Two kids called Brett Morris to tell him he saved their father's life. The man had cancer and had decided not to fight it. He'd spent his working life saving for their education and he wasn't going to spend it on himself.
Samaritan Fund covered his care, he changed his mind, and he beat it.
That's the business. Brett finds people facing catastrophic medical costs, sources third-party funds to cover their premiums and out-of-pocket maximum, and the employer's plan gets relief as a byproduct. He started in 2021 doing 13 cases himself. He's now in 49 states and the Virgin Islands, working with over 2,000 employer groups, and just crossed a billion dollars in certified savings.
We get into how the compliance actually works and why Nixon Peabody invited the Department of Labor into the room before Brett ever asked, why the employer is contractually barred from contacting the participant, and the 84% success rate that varies wildly by state depending on which hospitals accept individual coverage. Brett also explains why he won't take a case under $50,000, what happens when a plan doesn't renew, and why he thinks the industry's obsession with winning the case is backwards.
If you have a laser or an exclusion on your plan right now, this is the episode. Tune in.
"When people are faced with a difficult disease, their first concern is the cost of the care. And second is the actual disease." - Brett Morris, Samaritan Fund Program
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
ParetoHealth: ParetoHealth empowers midsize employers with a long-term solution to reduce volatility and lower overall health benefits costs. Visit https://www.paretohealth.com/fully-insured-vs-self-funding-with-paretohealth-spencer-podcast/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=SelfFundedwSpencer to learn more.
Samaritan Fund: A program that connects those who need help to the support they need. We are proud to offer the Samaritan Fund Program. Visit SamaritanFundProgram.com to learn more.
Vālenz Health: We're Vālenz Health, your partner in improving health literacy, reducing plan spend, and delivering high-value healthcare. Visit ValenzHealth.com to learn more.
Imagine360: Imagine360 helps self-funded employers save on healthcare with smarter health plans. Cut expenses by 20-30% with custom solutions. Contact us today at Imagine360.com.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Intro: "You Saved Our Father's Life"
(00:03:21) From 13 Cases to 2,000 Employer Groups
(00:09:49) Nixon Peabody and the Department of Labor
(00:13:18) Why the Participant Comes First
(00:15:43) What the Participant Experience Looks Like
(00:20:35) Medical Debt and 41% of Americans
(00:24:11) The Clinical Team and Forecasting a Prognosis
(00:27:48) Not Breaking Up Someone's Transplant Team
(00:30:05) How Nobody Gets Singled Out
(00:33:05) What Consultants Should Do and When
(00:37:17) What Happens in Year Two
(00:39:56) The Foundation and What's Next
(00:45:25) A Billion in Certified Savings
(00:48:24) Lasers, Exclusions, and Hospitals That Won't Play
(00:52:34) Closing Thoughts: Find the People
Key Links for Social:
@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded
Listen/watch on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02
Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286
Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/
Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/
