Sun Life joins Rippling carrier program as roster reaches six

Sun Life U.S. has joined Rippling’s Preferred Carrier Program, adding another insurer to a now six-carrier effort to automate benefits data exchanges for small and mid-market employers, according to Sun Life’s Oct. 21 statement and Rippling’s Oct. 13 announcement. Sun Life said the companies plan to connect eligibility, enrollment and coverage information, work aimed at reducing the manual reconciliation HR teams handle between systems.

Principal and Beam Benefits also joined the program, bringing it to six carriers, Rippling said. Guardian, MetLife and Unum were the launch participants earlier in 2026.

Rippling combines HR, IT, payroll and benefits administration in one platform. Its carrier program extends beyond data connections to coordination on implementation and renewals, service issues that cross company boundaries, and joint product development. Rippling describes the arrangements as a way to reduce manual work for employers and brokers and resolve problems faster.

The preferred-carrier work calls for jointly developed integrations and shared operating standards. Its initial focus is direct enrollment connections, according to Sun Life’s statement; automation across the wider benefits administration lifecycle is intended to follow.

For Sun Life, the partnership is part of a push to serve smaller employers through benefits products and technology, the insurer said. It builds on Sun Life Link, its existing portfolio of API connections between the insurer and employer technology platforms. Those connections support plan setup, absence management, enrollment, eligibility and billing.