Before the coronavirus pandemic struck, 45% of Americans were either uninsured, underinsured or experienced a lapse of coverage in the last year. In the midst of the pandemic, the weaknesses of America’s employer-based healthcare system have come into sharper relief as the rates of unemployment rival those of the Great Depression. Any stability and certainty of insurance is gone.
We were frustrated with many issues in the traditional healthcare system — surprise bills, long wait times, outdated systems and the reactive nature of care feeling like health insurance benefited from keeping us sick. When we imagined Forward, we knew we needed to build an entirely new healthcare system designed for people rather than insurance companies. Forward was built to stand completely independent of insurance because we believe that quality healthcare should not be determined by your employment, immigration status, or income level.
Forward is built as a membership, and everyone pays the same flat monthly fee. The membership gives you unlimited access to Forward service and 24/7 messaging with your doctor and Care Team. Real-time blood testing and procedures like vaccinations, pap smears, and EKGs that we do in our clinics are all included. This means that you’ll never get a surprise bill from us. If we feel that additional tests or procedures are necessary to your care, we’ll work together to find an option that fits within your budget.
Included in a Forward Membership
- Unlimited access to Forward service
- 24/7 messaging with your doctor and Care Team
- Blood testing including comprehensive metabolic panels, lipid panel, diagnostic testing and more
- Procedures in clinic, such as vaccinations, pap smears, EKGs, skin scans and more
- Genetic testing and analysis
- Women’s and men’s health
- Personalized, preventive plans for nutrition, exercise, stress, sleep and weight management
- Chronic condition care and more
We know that for your health to improve, you need a supportive team. We want you to come in for check-ups and reach out when you have a question, never putting off the care you need because of the cost. At Forward, there is no penalty for being an active participant in your health, and because our membership is all-inclusive, we find that our members are better supported to reach their health goals.
It makes sense people are hesitant to seek care when they are sick when you learn that over 65% of bankruptcies in the U.S. are tied to a medical issue. At Forward, we don’t believe you should have to choose between housing and healthcare or childcare and check-ups. One of the best ways to lower the cost of your medical care is to take a preventive approach to your health. Frequent check-ups, yearly scans and supportive doctors can help you identify issues early and control chronic conditions before they become expensive to treat. In many cases, disease can be altogether avoided with the right lifestyle, but it takes a proactive visit and team to put together a preventive plan.
If you do have health insurance, you can pay for your Forward membership with an HSA or FSA account. While insurance is not required, many members use Forward as a complement to their insurance. Combining a high deductible health plan with Forward can be a smart financial strategy. When you go to a traditional doctor or hospital while on a high deductible plan, that deductible can expose you to enormous copayments or coinsurance bills for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Forward doesn’t bill for any of our services, so you won’t receive surprises from us, regardless of your deductible. Having a high deductible plan to complement your Forward membership can serve as a backstop to cover you in the case of an unforeseen disaster or unexpected hospitalization. In many cases, a high deductible plan coupled with a Forward membership costs less than a high-end insurance plan alone while ensuring you receive better care.
Forward’s preventive approach to healthcare ensures the majority of day-to-day needs are covered, and insurance is used for things like specialist visits, hospitalizations or ongoing medications. If you are interested in learning more about how Forward can help you prevent disease and reduce medical costs, check our website for more information.