Financial assistance programs have become increasingly complex, making them difficult to navigate, especially for seniors. In the U.S., a significant portion of the population participates in various government assistance programs. In 2023, 12.6% of U.S. residents received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with state participation rates ranging from 4.6% in Utah to 23.1% in New Mexico. With financial strain rising, we need leaders who simplify access and ensure low-income American citizens get the care and support they deserve.
That’s the guiding mission behind Uno Health, a company cofounded by Anna de Paula Hanika, a former product leader at Google and Clover Health. Uno is addressing one of the most overlooked challenges in public support. Eligible Americans who struggle to navigate complex enrollment systems leave billions in financial assistance unclaimed each year.
“I saw firsthand how financial insecurity was undermining care,” says de Paula Hanika during a phone interview, recalling her time at Clover Health. “People weren’t avoiding treatment because they didn’t want it. They just couldn’t afford it.”
This insight became the company’s foundation. The platform uses technology to help low-income individuals enroll in government programs like Medicaid, SNAP and utility subsidies. Uno’s latest product is its most accessible yet: a free, public-facing tool that determines a user’s eligibility for 10 major assistance programs in under 30 seconds, offering an average of $4,500 in annual savings.
Leadership That Puts People First
Uno challenges what forward-thinking leadership around financial assistance looks like. Rather than designing solutions for an average user, the platform is built with the most vulnerable in mind: older adults, low-income families and women.
According to Uno’s internal data:
- Women have a 6% higher eligibility rate for aid programs than men.
- Nearly 4% more women supported by Uno are financially drowning, spending more than they earn monthly.
- Uno sees a 2% higher conversion rate among women, signaling deeper financial need and urgency.
These disparities mirror broader national trends. The National Council of Aging reported women over 65 receive $3,900 less in annual Social Security than men, primarily due to lifetime earnings gaps. Without Social Security, 41% of elderly unmarried women would fall below the poverty line.
“Women, in particular, are navigating complex financial trade-offs between groceries, prescriptions and utility bills,” says the cofounder. “Our job as leaders is to simplify that decision-making and restore choice.”
Scaling Solutions Without Sacrificing Humanity
Uno’s leadership model stands out. It combines technological efficiency with deep human empathy. The platform is fully omnichannel, supporting users via phone, fax, digital forms or mail; it meets people exactly where they are. That level of personalization is critical for older adults, whose comfort levels with technology vary widely.
For de Paula Hanika, this goes beyond product design; it intentionally reflects a core leadership philosophy. “I’ve always approached leadership as an act of service,” she explains. “At Uno, that means creating the systems—both technological and cultural—that allow our team and our members to thrive.”
That mindset has also helped Uno navigate an unpredictable policy landscape. By supporting a wide range of financial assistance programs, not just Medicaid, the company gives users a safety net even as benefits shift. From food and utility subsidies to copay support, the platform ensures that losing access to one program doesn’t mean falling through the cracks entirely.
“In a world where benefits can change overnight, we want to be a stable, trusted resource,” she adds.
A New Kind Of Leadership For Financial Equity
The intricate applications and systemic disparities require more than incremental change. A change is needed where leaders have the space to rethink outdated systems and build scalable solutions.
The modern blueprint of equity-focused leadership comes with important lessons for others leading in mission-driven spaces:
- Start with lived experience. Understand the real-world barriers your users face before designing solutions. “We built Uno not from theory but from listening to people in their homes,” the entrepreneur states.
- Design for the margins. When you build for those most excluded, you create systems that work better for everyone.
- Validate before you scale. de Paula Hanika spent over a year gathering feedback from experts and potential users before ever pitching to investors. That early diligence built credibility.
“When financial stress is lifted, people can finally focus on living, not just surviving,” de Paula Hanika concludes. “That’s the kind of impact we aim to make every day.”