Is CareUno Right for Your Plan?
CareUno is designed for self-funded employer plans with 200 or more covered lives and recurring annual spend on high-cost elective surgical categories. Our channel delivers the most measurable impact for plans that have experienced one or more of the following:
-
A single orthopedic, cardiac, bariatric, or spine case that materially impacted annual claims spend
-
Price variation across their network that undermines cost predictability
-
Stop-loss triggers that are increasingly driven by a small number of elective cases
-
Employees facing 3–6 month domestic wait times for elective procedures
CareUno operates alongside your existing TPA, stop-loss carrier, and domestic network. It is an additive channel, not a replacement.
The Cost Pressure on Self-Funded Plans
A small number of high-cost elective cases can disproportionately impact annual plan spend and cost predictability
High Cost
One orthopedic or cardiac episode can exceed $100,000, or 5–10% of a small plan’s yearly claims
Price Variation
A knee replacement can run $17,000–$61,000 in the same metro, a 3.5x spread with no proven quality difference
Limited Access
Elective ortho waits can reach 4–6 months in high-demand markets, extending disability and productivity loss
Financial Strain
The top 1% of claimants can account for 20%+ of plan spend, making costs hard to predict without a dedicated channel
Why CareUno Works When Others Have Failed
The reason global surgery programs fail in employer plans is not clinical quality. It is the claims and documentation gap. CareUno's translation engine closes that gap.
A Global Center of Excellence model extends your cost management strategy beyond domestic network negotiation, introducing a governed international channel where high quality elective procedures are delivered at materially lower cost within defined episode pricing and documentation standards.
For self-funded plans, this creates a new lever. Rather than absorbing a $90,000 to $130,000 domestic claim with limited recourse, the plan can offer members access to a JCI-accredited international facility at a fixed episode price 40 to 65 percent below the domestic benchmark, with structured continuity back to their domestic care team.
-
Lower Total Cost
Access significantly lower procedure pricing
-
Defined Episode Governance
Establish cost and documentation standards before care begins
-
Integrated Continuity
Maintain structured oversight from surgery through recovery
-
Strategic Channel Expansion
Add a global care channel without disrupting existing networks
Fits Existing Benefits
Works within current self-funded plan administration, TPA structures, and benefit document frameworks
Simple to Implement
Minimal disruption to existing workflows. CareUno manages hospital coordination, episode pricing, and continuity documentation
Additive Solution
Complements domestic COE arrangements. Members who prefer domestic options retain full access to their existing network
Stronger Market Leverage
Credible global alternative creates leverage in domestic network and stop-loss negotiations