Perspectives
Why the “Cream of the Crap” Still Dominates Our Benefits
…and How to Fix It
Each year, Americans rank health insurance companies near the bottom in public trust. Just above cable companies. Just below used car dealers. In fact, a 2023 Axios-Harris Poll placed health insurance dead last among major industries for reputation.
Why? Because most health plans feel extractive, opaque, and adversarial. We pay more, get less, and rarely know what we’re buying—until it’s too late. No wonder trust has eroded.
As one frustrated employer put it:
“Health plans are the cream of the crap—better than nothing, but worse than almost everything.”
The Real Issue: Unpredictability Breeds Distrust
At the heart of the problem is this: we don’t trust what we can’t predict.
- Your premium might go up next year.
- Your deductible might reset.
- Your claim might get denied.
- Your network might change.
- Your bill might surprise you.
Consumers and employers alike are trapped in a game where the rules shift constantly, and the costs keep rising. This isn’t just a financial issue—it’s a trust crisis.
Rinse, Repeat: The Legacy Playbook Fails Again
For decades, insurers have offered the same recycled “solutions” to contain costs:
- High-deductible plans
- Narrow networks
- Utilization management
Each of these reduces choice, adds friction, and further erodes trust.
It’s a system that punishes the sick, baffles the healthy, and leaves everyone feeling powerless.
A Pathway to Trust: Predictability + Transparency + Choice
Oxbridge Health’s Episode Benefit Plans break this cycle. We don’t hide prices—we guarantee them. We don’t shrink networks—we grow competition. And we don’t push risk to the consumer—we give them tools to control it.
Through our Episode Advantage™ program, we’ve rebuilt the health plan from the ground up—with trust as its foundation.
Here’s how:
1. Transparency That Works Before Care Begins
Most plans talk about transparency. But if the only time you see a price is after you’ve received care, that’s not transparency—that’s a receipt.
With Oxbridge:
- Consumers know the cost before they choose care.
- Employers can predict what they’ll spend—down to the episode.
- Everyone sees the same pricing—no hidden markups.
2. Guaranteed Pricing = Budgeting Confidence
We offer pre-negotiated bundled prices for over 50% of healthcare spending—from knee replacements to childbirth. These guaranteed “episode” prices replace vague estimates and surprise bills.
Now, employers can budget like it’s 2025—not 1995.
3. Consumer Agency to Shop for Value
Oxbridge enables consumers to:
- Compare bundled episode options across multiple providers.
- Make informed choices based on cost, quality, and convenience.
- Share in the savings when they pick high-value care.
This isn’t about rationing—it’s about empowerment.
4. Massive Choice—Without the Narrow Network Trap
Traditional plans shrink networks to cut costs. We do the opposite:
- Guaranteed care groups compete for your business.
- Consumers retain choice across top-tier providers.
- Value is driven by transparency—not restriction.
We’re not forcing members into narrow networks. We’re opening up new possibilities.
Rebuilding Trust in Health Plans—One Episode at a Time
Oxbridge isn’t trying to “fix” a broken model—we’ve replaced it.
- Where others hide prices, we reveal them.
- Where others restrict choice, we expand it.
- Where others shift risk, we share it.
Because trust isn’t built on loyalty programs or call center scripts. It’s built on clarity, consistency, and control.
Ready to stop offering the ‘cream of the crap’ to your employees?
Explore how Oxbridge Health is turning benefit plans into a true advantage—with transparency, predictability, and trust at their core.