Scout InsurTech Interview with Healia Health

Healia Health is a health benefits company. They seek to enable companies to cover the expenses of employees on their spouse's health plan. Michael Fiedel sat with Founder and CEO, Priyang Shah, to learn more about how Healia Health is impacting the industry.

Who are your clients?

Healia’s clients are employers looking for innovative solutions to lower health insurance costs while providing excellent benefits. We work closely with health insurance brokers, who play a vital role in introducing Healia’s solutions to employers and ensuring seamless implementation.

What does your product do?

Healia is a health insurance solution designed to help dual-income families maximize their benefits. It allows employers to pay for the health insurance costs of employees who enroll in their spouse or partner’s plan, rather than using their employer's plan. This approach provides a win-win:

For families: They can receive up to 100 percent of out-of-pocket costs covered by combining their benefits in an optimal way.
For employers: It’s more cost-effective to pay for these out-of-pocket costs than to cover all risks associated with their own plan.

Additionally, Healia uses generative AI to help families compare their health plan options. Employees can upload their plans (and their spouse’s), and Healia provides a detailed analysis of the best options, simplifying the complex decision-making process.

Was the company born from within or outside the industry?

The company has roots in both insurance and tech. I have a background in healthcare and insurance, having worked at Root Insurance and Olive AI in Columbus, Ohio. However, the team approaches the health industry with fresh eyes, applying modern tech solutions to innovate and address longstanding challenges.

What growth metrics have you accomplished over the last 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, Healia has achieved significant growth:

Grew the business 9x compared to the previous year.
Gained more than 50 customers in 25+ states
Demonstrated a strong appetite among clients for cost-reduction solutions, which has driven our rapid expansion.

Within your domain, what is the current challenge that the industry is facing?

The industry faces two major challenges:

Cost Increases: Employer-sponsored health plans are becoming prohibitively expensive, with family coverage costs averaging $16,500 annually for employers and an additional $6,000–$7,000 for employees. Continuous 5 to 6 percent annual cost growth is unsustainable, driving the need for innovative solutions.
Technology Adoption: The rise of generative AI presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Companies that can implement AI effectively and efficiently will have a competitive advantage, while those that lag behind will struggle to keep up.

How does Healia take a unique approach to providing value?

Healia stands out by addressing the inherent trade-offs in health insurance (e.g., higher costs for employers vs. better benefits for employees). Our product provides a win-win solution by allowing dual income families to maximize their options while minimizing risk for our employer clients. Healia also simplifies decision-making through advanced AI-powered tools, making it easier for families to compare and optimize their healthcare options.

What inspired the team to start this company?

The inspiration behind Healia was to create a patient-first, employee-first solution. The team wanted to build something that helped regular people better understand, manage and afford their healthcare. This mission has guided the company’s product iterations and growth, with a consistent focus on making a tangible impact on families’ lives.

Can you share any goal(s) for the next 12 months?

Healia aims to:

Continue providing excellent claims and customer service experience to our users while we scale the business.
Move upstream by expanding our customer base to include more clients in the 10,000+ employee segment.
Maintain responsible, aggressive growth while maximizing our impact in the industry.

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