Rhonda L.
Start Health is not as good as traditional health insurance.
Start Health coverage is not as good as traditional health insurance, but yes the premium is about half the cost. If you don't use insurance and just want to spend less each month on health insurance premiums, then this insurance is for you. However, if you would like to be paying premiums for a health insurance that will actually pay your healthcare bills, this is not the insurance for you. What a scam. They make it sound so simple, just submit the receipts. But the documentation they require is not usually provided by medical providers or pharmacies, especially when presenting as self-pay. You have to really work for it, and even sometimes you still can't get it. And when you do get it, Start Health only pays you pennies on the dollar. And no, the "No Surprise Act" does not require providers to provide itemized billing statements with CPT codes. I reported my provider to CMS for refusing to provide it and CMS said the "No Surprise Act" only requires providers to provide a good faith estimate prior to the service and the ability to dispute charges if they are $400 more than the Good Faith Estimate, so there's that. (When I had issues getting these statements, Start Health told me providers were required to provide these statements by law, under the "No Surprise Act.) Then, if you do manage to get a reimbursement, or rather a credit to your deductible, its at a fraction of what you are charged, even with the self-pay discounts. They want you to shop around, but when I fell and broke my ankle one evening, after all Insta-care locations were closed, I didn't exactly have the luxury of shopping around.
Response from StarthealthApr 7, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience, Rhonda. We truly appreciate your honest feedback. We understand your concerns around documentation requirements and benefit amounts, and we’re sorry this process didn’t feel as seamless as it should. Our goal is to offer a lower-cost alternative that gives members more control over their healthcare spending, and we’re continually working to make that experience clearer and more supportive—especially in urgent situations. Because Start Health uses a member-submitted expense model, it can involve a bit more participation compared to traditional insurance. This may include requesting itemized receipts or documentation from providers so eligible expenses can be processed accurately. Our team is here to support members every step of the way and help make this process as smooth as possible. Your comments about the No Surprises Act and provider billing practices are especially helpful, and we’ll use this feedback to continue improving how we communicate expectations and support our members. We would love to help you and have made several attempts to reach you but have not heard back. Please contact us at 800-894-9454, Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm MST at your convenience so we can further assist you and help you get the most out of your Start Health plan.