasting to her schedule, and worked on developing other businesses to impact change.
She was a young, single mother with three boys who were frequently taken to the doctor for injuries and sicknesses. Healthcare expenses increased as she took on their financial burden. She sought a more reasonable and accessible solution for getting help.
Matulonis meets Excel
Matulonis first learned about Excel in 2022 when Patton first hired her as a consultant. Matulonis then invited Patton to be a guest on her podcast, Born For Greatness, a year later. She was impressed by his vision and the fact that Patton offered real solutions to other companies she consulted. Many of these companies were small businesses that couldn't offer healthcare to their employees due to high costs.
Health insurance isn't affordable. The U.S. spends more on healthcare per capita than other developed countries, with healthcare spending making up around 18% of the GDP. The average annual healthcare cost per person in the U.S. is around $11,000.
"I am optimistic that we can improve the quality and price of health care in this country. My passion since I was young has been helping people. I've always wanted to do something in my career that impacts people and creates positive change," explained Matulonis. "I also love the business world. I enjoy tackling problems. It took me a long time to figure out how to merge the two."
After a year of consulting the company, she moved into a full-time role. Like many successful start-ups, Excel went through drastic dips. Learning to find the right solutions and vendors took time, but Patton and Matulonis used these trials to improve.
Michael Hennessy, CEO and founder of Diathrive, an affordable diabetes supplies company, praised Matulonis saying, "Everyone at Diathrive has enjoyed working with Rebecca Matulonis for years. She's smart, responsive, trustworthy, and detail-oriented. She's a doer who will continue to provide Excel Health Plans with excellent, no-nonsense leadership as Excel grows."
Together, Matulonis and Patton will continue to lead Excel Health Plans LLC and retain their partnerships with Health Rosetta to support internal operations and the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP).
NABIP CEO Jessica Brooks-Woods congratulated Rebecca Matulonis on her appointment as CEO of Excel Health Plans, a key strategic partner. Brooks-Woods praised Matulonis' leadership and dedication to affordable, high-quality healthcare. She expressed excitement to continue their partnership and confidence in her vision for Excel Health Plans' success.
As Matulonis steps into this role, she is also supported by the Ellevate Foundation, an organization fostering female leadership. CEO Stephanie Berger said, "On behalf of the Ellevate Foundation we would like to congratulate Becca on her new role.This is very exciting for Excel and our industry as a whole. We have enjoyed partnering with Excel and look forward to our continued relationship."
With these continued partnerships, Matulonis will ensure Excel will continue making a dent in the industry by providing quality healthcare at a fraction of the price.
"There are common threads throughout my career, and I would say they are resilience and tenacity," said Rebecca Matulonis. "How do you deal with difficult people and powerful companies that say no when you need a yes? Those are skills I developed in real estate and am using in Excel Health Plans LLC. I am not afraid to fight for what I believe in, especially when it's people's lives and health care."
