Issue 053
Welcome back to E&O Wednesdays, the enrollment-focused digital health newsletter from Exits & Outcomes — for paying subscribers only. This every-other-Wednesday issue digs into digital health companies that sell to self-insured employers as well as others that rely on enrollment-based distribution for their digital health programs.
E&O Wednesdays: Employers
This edition of E&O Wednesdays includes the fifty-somethingth BigCo digital health employee benefits stack analysis. If you would like a quick summary of what E&O found in its analysis of some of the first 50+ BigCo stacks, check out this searchable, sortable database right here. Was this forwarded to you? Increasingly, E&O is a covered benefit from many forward-looking digital health-focused employers. Why not yours? Consider a Business or Enterprise subscription today. Click this link to become a paying subscriber (there are personal plans available too).
Cigna bought MDLIVE for $2B cash in 2021
On April 19, 2021, big health insurance company Cigna acquired the 97 percent of pre-IPO virtual visits company MDLIVE that it didn’t already own. At the time financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
E&O can now report that Cigna acquired MDLIVE for $2 billion in cash.
(That number might sound high to some readers. Other reporters have suggested the purchase price was around $1 billion — and I’m not sure why? I think possibly it was because MDLIVE was frequently referred to as a unicorn, meaning it was a private company valued at more than a billion. So, that anchored some to the $1 billion mark?) Here’s how Cigna broke down the acquisition:
Reflecting on the acquisition in early 2022, Cigna summed it up like so:
“Our acquisition of virtual telehealth leader MDLIVE demonstrates how we are responding to the dramatic increase in new models for accessing care and we see virtual care as accelerating improved affordability. Through MDLIVE, we have expanded access to virtual care services for millions of customers, with capabilities that now include primary and dermatological care, as well as behavioral health for conditions including anxiety and depression, and we plan to continue introducing additional services. Recently, we developed an approach for patients diagnosed with orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions to provide highly personalized and actionable information to guide their choices and support improved health outcomes and affordability. We also launched an innovative virtual-first health plan option for employers, another step forward in providing convenient and comprehensive care experiences for our customers.”
Big employer benefits stacks: MassMutual and BorgWarner (revisited)
Digital health companies love to boast how many Fortune 500 customers they have, but they aren’t always able to share which big companies offer their programs. That’s where E&O comes in. This recurring feature of E&O Wednesdays digs into a Fortune 500’s (or similarly-sized employer’s) digital health stack. So far, in past Wednesdays issues, I’ve written about the digital health benefits stacks of dozens of big companies. This searchable, sortable database over at the E&O site sums up the benefits stacks of more than 40 BigCos. Or, click any of the BigCo names below to read the newsletter that featured a full write-up for each:
- Walmart,
- Activision Blizzard,
- JP Morgan Chase,
- The Home Depot,
- Boeing,
- 3M,
- Chevron,
- BorgWarner,
- Bank of America,
- UnitedHealth Group,
- Costco,
- eBay,
- McKesson,
- Ford,
- Dell,
- AT&T,
- Disney,
- Novartis,
- Red Bull,
- VMware,
- T-Mobile/Sprint,
- Adobe,
- Phillips 66,
- Cox Enterprises,
- Wells Fargo,
- PayPal,
- Facebook,
- Sony Pictures,
- General Mills,
- General Electric,
- Comcast,
- News Corp,
- Vanguard,
- Nokia,
- HII,
- Fidelity,
- AbbVie,
- Dow Inc.,
- R.R. Donnelley & Sons,
- Target,
- Chipotle,
- W. W. Grainger,
- Tesla,
- Hitachi,
- Western Digital,
- AmerisourceBergen,
- Analog Devices,
- Citi,
- Xerox,
- Autodesk,
- ExxonMobil,
- Amazon,
- Oracle,
- T-Mobile (revisited),
- General Mills (revisited),
- Kimberly-Clark,
- and IBM.
This week I revisited the benefits stack of BigCo BorgWarner and found a few new additions (or ones I missed back in February 2021?) I also took a look at which digital health-powered benefits big life insurance co MassMutual offers its employees to extend their lives.
First, let’s take a look at American automotive supplier BorgWarner’s benefits stack. Back in 2021, E&O found that BorgWarner only offered three digital health-powered employee benefits — all of which are still in place today too:
- Cigna-owned MDLive for virtual visits.
- Teladoc-owned Livongo for diabetes management.
- Omada for diabetes prevention.
Airrosti for MSK In 2023 BorgWarner is also offering remote musculoskeletal programs from Airrosti:
“BorgWarner is proud to offer Airrosti to all Cigna health plan members as an in-network musculoskeletal and joint condition treatment program.
- This virtual provider/resource can help fix chronic neck pain, back pain, joint or muscle pain, as well as provide relief from strains and sprains.
- You receive thorough assessments and orthopedic testing for accurate diagnosis, customized treatment plans and personalized rehab and at-home exercises designed to help speed recovery and prevent future injuries.”
Teladoc’s Livongo for hypertension I noted that BorgWarner didn’t offer any kind of high blood pressure management program in 2021. Now, it has expanded its relationship with Teladoc to offer its Livongo Hypertension Management program too:
- “Coaching, anytime and anywhere: Certified Chronic care professionals provide live one-on-one sessions with you and are there to answer your questions. Contact them directly by phone, email, text of mobile app.
- FREE blood pressure monitor: Automatically uploads your blood pressure readings to your private account, making it easy to access your readings interpret results.
- FREE tools to better understand your condition: You can gain insights and feedback based on your readings. Plus, have access to educational content about blood pressure basics. Tracking tools also make it easy to see progress and help you reach your goals.
- Medication support. Receive helpful reminders to ensure you stay on track with medications.”
Headspace Health’s Ginger is an in-network virtual behavioral health provider New in the last two years: BorgWarner also pitches Ginger as an in-network provider for Cigna plan members:
“Everyone deserves access to incredible mental healthcare. That’s why Ginger created the world’s first integrated mental healthcare system where coaches, therapists, and psychiatrists work as a team to coordinate the best, personalized care right from your smartphone, whenever you need it. It’s like a virtual clinic without the waiting room. Ginger’s mental health services are in-network and accessible through your behavioral health benefits.”
Bicycle Health is an in-network virtual clinic for opioid use disorder Similarly, BorgWarner is pitching Bicycle Health as a virtual in-network clinic for opioid use disorder treatment:
“Bicycle Health is putting recovery within reach as part of the Behavioral Health Services provider network.
- This confidential and virtual health platform offers comprehensive support, including online therapy, medication for addiction treatment, support groups, care management and more to help patients successfully recover from opioid use.
- The Clinical Support Specialists offer guidance and encouragement every weekday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. via phone, text or chat on the secure app.
- Note: Bicycle Health is not currently operating in Indiana, South Carolina or New York. Employees in these three states will not have access to Bicycle Health nor see this provider listed in the provider directory.”
Alright, let’s move on to MassMutual’s benefits stack: MassMutual doesn’t spill a lot of ink pitching some of these digital health benefits but they get a mention in some of the company’s marketing materials so they are available:
- “ConsumerMedical healthcare navigation and claims support Included Health specialized advocacy and healthcare navigation support for LGBTQ+ and Black/African American communities. This benefit is available to medical plan participants and household members, even if household members aren’t covered by our medical plan.
- Hinge Health digital exercise therapy program for adult back and joint health
- Omada digital well-being program for prevention and management of diabetes and hypertension in adults”
Even though BorgWarner offers Hinge Health it also offers Cigna’s own “Cigna bone and joint health program for pain management and surgery support,” which — just judging by that short description — seems to have some overlapping features.
Spring Health is MM’s EAP
“Whether feeling great, managing a crisis, or somewhere in between, employees and their household members have a full spectrum of personalized mental-health solutions at their calling. Spring Health provides access to a broad network of providers, a dedicated care navigator, 12 counseling sessions and 12 coaching sessions per year, substance use disorder and family care programs, and more — with real-time online booking and participants seeing a therapist in an average of just 2 days. It’s a brand-new take on EAP and it’s all 100% free.”
Ovia Health for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting support
“A maternity and family benefit through Ovia Health, which features Ovia Fertility, Ovia Pregnancy and Ovia Parenting apps to support your health and parenting journey.”
Progyny for fertility benefits
“A fertility benefit through Progyny, which connects you to leading fertility specialists who provide the most advanced, effective treatment, including coverage for IUI, IVF, egg freezing, and more, unlimited one-on-one support from a patient-care advocate, and access to the largest national network of premier fertility physicians.”
OK, that’s a wrap on BorgWarner and MassMutuals’ rather substantial benefits stacks. Which BigCo should E&O dig into next? Hit reply if you have a suggestion.
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