Cost and Savings

What would you do with $13.7 million back over five years?

Most Phoenix employers with 200 employees are spending $2.7 million or more on health benefits annually, and that number rises 10 to 18 percent every year. Virage changes the math.

$18,500
Average annual cost per employee in 2026
10 to 18%
Average annual premium increase employers are seeing
$13.7M
Estimated five-year savings for a 200-employee employer

All figures are based on published market averages for Phoenix-area employers. Actual savings depend on your current plan, carrier, workforce census, and dependent enrollment. A discovery conversation with Virage will produce a tailored estimate for your specific situation.

Two paths to savings

How employers pair Virage with their existing benefits

Virage DPC (Direct Primary Care) is a subscription that sits alongside your major medical insurance. There are two ways employers typically approach it. Both deliver meaningful value. Scenario B typically delivers greater day-one savings.

*PEPM: Per Employee Per Month. Allows us to show apples-to-apples cost.

Scenario A

Keep existing PPO, add Virage DPC

The lowest-friction entry. Your employees gain same-day primary care access and transparent pharmacy. Savings accumulate over time through reduced urgent care, ER, and specialist utilisation.

Existing PPO insurance (unchanged) ~$1,500 PEPM
Virage DPC subscription from $125 PEPM
Pharmacy savings (estimated) 25 to 40% reduction
ER visit reduction (DPC employers) up to 40% fewer
Value delivered
Better access, lower utilisation over time
12 to 24 mo
to full ROI
Scenario B — Recommended

Switch to HDHP, pair with Virage DPC

Replace your current PPO with a high-deductible plan (or keep your HDHP) covering specialist and hospital care, and use Virage for all primary care needs. Day-one premium savings are real and significant.

Traditional PPO today (replaced) ~$1,500 PEPM
HDHP (specialist and hospital only) ~$700 to $900 PEPM
Virage DPC subscription from $125 PEPM
Total with Virage ~$825 to $1,025 PEPM
Estimated day-one savings
200 employees, market average rates
$475 to $675
PEPM saved from day one

Side by side

Traditional PPO vs. Virage DPC + HDHP

Based on a 200-employee Phoenix employer at market average rates.
Your numbers will vary based on your census, carrier, and current plan design.

Cost line Traditional PPO Virage DPC + HDHP
Monthly employer cost (200 employees) ~$308,400 ~$165,000 to $205,000
Annual employer cost ~$3,700,800 ~$1,980,000 to $2,460,000
Primary care access 26-day average wait Same-day or next-day
Primary care copay $30 to $50 per visit Low or no copay on select plans
Pharmacy pricing PBM spread pricing, opaque Direct-pay, actual cost
Annual premium increase 10 to 18% per year, compounding Flat subscription pricing
Clinician panel size 1,500 to 2,500 lives per PCP 300 to 400 lives per NP
Estimated annual savings (200 employees) — $844,800 to $1,720,800 per year

The compounding case

Traditional premiums rise 10 to 18% every year. Virage pricing does not.

Illustrative projection. Traditional based on 18% annual increase. Virage shown at midpoint estimate with increases aligned with your growth. Actual figures depend on your census and plan design.

Year 1
$3.70M traditional $2.22M Virage
Year 2
$4.37M traditional $2.29M Virage
Year 3
$5.15M traditional $2.36M Virage
Year 4
$6.08M traditional $2.43M Virage
Year 5
$7.18M traditional $2.50M Virage
Traditional fully-insured PPO at 18% annual increase
Virage DPC + HDHP (illustrative)

What is in the subscription

Everything in the Virage DPC subscription

Starting at $125 per employee per month (PEPM). Composite rate based on your census. No hidden fees, no spread pricing, no surprises.

🩺
Dedicated Nurse Practitioner
Same-day or next-day access. Your NP carries 300 to 400 lives, not 2,000. They know your employees by name.
💊
Direct-Pay Pharmacy
Prescriptions at actual acquisition cost through our pharmacy partner. No PBM markup, no spread pricing.
📱
Telehealth
Secure messaging and virtual visits with your dedicated provider during business hours. After-hours coverage available.
🔬
Direct-Pay Labs
Lab work at 80 to 90% below insurance-billed rates. Ordered and reviewed by your provider.
🤝
Care Coordination
Your Virage team manages specialist referrals, appointment navigation, and member onboarding.
📊
Employer Reporting
Quarterly utilisation reports showing where your health spend is going and what it is delivering.

Ready to get started

Ready to see what your numbers look like?

A 30-minute discovery conversation is all it takes to build a tailored estimate for your workforce. Send us your census and we will come back with a custom offering.

All figures based on published market averages. Actual savings depend on your census and current plan.

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