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.

πŸ’΅ 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

Cost ComponentRange per member per monthDescription
Expected medical claims$290 – $320Preventive, routine, and moderate acute care
Program stop-loss / reinsurance$60 – $85Protects the fund from unusually large claims
Administrative + TPA$35 – $45Claims, eligibility, payments, and member support
Tech / platform fees$10 – $20Portal, HSA integrations, Cost Plus + ClearHealthRx pricing
Margin / reserves$25 – $45Operating margin and risk reserves

Estimated Total Monthly Contribution

TierSelf-OnlyFamily
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.

VariantDeductibleMonthly ContributionAudience
ClearHealth Lite$3,000$425 per monthYounger, low-utilization individuals
ClearHealth Core$2,000$450 per monthStandard member profile
ClearHealth Family$4,000$1,150 per monthTwo adults plus children

Why portability changes the value proposition

ScenarioTraditional experienceClearHealth positioning
Job changeNew employer plan, new deductible, new networkMember keeps the coverage relationship and HSA strategy
COBRA decisionKeep former employer coverage at full costPortable alternative before COBRA becomes the only bridge
Freelance / LLC workIndividual-market plans with limited employer supportDirect member coverage with optional employer/client contribution structure
Small employerFull group plan administration burdenEmployer can help fund healthcare without owning the whole plan
Pre-Medicare transitionCoverage gap risk before public coverage beginsTransparent HDHP-style bridge for eligible members

🏦 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)

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)

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)

Advantages: long-term control over risk and pricing, strong alignment with members. Limitations: requires state licensing and $250k–$500k in capitalization.

How ClearHealth Generates Revenue

Revenue StreamDescription
Admin FeeFixed per-member monthly fee for claims, tech, and member support
Stop-Loss Commission5–10% margin on reinsurance contracts
Investment FloatInterest earned on fund reserves
Data & InsightsAggregated transparency analytics for partners
Surplus RetentionShared or retained margin when claims fall below projections

βš–οΈ 3. Regulatory Path

Phase 1 β€” Operate as a TPA / Tech Platform

Phase 2 β€” Member-Funded Health Pool

Phase 3 β€” Captive Formation (After Scale)

πŸ“Š 4. Suggested Execution Timeline

PhaseFocusDurationGoal
0–3 monthsBuild MVP tech stack, finalize pricing, form TPA entity3 monthsLaunch pilot fund
3–9 monthsRun pilot (100–250 members), collect claims data6 monthsValidate <85% loss ratio
9–18 monthsExpand membership nationally9 monthsReach 1,000+ members
18–24 monthsPrepare captive licensing and capitalization6 monthsTransition to risk-bearing entity

🌐 5. Positioning Summary

Tagline:

β€œPortable, HSA-friendly health coverage with honest prices and no networks.”

Revenue mix at scale:

Target gross margin: 8–12% after stop-loss

Key Differentiators

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.