Pricing, business model, and regulatory path β focused on a portable, HSA-compatible, transparent, low-overhead plan like ClearHealth Basic.
The core business case is not only lower cost. It is portability: coverage that is not owned by an employer, paired with an HSA that the member owns and can keep through job changes, self-employment, COBRA decisions, and pre-Medicare transitions.
π΅ 1. Pricing: What You Could Realistically Offer It For
These estimates are based on realistic assumptions for a transparent, member-funded health plan that uses reference-based pricing and program-level stop-loss protection.
Core assumptions
- Plan type: HSA-compatible high-deductible plan
- Deductible: $2,000 / $4,000 family
- Reimbursement basis: approximately 120% of Medicare (reference-based)
- Stop-loss attachment: $50,000 per individual
- HSA funding: member contributions plus optional employer contributions where allowed
- Target market: healthy to average-risk individuals, families, freelancers, LLC owners, small employers, and workers facing COBRA or job transitions
| Cost Component | Range per member per month | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Expected medical claims | $290 β $320 | Preventive, routine, and moderate acute care |
| Program stop-loss / reinsurance | $60 β $85 | Protects the fund from unusually large claims |
| Administrative + TPA | $35 β $45 | Claims, eligibility, payments, and member support |
| Tech / platform fees | $10 β $20 | Portal, HSA integrations, Cost Plus + ClearHealthRx pricing |
| Margin / reserves | $25 β $45 | Operating margin and risk reserves |
Estimated Total Monthly Contribution
| Tier | Self-Only | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Launch target | $450 per month | $1,150 per month |
This equates to roughly $5,400 per year for an individual, competitive with unsubsidized ACA bronze HDHP pricing for many members while offering clear pricing, Cost Plus + ClearHealthRx prescriptions, no network restrictions, and a portable HSA strategy.
| Variant | Deductible | Monthly Contribution | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| ClearHealth Lite | $3,000 | $425 per month | Younger, low-utilization individuals |
| ClearHealth Core | $2,000 | $450 per month | Standard member profile |
| ClearHealth Family | $4,000 | $1,150 per month | Two adults plus children |
Why portability changes the value proposition
| Scenario | Traditional experience | ClearHealth positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Job change | New employer plan, new deductible, new network | Member keeps the coverage relationship and HSA strategy |
| COBRA decision | Keep former employer coverage at full cost | Portable alternative before COBRA becomes the only bridge |
| Freelance / LLC work | Individual-market plans with limited employer support | Direct member coverage with optional employer/client contribution structure |
| Small employer | Full group plan administration burden | Employer can help fund healthcare without owning the whole plan |
| Pre-Medicare transition | Coverage gap risk before public coverage begins | Transparent HDHP-style bridge for eligible members |
π¦ 2. Business Model Options
ClearHealth can scale through three structural approaches, each with its own timeline and regulatory considerations.
Option A β Partner Model (MGA / MGU Hybrid)
- Partner with a licensed carrier that already offers HSA-eligible HDHP coverage.
- ClearHealth provides the portable member relationship, HSA experience, transparent pricing layer, and member-facing platform.
- Operate as a Managing General Agent (MGA) or Managing General Underwriter (MGU).
- Revenue: per-member admin fee (around $25 per month) and shared margin with the carrier.
Advantages: fastest route to market, leverages carrier licensing and compliance. Limitations: less control over underwriting, claims, and fund logic.
Option B β Member-Funded Health Pool (Current Model)
- Members contribute monthly to the ClearHealth Fund, held in a segregated trust.
- ClearHealth Admin Services LLC acts as the licensed TPA and administrator.
- Stop-loss coverage protects the fund against high-cost claims.
- Any year-end surplus can be retained as reserves or rebated to members.
- Employers can support members through HSA contributions or defined contribution arrangements without making the coverage employer-owned.
Advantages: full control and transparency; non-ERISA, individual coverage; portable and scalable. Limitations: requires strong trust, compliance, and reinsurance partnerships.
Option C β Captive or Mutual Conversion (Phase 2 or 3)
- After scaling to several thousand members, form a regulated captive insurer.
- The captive assumes stop-loss risk and manages reserves and investments.
- Operates similarly to a member-owned mutual association.
Advantages: long-term control over risk and pricing, strong alignment with members. Limitations: requires state licensing and $250kβ$500k in capitalization.
How ClearHealth Generates Revenue
| Revenue Stream | Description |
|---|---|
| Admin Fee | Fixed per-member monthly fee for claims, tech, and member support |
| Stop-Loss Commission | 5β10% margin on reinsurance contracts |
| Investment Float | Interest earned on fund reserves |
| Data & Insights | Aggregated transparency analytics for partners |
| Surplus Retention | Shared or retained margin when claims fall below projections |
βοΈ 3. Regulatory Path
Phase 1 β Operate as a TPA / Tech Platform
- Register ClearHealth Admin Services LLC as a Third-Party Administrator in Washington or Delaware.
- Contract with stop-loss carriers, banks, and HSA custodians.
- Manage claims, member eligibility, and payment flow.
- No insurance license required; ClearHealth operates as a tech-enabled administrator for a portable member relationship.
Phase 2 β Member-Funded Health Pool
- Launch ClearHealth Basic for individuals and small LLCs.
- Maintain funds in trust for transparency and member protection.
- Use stop-loss coverage to guard against catastrophic losses.
- Keep coverage individual and portable, with employer support structured around contribution rather than plan ownership.
Phase 3 β Captive Formation (After Scale)
- Evaluate established captive domiciles and apply where the regulatory fit, capital requirements, healthcare-risk experience, and reinsurance access are strongest.
- The captive reinsures the ClearHealth Fund and manages surplus reserves.
- Optional step toward becoming a regulated mutual insurer.
π 4. Suggested Execution Timeline
| Phase | Focus | Duration | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0β3 months | Build MVP tech stack, finalize pricing, form TPA entity | 3 months | Launch pilot fund |
| 3β9 months | Run pilot (100β250 members), collect claims data | 6 months | Validate <85% loss ratio |
| 9β18 months | Expand membership nationally | 9 months | Reach 1,000+ members |
| 18β24 months | Prepare captive licensing and capitalization | 6 months | Transition to risk-bearing entity |
π 5. Positioning Summary
Tagline:
βPortable, HSA-friendly health coverage with honest prices and no networks.β
Revenue mix at scale:
- 70% member contributions and claims flow
- 10% reinsurance commissions
- 10% data and wellness insights
Target gross margin: 8β12% after stop-loss
Key Differentiators
- Transparent reference-based pricing
- Integrated Cost Plus prescription access
- Real-time HSA reimbursement workflows
- Member-owned HSA strategy with optional employer contributions
- Coverage designed to move with the member, not the job
- Low administrative overhead through automation
- Portable, member-owned coverage (non-ERISA)
- Path to captive formation for long-term stability
- Competitive cost vs. ACA HDHPs
- Scalable nationwide membership
- Alignment of incentives β healthier members, lower costs
- Data-driven, ethical, and transparent operations
- Partnerships with direct-care providers and fintech platforms
- ClearHealth positioned as a trusted, modern alternative to traditional insurance
Summary: ClearHealth begins as a transparent, member-funded health coverage pool, evolves into a technology-driven cooperative structure with program-level stop-loss protection, and matures into a captive framework that gives members ownership and control of their healthcare funding. The thesis is that health coverage should be portable, HSA-centered, and employer-compatible without being employer-dependent.
