Sesame

In 2023, an estimated 7.2% Americans were uninsured - a historic low since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act. But that figure doesn't tell the whole story. As pandemic-era insurance protections are rolled back, more and more Americans will lose health insurance coverage. The uninsured rate rose to 7.7% in 2024, and the Congressional Budget Office warned this week that by 2034, an estimated 8.9% of Americans will be without coverage. Even many of those with insurance are struggling to afford their deductibles. Health insurance has become a barrier to care for millions of people. The trend here is clear: without competition, the traditional U.S. healthcare system is unsustainable - whether it’s now or 10 years into the future. With competition, everything changes - and Sesame is proof of that. With insurance and third parties cut out of the equation, providers are free to set their own schedules and competitive prices. Patients are free to choose their own providers and book appointments at an upfront price without hidden fees. And people can get the care they need, when they need it. The trend here is clear, too: real, competitive health care marketplaces ARE sustainable - whether it's now or 10 years into the future. 💜 #affordablecare #healthcareinnovation

It’s never been a better time to choose cash-pay health care and cut insurance out of the equation. Why? Because according to the US Health Care Price Index, the cash price of everyday medical services has either remained flat or decreased since March 2024. Here’s what prices looked like in April: 🔎 Virtual dermatology consults: $48.29 ( ⬇ 3.4% MoM) 👩⚕️ Virtual mental health consults: $50.30 (⬇ 1.3% MoM) 😷 Virtual COVID-19 consults: $44.74 (⬇ 1.7% MoM) These affordable cash prices stand in stark contrast to insurance-negotiated prices within the traditional US healthcare system: rising costs and challenges with insurance reimbursements are so out of hand for patients and providers that even Walmart was forced to shutter their telehealth and in-person health centers last month due to a lack of profitability. What else did the data reveal about cash-pay health care prices? Check the newest USHPI market trends for more details👇 https://lnkd.in/eZuzsyX9

America's most affordable weight loss program is now even more affordable for Costco members. Today, Sesame announced an expansion of our partnership with Costco Wholesale that allows Costco Members to access Sesame's weight loss program for as little as $179 every 3 months ($60 per month). The service will provide Costco members with access to: - Three (3) months of clinical consultation - The ability to select a clinician of their choice - An initial live video consultation with their clinician - The ability to message with their clinician outside of scheduled appointments - A nutritional guide with dietary and exercise recommendations  - An individualized, clinically-appropriate treatment program Price is one of the biggest barriers to weight loss care in America. It’s estimated that at least 42% of the U.S. population is obese –  yet weight loss treatments (clinical nutrition and fitness recommendations, lifestyle guidance, medication, and more) are exorbitantly priced and out of reach for millions. That’s why we built a system where patients can receive clinical weight loss guidance with upfront prices, no long waits, and no complicated paperwork. Necessity is the mother of invention - and nothing demands innovation like a system where patients are in desperate need of care but cannot afford it. This partnership expands access to medically-supervised weight loss care in a way that has never been done: simply, conveniently, and affordably. 💜 https://lnkd.in/gWNdZKEr

It's with immense pride that we announce Sesame’s selection to the 2024 Impact 100 List of America’s Most Impactful Companies to Work For. Of the 5,000+ companies and 20,000+ employees surveyed by Hyer, Sesame stood apart as an organization where all employees, from top to bottom, genuinely feel like their contributions are making a difference to a cause they care about. At Sesame, we've always been driven by a singular vision: a future where healthcare is as price-competitive, transparent, innovative and responsive as the best of consumer industries. Our team works tirelessly every day to drive that vision forward, innovating with compassion and empathy. But what makes this award so special is that it reflects the internal values and the culture within Sesame. It's a nod to our efforts in building a workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and motivated to contribute to our collective mission. To our team - this award is a reflection of your hard work and the meaningful impact you make every day. Thank you. And if you’re passionate about making high-quality, affordable health care a reality for all - open Sesame. #Impact100 #WorkplaceCulture #HealthcareInnovation #BestPlacestoWork https://lnkd.in/gMaw6kKg

Five years ago today, we at Sesame set out to build something that had never been built before:  a real, competitive, shoppable marketplace - for health care. We (along with millions of Americans) recognized that the exorbitant third-party fees, opaque billing practices and utter lack of transparency within the U.S. healthcare system didn’t have much in common with our favorite shopping experiences, such as: ✅ A huge selection of quality products and services to choose from  ✅ Clear, easy-to-compare prices ✅ Transparent reviews from consumers  ✅ A breezy, simple checkout process ✅ Same-day or next-day arrival for your purchase So we set out to rebuild the system from scratch. Today, the Sesame marketplace is a thriving platform that features thousands of top-rated doctors and specialists, 120+ types of care across 45+ specialties in all 50 states, same-day appointments and more – all at competitive, upfront, direct-pay prices. No long waits. No surprise bills. No insurance needed. It’s simple, high-quality and affordable (the way healthcare should be). Want to celebrate with us? Open Sesame and see what we’ve built for yourself. You’ll pay half to be whole. 💜 https://lnkd.in/ej7ARGJS

If you're going to read anything this week, let it be Sesame founder and CEO David Goldhill's response to a recently published article from The New York Times entitled, "Six Reasons Drug Prices Are So High in the US". "The authors point to a series of causes: a lack of central negotiators, a lack of price controls, the presence of perverse incentives, patent gaming, and a fragmented and complicated system. All of these points are correct – and ultimately irrelevant." Read on for an actionable solution to rising healthcare costs in America: https://lnkd.in/ebZTrUzd #healthcareinnovation #drugpricing #healthcare

We’re thrilled to announce that Upwork CMO Melissa Waters has joined Sesame’s Board of Directors. To Sesame, Melissa brings more than 15 years of experience in marketing disruptive digital, consumer and marketplace brands. As exemplified by past executive marketing positions at Instagram, hims & hers, Lyft and Pandora, Melissa’s business acumen and creativity set her apart as a savvy marketing leader and advisor. At Sesame, we envision a future where healthcare is as price-competitive, transparent, innovative and responsive as the best of consumer industries. We believe that Melissa’s expertise and perspective will be instrumental in advancing this vision. https://lnkd.in/eew2ZfTc

More than 1 million hospital-acquired infections occur across the U.S. healthcare system every year, with more than 100,000 lives lost as a result. In most cases, these infections could be prevented by adopting simple checklists that include seemingly-obvious steps, such proper hand hygiene - and yet, these checklists are still not protocol across all hospital systems. So why would a business not be motivated to adopt a low-cost protocol that can save lives? Because the incentives in healthcare are all wrong. In any other industry, 100,000 lives lost would be unacceptable. Customers would seek a different option. But in the U.S. healthcare industry, Americans are not the customer. Instead, third parties like Medicare, Medicaid and insurance companies are the ones who pay the bills and hold the power to exact change. Sesame CEO David Goldhill, who lost his own father to a hospital-acquired infection, believes that the creation of a new marketplace - where patients and providers can connect directly, without middlemen - is the key to creating a competitive system where incentives are driven by quality of care, convenience and affordability. Hear more about the radical simplicity of Sesame on the Kurisko & Company podcast: https://lnkd.in/gnVxag_U

"Sesame is one of the oldest and easiest ideas in the online space: it's a two-sided marketplace - sellers list their services, and customers buy. What makes it radical is that it's in U.S. healthcare. And it's direct-pay. And there's no insurance." Watch Sesame's cofounder and CEO David Goldhill explain what makes Sesame radically different - and radically affordable - in 2 minutes. 📹: Giant Ventures

The U.S. gig economy is here to stay. It grew by 33% in 2020 (expanding 8.25x faster than the U.S. economy as a whole), and projections estimate that roughly 50% of our U.S. workforce will be independent contractors by 2030 - and yet, only 40 percent of gig economy workers reported having access to employer-based health coverage (compared to 82 percent of full-time employees). That’s a problem. As the shift towards an "on-demand" workforce grows in popularity, coupled with soaring healthcare expenses, there is a growing disparity between earned income and the sky-rocketing cost of deductibles. Without thorough reform, the gig economy will continue to contribute to the burgeoning number of Americans who are struggling to access medical care. Sesame’s solution is radically simple (and radically effective): a direct-pay healthcare marketplace where Americans have access to high-quality, discounted clinical healthcare - at zero cost to their employer. The latest to embrace this solution is Sittercity, a leader in providing in-home child care services, which today joins Costco, Marsh McClennan and others in recognizing Sesame’s ability to provide top-notch, affordable health care to their constituents. The Sittercity x Sesame partnership lets thousands of child care providers access same-day, outpatient medical care, medications and more at about half the price of what is typical - regardless of the caregiver’s insurance status. With virtual primary care visits starting at just $30 for caregivers and the ability to see a provider within hours of booking care, the partnership eliminates barriers to healthcare for contractors (such as high costs and long wait times) and expands high-quality health care access to thousands of caregivers. But above all, it highlights that providing high-quality, low-cost health care is not just achievable in the gig economy; it should be the new standard. Learn more about we’re revolutionizing health benefits for the gig economy here: https://lnkd.in/egE9TYQy #gigeconomy #healthcare #employerbenefits