Frequently Asked Questions

Most large and mid-sized employers in the US are self-funded, meaning that they pay for the healthcare claims of their employees directly rather than paying monthly premiums to an insurance company. This gives employers more control over their health plan design and costs, but also means they take on the financial risk of paying claims. Self-funded employers often hire a third-party administrator (TPA) to process claims and manage the plan.

By paying healthcare providers directly, employers can cut out the middlemen, bring transparency to pricing, and take control of their healthcare spending. Our approach uses open, standardized contracts with clear pricing, so everyone knows exactly what is being paid for each service. This empowers employers to make informed decisions and helps providers get paid quickly, fairly and with less hassle.

Today, Cost Plus Wellness is an open-source project, not a business. We may at some point charge employers for our services, but right now our focus is simply to bring transparency to the market.

Cost Plus Wellness is designed for companies that have a self-funded health plan. Learn more about how we work with employers here.

For every provider in Cost Plus Wellness, we have already negotiated a published, transparent contract that other employers can use. Each provider page here has a download link to the actual contract we've signed, including the prices.

To keep Cost Plus Wellness administratively simple for ourselves and providers, our contracts require employers to pay for care on cash-like terms. Learn more about how we work with employers here.

Both Cost Plus Drugs and Cost Plus Wellness are Mark Cuban-backed projects designed to lower the cost of healthcare in America.

Cost Plus Drugs is a pharmacy with transparent prices for prescription drugs.

Cost Plus Wellness helps employers contract directly and transparently with healthcare providers.