As healthcare costs continue to rise and employers struggle to find adequate coverage without breaking the bank, our company is dedicated to taking a bold, new approach. We are a health plan built for self-funded employers. We center our model around affordable, high-quality primary care – backed by local health systems and providers and a commitment to simplicity.
To understand what sets us apart, we sat down with Dan Mendelson, CEO of Morgan Health and an investor in Centivo. With decades of experience in healthcare reform, Dan brings a unique lens to the changes that are needed within the healthcare system, and the kinds of companies positioned to drive that change.
In this conversation, Dan shares why Centivo stands out in a crowded market, how we are solving for the biggest pain points facing employers and their employees, and why this isn’t just a smart investment – it’s a necessary one.
1. As an investor, what makes Centivo a compelling long-term bet?
What stands out most is the alignment between Centivo’s mission and the broader needs of the market. Centivo is building a system where patients truly come first – quality is non-negotiable and affordability is real.
Additionally, Centivo is scaling in a thoughtful way. From strategic partnerships with leading regional health systems, to key hires, they are building their company for the long haul. They’re not trying to be flashy, they are simply trying to be better, which is what the market needs.
2. How is Centivo different from others who claim to want to “fix” healthcare?
To start, Centivo takes full responsibility for the patient – they are accountable to not only the patient, but the employer as well. They guide care, build strong local partnerships and create a system where patients are fully supported and known.
Healthcare should feel personal – like visiting someone who knows your story. That is what Centivo is building and that is what sets them apart in a crowded market.
3. Why are small and mid-sized businesses at a grave disadvantage when it comes to managing healthcare costs?
Small businesses carry nearly half of the employer-sponsored health coverage burden in this country, yet they still lack the leverage that large businesses have when it comes to working with traditional health insurers. At Morgan Health, we work closely with small businesses and see firsthand how difficult it is to navigate a system that is designed to confuse.
To me, what makes Centivo stand out is the company’s ability to simplify the healthcare landscape – offering high quality, cost-effective health plans that don’t require a full-time benefits team to decipher. For employers that need affordability without compromising care, Centivo is the solution.
4. 56% of Americans cannot afford an unexpected medical expense of $1,000 without going into debt. How has the traditional system failed workers?
This staggering stat is a symptom of a healthcare system that prioritizes transactions over outcomes. This fee-for-service system chooses to not incentivize value, leaving patients to foot the bill. That misalignment is financially devastating for families and unsustainable for employers.
Centivo is daring to challenge the status quo and is flipping this model on its head. By emphasizing primary care and eliminating unnecessary costs, Centivo is able to deliver better outcomes and real affordability. The result: employees can actually use their health care plan without the fear of financial ruin.
5. With healthcare costs set to rise nearly 10% for employers, where can savings be found without sacrificing the quality of care?
The answer is primary care. A strong, ongoing relationship with a trusted provider is the single best predictor of long-term health outcomes and lower costs. Prioritizing primary care prevents expensive ER visits, reduces specialist overuse and keeps people healthier for longer.
Centivo doesn’t treat their patients as a box to check. The company centers its entire model around primary care. That is a smart investment for any employer looking to control spend while still improving employee wellbeing.
6. How has the Centivo-Morgan Health partnership helped employees make better healthcare decisions?
We piloted Centivo in Dallas by giving our JPMC employees a choice: stick with a traditional carrier, or try a new, high-quality primary care-centered network. Since we implemented this choice, we’ve doubled enrollment in Centivo – and employee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
Why is this? I believe because people want healthcare that works for them – that they can actually afford. There are no surprise bills with Centivo so members don’t feel overwhelmed by the system. Members can access great doctors, manage chronic conditions proactively and most importantly, keep costs down. It feels good to be investing in our employees’ health and not just their coverage.
7. Where do you see Centivo in 10 years?
Centivo is challenging the assumption that quality care needs to be expensive and complicated.
In 10 years, I believe we will look back at Centivo as one of the companies that truly changed how the employer-sponsored healthcare system operates.
Centivo has experienced incredible growth since I’ve invested – their expansion into new regions and their growing client roster are just the beginning. What excites me most is Centivo is building a healthcare system that works for people, not against.
