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Self-Funded

Spencer Smith
Employee Benefits
Self-Funding
Healthcare Costs
Health Insurance
Healthcare
Mental Health
AI In Healthcare
Healthcare System
Private Equity
Entrepreneurship
Self-Funded Health Plans
Direct Primary Care
Stop-Loss Insurance
Primary Care
Mergers and Acquisitions
Self-Insurance
Affordable Care Act
Healthcare Innovation
Price Transparency
Cost Management

Self-Funded, hosted by Spencer Smith, is the definitive resource for benefits consultants and employers who are ready to challenge the broken healthcare status quo. Each week, you'll get an insider's playbook of actionable strategies from industry leaders that help make healthcare better, together.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes301Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Latest Episodes

"I look at it as an opportunity for everybody else. You're already seeing people on LinkedIn saying, I can't wait for the disruption." - Lamont Thurston, BeneRe

In this episode of Last Month in Healthcare, Producer Nathaniel and I sat down with Lamo... more

There are roughly 9,000 ambulatory surgery centers in the United States, and most of them aren't running at capacity. Ronen Elefant figured out that he didn't need to build another one; he just needed to reach the ones already sitting half empty.

My... more

YouTube

This episode was recorded live on LinkedIn with Bill Dembereckyj, CFO of Imagine360, and it's a look at renewal season from the seat that ultimately signs off on it.

Bill walks through three real cases: a 250-life senior living facility staring at ... more

YouTube

Whole genome sequencing costs about $1,000 today. Ten years ago it was fifteen. Clinical guidelines already say kids with epilepsy or developmental delay should be escalated to it, and more than half of them never are.

My guest this week is Joshua R... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Rick Manuel
Peptide therapy expert and operator of a regenerative medicine facility
Optimal facility (peptide therapies)
Episode: The "Wild West" of Peptides | with Rick Manuel
Katy Talento
Policy expert and self-funded health care advocate
All Better with Katy Talento (substack)
Episode: Nobody In Washington Understands Employer Healthcare | with Katy Talento
Billy Potter
CEO of Snellings Walters (benefits consulting)
Snellings Walters
Episode: The Switch: Why Employers Want To Be Led, Not Sold | with Billy Potter
Sean McGowan
Sales at Centivo, health plan focused on affordability
Centivo
Episode: Trump's Generic Drug Tariffs & The 14% ACA Hike | Last Month in Healthcare
Ryan Bojrab
Healthcare executive with a clinician background (doctorate in physical therapy); specializes in price transparency and network analytics
Independent/Consulting in Healthcare Benefits
Episode: Outlier Clauses: Healthcare's Best Kept Secret | with Ryan Bojrab
Jay Ritchie
CEO of Tokio Marine HCC
Tokio Marine HCC
Episode: The HCC 2026 Stop-Loss Report: My Key Takeaways
Charlie Gragg
Health benefits expert and guest on the episode
Nashville-based self-funded veteran
Episode: Why Every Broker Needs A Fiduciary Co-Pilot | with Charlie Gragg
Dena Bravata
Internal medicine physician and clinical advisor
Pareto Health
Episode: The 2026 State Of Healthcare Spend | with Dena Bravata M.D.
Tom Stein
Professional in level-funded/self-funded health plans
American Trust Administrators
Episode: The Philosophy of U.S. Healthcare (And Why It Resists Change) | with Tom Stein

Hosts

Spencer Smith
Host of Self-Funded; prominent voice in self-funded health care and benefits discussions
Nathaniel
Co-host with a background in health care coverage discussions and public policy orientation

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 99 ratings
  • My favorite podcast!

    Provides timely, informative updates and concepts to help employers and consultants navigate and manage their employee benefits programs.

    Audible
    5
    Corry Hull
    United States2 months ago
  • Self-Funded with Spencer” is one of the most insightful and real conversations in healthcare

    Spencer gets to the heart of what matters, transparency, accountability, and practical solutions for employers navigating the complexities of self-funding. His guests bring deep experience and honest perspectives, and Spencer has a gift for asking the questions and egaging the audience. Whether you’re a broker, TPA, employer, or advocate, this podcast is a must-listen. It’s not just talk. it’s pushing the industry forward!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kcarle
    United Statesa year ago
  • The best in the biz

    I literally run an insurance podcast and am happy to call this one the best in the biz. If they let me do a one time 6 star review I would use it here

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    petriekennedy
    United Statesa year ago
  • Changed my career

    I can honestly say that the interviews and conversations that Spencer has had on this show have changed my career 👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Na_than_iel
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Pod in the Industry

    Spencer Smith’s Self-Funded podcast is smart, sharp, and actually fun to listen to. He knows his stuff and brings on guests who do too. If you’re in benefits, this one should already be in your rotation… it’s really good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tessmccoy
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise practical, actionable insights for brokers and employers.
Guests are consistently high-caliber with deep industry expertise.
Shows are considered a must-listen for benefits professionals seeking cost containment strategies.
Audience often notes the host's ability to surface real-world examples and data-driven guidance.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The "Wild West" of Peptides | with Rick Manuel
Q: What rules currently govern compounding if GLP-1 is an available drug under patent?
If compounding an available drug under patent, providers must avoid making an exact copy; they should differentiate formulations to remain compliant and safe.
The "Wild West" of Peptides | with Rick Manuel
Q: What is the difference between compounded GLP-1 and brand-name GLP-1, and how does dosing play into that?
The active drug is the same; the main difference lies in patient-specific dosing and protocols, with compounding enabling tailored dosing beyond fixed brand-name regimens.
The "Wild West" of Peptides | with Rick Manuel
Q: What percentage of your volume is GLP-1 versus other peptides and hormones?
About half of the volume is GLP-1, with the rest comprising other peptides and hormones; customization of dosing differentiates compounded products from brand-name versions.
Trump's Generic Drug Tariffs & The 14% ACA Hike | Last Month in Healthcare
Q: If we start covering GOP1s for weight loss next year, can we stop covering them after a year or two if the cost is too high, or are we essentially locking ourselves into covering them for years to come?
The guests suggest it's a choice with potential coaching and oversight, and that you should manage expectations and cost projections; a good coaching program with step therapy can limit who gets GLP-1s, and you should evaluate the impact over a couple of years rather than committing forever.
$6.5B DOJ Crackdown, Medicare GLP-1 Shifts, Hospital Price Tags | with Sid Sinha
Q: Medical inflation is probably going to push up costs in 2027. How do I convince Self-Funded clients to stay Self-Funded or just to stay with me and deal with those increases?
A multi-faceted approach is needed: emphasize that self-funding allows control and customization, illustrate long-term risk management and stop-loss optimization, demonstrate ongoing value through care navigation and innovative benefit design, and show continued partnership and future-proofing rather than reverting to fully insured options.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Funded

What is Self-Funded about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A pragmatic deep-dive into employer-sponsored healthcare and self-funding, with a steady stream of industry leaders who share practical, battle-tested strategies for cost control, transparency, and plan design. Episodes frequently explore price transparency, direct contracting, fiduciary duties, stop-loss optimization, and the evolving roles of TPAs, brokers, and employers. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on real-world examples, actionable playbooks, and a willingness to challenge traditional insurance models, making it valuable for benefits consultants, HR, and finance leaders looking to drive measurable savings and more transparent healthcare outcomes.

A standout aspect is the recurring focus on practical infrastructure—data ... more

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How many listeners does Self-Funded get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Self-Funded has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Self-Funded?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Self-Funded:

1. The Business of Benefits Podcast
2. Broken Benefits
3. Relentless Health Value
4. Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast)
5. Captivating Health Insights

How many episodes of Self-Funded are there?

Self-Funded launched 5 years ago and published 301 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Self-Funded?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Self-Funded?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Self-Funded from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Self-Funded?

Recent guests on Self-Funded include:

1. Rick Manuel
2. Katy Talento
3. Billy Potter
4. Sean McGowan
5. Ryan Bojrab
6. Jay Ritchie
7. Charlie Gragg
8. Dena Bravata

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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