Wednesday, 26 August 2026 12:00 PM
Product Announcements
Managed cash-pay healthcare program combines more than a decade of experience, direct primary care, proprietary fintech and guided member support to help employers reduce costs while improving access to care.
CENTENNIAL, CO / ACCESS Newswire / August 26, 2026 / Apta Health today announced the nationwide expansion of Apta Cash, its fully managed cash-pay healthcare program designed to help employers significantly reduce healthcare spending while giving members a simpler, more guided way to access care.
This initiative comes at a critical time for employers looking to curb record rate hikes, as The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 2027 will see the largest health insurance increases in two decades.
Employer Results
A fiber internet company with operations across the United States reduced its medical spending by 42.35% through the Apta Health cash-pay model. Employees who followed the guided care pathway also received covered care with no out-of-pocket cost.
"One of my favorite things about this cash-pay model is the simplicity," said the company's Chief Operating Officer. "As long as employees stay in the cash-pay lane, they do not come out of pocket personally for anything. We have been able to see our employees get the care they need without being harmed financially by deductibles, copays or other out-of-pocket costs."
The results demonstrate how Apta Cash can reduce plan spending while helping members access care without the financial barriers commonly associated with deductibles, copays and coinsurance.
Apta Health has been developing and managing cash-pay healthcare strategies for employer-sponsored health plans for over a decade. In 2025, the company expanded those capabilities by acquiring proprietary financial technology and bringing payment administration, transaction management, and reporting in-house.
When members access healthcare through Apta Cash's guided process, including its direct primary care providers, they can receive covered care with zero out-of-pocket cost. At the same time, employers can realize millions of dollars in savings compared with the cost of care delivered through a standard insurance offering.
The program is now available nationwide for employers transitioning during the 2026 plan year for January 1, 2027 plan-year implementations.
"Cash-pay healthcare is not new to Apta Health. We have been building and managing these programs for more than a decade," said Melissa Saturnino, COO and co-founder of Apta Health. "What makes Apta Cash different is that we have combined that experience with proprietary fintech, direct primary care and hands-on member guidance to create a fully managed solution. Employers can save millions compared with traditional insurance pricing. Our technology allows us to manage payments at the point of service, preserve claims-grade data and give employers the financial visibility and oversight they need to manage their plan responsibly."
A Fully Managed Alternative to Traditional Healthcare Payment
Healthcare prices continue to rise, while employers and members often have limited visibility into the actual cost of care. Cash-pay healthcare creates a more direct payment pathway by allowing employer-sponsored plans to purchase care from medical providers at a clear, agreed-upon price rather than relying exclusively on traditional insurance billing and network contracts.
Apta Cash provides the infrastructure, technology and member support required to make that model work at scale.
The program includes unlimited access to direct primary care providers, delivering routine care, chronic-condition support, and clinical guidance at no cost to the member. Many healthcare needs can be addressed virtually, eliminating unnecessary appointments, delays, and out-of-pocket expenses. When additional services are needed, the Apta Cash Concierge team helps the member identify a qualified provider, secures a competitive cash price, coordinates the appointment, and manages the payment.
The program includes unlimited access to direct primary care providers, delivering routine care, chronic-condition support, and clinical guidance at no cost to the member. Many healthcare needs can be addressed virtually, eliminating unnecessary appointments, delays, and out-of-pocket expenses. When additional services are needed, the Apta Cash Concierge team helps the member identify a qualified provider, secures a competitive cash price, coordinates the appointment, and manages the payment. Members are not limited to a standard insurance networks and can be directed to any provider that accepts cash payments.
When members use the program as designed, this coordinated approach can eliminate deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket expenses for covered care. Employers benefit from replacing inflated traditional insurance pricing with transparent, directly negotiated cash rates that can produce substantial-and, for some groups, multimillion-dollar-savings. Providers save time and administrative costs by being paid directly at the time of service, avoiding lengthy billing and collection processes.
Apta Cash is part of Apta Health's broader approach to helping employers build healthcare plans that are easier to use, easier to understand and more financially sustainable.
Employers and benefits advisors can learn more about Apta Cash and schedule a consultation at AptaHealth.com/apta-care-and-cash.
About Apta Health
Apta Health helps employers and benefits advisors lower healthcare costs and improve employee outcomes through innovative healthcare solutions, real-time analytics, optimized stop-loss strategies and modern cash-pay programs.
Media Contact
Sarah Devine
Marketing Specialist
[email protected]
SOURCE: Apta Health