You own your practiceYou own your buildingNow own your health plan
Ryze is for physicians who think like owners.
Stop renting your health coverage. Ryze helps independent physician-owners build equity in the largest recurring check their practice writes.
Be the best in class:
join the majority.
The best companies already own their health plans.
67% of people with employer-sponsored health plans are on a self-funded plan. This is because the best employers know to hold on to their money rather than give it to big insurance companies.
Ryze makes it as easy as possible for independent practices to do the same.
You’re already familiar with ownership
Most independent physicians own their practice. Many own their building. Few have considered a health plan as an asset.
Non-refundable
Premium
Let’s start with what it means to be fully-insured
Health insurance offered by an employer or association in which the employer (or association) pays premiums to a commercial insurer. If an employee has a medical claim, the insurer – not the employer – is responsible for paying the bills.*
You exchange your dollars for a service provided by the insurance company.
What does it mean to have self-funded insurance?
A self-insured health plan (also known as a self-funded health plan) is coverage offered by an employer or association in which the employer puts aside funds to pay for their own medical claims. A third-party administrator (TPA) adjudicates claims and helps administer the plan.
To limit risk a reinsurer comes in and is responsible for claims above a set amount. Those limits are set by case and as an aggregate for the practice for the year. This is where Ryze comes into play. We are the reinsurer that makes having a self-funded plan possible at the size of most independent practices.
After paying claims, any money left over is kept by the employer. This is how you build equity over time.
The majority of workers with employee-sponsored plans are enrolled in self-insured plans.
Fully-insured is renting
Self-funded is owning
Under a fully-insured plan, every premium dollar goes to a carrier whose model depends on keeping more than it pays out. You get no upside, no visibility, no path to ownership.
- ×Premiums leave the practice for good
- ×Carrier keeps the surplus when claims run low
- ×Carrier owns your claims data
- ×Annual reset — react to renewal, repeat
- ×Benefits from a pre-built menu
- ✓It’s your money — annual surpluses flow back to you
- ✓You own your claims data and decisions
- ✓Smart plans built to lower costs
- ✓Multi-year compounding, not an annual reset
- ✓Better benefits = better talent recruitment and retention
They raise rates every year
Control your costs with Ryze
The only given is that insurance premiums increase double digits annually. With Ryze, your trajectory is that of an ownership model.
In year one, like when you purchase a property, you will likely pay more than when you rent. However, over time rental costs overtake purchase costs, and you’ll experience annual savings while building equity.
Eligibility
Other industries have their own self-funded options. We created Ryze specifically to serve our own. None of the criteria below fit you?
You’re exactly who Ryze is built for.
Many self-insurance reinsurers set a cut-off at 100+ employees. That would alienate the majority of independent practices, so we put in the work to bring the minimum down to 25.
Ryze won’t be a good fit if…
We address this up front to set the right expectations.
Less than 30–60 days to renewal and looking for a matching quote. Ryze requires thoughtful lead time — this isn’t a last-minute swap.
If you like your plan and/or broker and are looking for the same thing at a lower price. Ryze isn’t a discount — it’s a different model entirely.
We need practice owners to be actively involved and approach this decision with the same level of diligence as purchasing a new building.
Owning your own insurance plan takes time to deliver payoff. If your time horizon is short, we don’t recommend taking this path. The equity model rewards patience.
We have limited spots available
Ryze must raise significant funds to be the stop-loss insurer that protects you in case of unforeseen expenses. Every admitted practice requires holding up to $1M of surplus capital with the regulator.
We raise capital to help you fight the good fight but there is a limit, so we are looking for co-pilots for the mission.
Transparent Timelines
We have quarterly/monthly admissions with specific timelines — the same discipline you lived through in residency match and fellowship. We start the process 60 days before you need to make a decision and adhere to a specific timeline to ensure we get practices in each period.
A short, owner-led conversation on fit. Not a fit? We tell you immediately and refer you elsewhere.
From invitation, 30 days to submit complete materials: 2 yrs claims, census, plan design, intent.
Automated check-ins at day 10 and day 20 so no applicant fails by surprise.
Complete materials in, formal offer out within a defined window. Discipline runs both ways.
Unable to complete materials on time? The application withdraws automatically with no penalty. Reapply next cycle.
Options for Smaller Practices
If you're not ready to take the leap to self-funded or you are below the 25 employee threshold, we have partnered with Stitch PEO to offer solutions for you. They share a common mission to serve independent physician practices.
- They offer nationwide PPO plans on the Cigna network
- Members can save upwards of 10-30% on their monthly insurance costs
- Stitch provides a full suite of PEO services and benefits including: dental and vision insurance, 401k, payroll, and much more.
Coverage Benefits
- Primary Care Visit to Treat an Injury or Illness
- Specialist Visit
- Other Practitioner Office Visit (Nurse, PA)
- Outpatient Facility Fee (e.g., Ambulatory Surgery Center)
- Outpatient Surgery Physician/Surgical Services
- Preventive Care/Screening/Immunization
- Urgent Care Centers or Facilities
- Emergency Room Services
- Emergency Transportation/Ambulance
- Inpatient Hospital Services (e.g., Hospital Stay)
- Inpatient Physician and Surgical Services
- Mental/Behavioral Health Outpatient Services
- Mental/Behavioral Health Inpatient Services
- Substance Abuse Disorder Outpatient Services
- Substance Abuse Disorder Inpatient Services
- Prenatal and Postnatal Care
- Delivery and All Inpatient Services for Maternity Care
- Home Health Care Services
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Services
- Rehabilitative Speech Therapy
- Rehabilitative Occupational & Physical Therapy
- Habilitation Services
- Skilled Nursing Facility
- Durable Medical Equipment
- Hospice Services
- Generic Drugs
- Preferred Brand Drugs
- Non-Preferred Brand Drugs
- Specialty Drugs
- Imaging & Diagnostic (X-rays, CT/PET, MRIs)
- Laboratory Outpatient and Professional Services
- Allergy Testing
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Dialysis
- Infusion Therapy
- Transplant
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Family Planning
- Diabetes Education
- Well Baby Visits and Care
- Routine Eye Exam for Children
- Eye Glasses for Children
- Dental Check-Up for Children