The future of alternative plan design includes financing

Healthcare plan design is changing fast. Both employers and health plans are looking beyond traditional cost-sharing models to find ways to make care more affordable without sacrificing plan sustainability.

That's why Dynamic Copay and Alternative Health Plans (plans that flex based on care type, setting, or value) are gaining traction. These plans aim to guide employees to higher-value care while improving cost predictability for employers.

But a critical challenge remains: affordability at the point of care.

Even in well-designed plans, employees often face unpredictable or high out-of-pocket costs that can delay care, reduce adherence, and drive up long-term costs. That’s why interest-free financing is an essential component in plan design.

The Affordability Gap in "Affordable” Plans

Dynamic Copay and alternative designs don’t eliminate the problem that 50% of Americans can’t cover a $500 medical expense. When members can’t afford their share in full, it creates barriers that undermine the plan’s intent.

Interest-free financing closes that gap by ensuring employees can access care when they need it and manage payments on their own terms.

Financing as a Core Plan Feature

Traditionally, healthcare financing has been treated as an afterthought, a consumer credit solution outside the health plan. In today’s market, it’s a must-have feature of innovative plan design.

Integrating interest-free financing directly into alternative health plan design provides all members a frictionless way to manage costs. Whether the member owes a variable copay, coinsurance, or deductible amount, they can pay over time without credit checks, fees, or interest. This creates three major advantages:

1. Improved utilization of necessary care: Employees are less likely to delay or avoid services that they need when they need them.

2. More predictable cash flow for providers: Patients can confidently pay their share when they access care. This eliminates collection delays and reduces friction between the patient and their physician.

3. Better outcomes for employers and plans: Healthier members, lower long-term costs, and measurable satisfaction gains.

Interest-free Financing Built for Dynamic Copay Plans

TempoPay’s interest-free healthcare financing is designed to integrate seamlessly with any health plan structure, including dynamic copay plans.

• Employees receive access to revolving funds for eligible healthcare expenses.

• Repayments are automated through payroll deduction or a personal bank account on schedules that fit their budgets.

• Employers and plans get a turnkey solution that reduces financial stress, improves care adherence, and supports smarter cost sharing.

It’s flexible enough for national deployment and simple enough to implement mid-plan year, making it a natural complement for innovative plan designs that prioritize affordability and engagement.

The Future of Plan Design Includes Financing

As the industry evolves toward value-based, personalized, and dynamically priced health benefits, financing plays an increasingly central role, ensuring employees can use the benefits designed for them.

Ready to explore how TempoPay supports your Dynamic Copay or alternative health plan strategy? Contact us to get started.