Included Health to Launch Employer Benefit Plans
Self-insured employers will access new copay-based plans starting January 1, 2028.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Healthcare
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Included Health is launching Included Health Plans for self-insured employers, aiming to curb medical expenses through a new benefit structure. The plans will go live on January 1, 2028, and operate across all 50 states.
Why it matters
The company intends to reverse escalating employer healthcare costs without shifting expenses to employees by replacing traditional deductibles with a copay-first model. This shift seeks to lower total care costs for businesses while maintaining employee benefit standards.
The new model utilizes a network of 1,000 virtual care clinicians and 2,000 in-person partners across all 50 states, targeting total care savings of 6% to 15%.
The players
Included Health
A national healthcare navigation and virtual care company that provides integrated health benefits and clinical services to employers.
Firefly Health
A virtual-first clinical care organization acquired by Included Health in 2026 to expand its primary and specialty care capabilities.
The details
Included Health plans to integrate virtual care, navigation, and advocacy with in-person clinical partnerships to manage care outcomes. By replacing traditional deductibles with copay-first benefit structures, the platform aims to reduce administrative and clinical spending. This infrastructure leverages assets integrated following the mid-2026 acquisition of Firefly Health.
Timeline
Mid-2026: Included Health completed its acquisition of Firefly Health.
January 1, 2028: Included Health Plans will reach its initial plan year go-live date.
Market Landscape
This development follows a trend of private entities creating proprietary benefit structures to manage costs while complying with established federal insurance requirements under the Affordable Care Act. It marks a shift toward vertical integration of virtual and in-person care networks by benefit providers.
Self-insured employers should evaluate whether switching to a copay-first, integrated network aligns with their current health spend and employee retention goals. Owners should review their 2028 renewal timelines and consult with benefits brokers to assess the potential for cost savings.
The takeaway
The move suggests a shifting priority toward managing the clinical path of care rather than just processing claims. Operators should monitor the 6% to 15% savings claim against their own historical claims data during the next annual benefit renewal period.
What happens next
Included Health Plans will officially launch on January 1, 2028.
Further reading
For more on evolving benefits models, see Healthcare.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hitconsultant.
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