Quick answer
Handl Health CEO Ahmed Marmoush wants Handl to be the universal platform every broker, health plan, and TPA uses to design non-traditional medical plans at scale. His North Star: a connected data ecosystem so rich that health plans can be personalized down to the individual person, their conditions, and their care preferences.
Key takeaways
- Marmoush's goal: make Handl the universal platform for designing non-traditional medical plans at scale
- He believes alternative health plans should become the status quo, "because everybody cares about value"
- A connected data ecosystem could eventually personalize health plans to the individual—conditions, risks, and care preferences
- His approach was shaped in New Zealand and rural Australia: build the foundation first, then innovate on top of it
At the end of his podcast conversation with Crumdale Specialty’s Matt Naylor, the CEO of Handl lays out his North Star. Ahmed Marmoush had already told him that he’s in the industry because he feels extremely passionate about healthcare.
But toward the end of the chat, he plainly stated the reason behind co-founding Handl:
“I want Handl to be the universal platform that is used by every broker, every health plan/TPA to design non-traditional medical plans at scale,” he said.
“We believe alternative health plans should become the status quo, because everybody cares about value."
Then he took it a step further:
“I think there is a world whereby we will create such a connected data ecosystem that we can actually personalize health plans down to the individual person,” he said.
“My plan design might actually be different than yours, because my ecosystem that supports me understands the medical conditions I have, the medical conditions I may be prone to, my preferences around how to engage with care.”
Where did Handl Health's vision come from?
It all started for Marmoush in New Zealand, where he worked as a pharmacist and then as a healthcare consultant. One of his early consulting jobs took him to a small town in Australia, Rockhampton. He learned that to bring about healthcare change in a remote area, he had to first build a strong foundation.
“It gave me exposure to the challenges of working in a remote and rural setting, and how important it is to invest in the appropriate healthcare infrastructure,” he said. He carries this learning with him even today, always striving to first build an appropriate foundation upon which to build structural healthcare innovation.
After all, healthcare is his life’s work.
“I've always been somebody who is driven by purpose,” he said. “I believe that if you wake up every day and can deliver 150% of yourself to something you feel extremely passionate about – that is, to me, Nirvana.”
Watch the podcast below to hear how Ahmed came to Handl from the pharmacy world, why a government grant helped kickstart the company, and how he views the American healthcare system.
Frequently asked questions
What is Handl Health CEO Ahmed Marmoush's goal for the company?
He wants Handl to be the universal platform used by every broker, health plan, and TPA to design non-traditional medical plans at scale—making alternative health plans the status quo.
What does personalized health plan design mean?
Marmoush envisions a connected data ecosystem where a plan design can differ person by person—informed by each member's medical conditions, the conditions they may be prone to, and their preferences for engaging with care.
How did Marmoush's background shape Handl Health?
He worked as a pharmacist and healthcare consultant in New Zealand and rural Australia, where he learned that structural healthcare change requires investing in the right infrastructure foundation first.
Why should alternative health plans become the status quo?
Because everybody cares about value. Traditional one-size-fits-all plans don't reflect the wide variation in cost and quality across providers, while alternative designs steer members toward high-value care.
Where can I hear the full conversation?
In Marmoush's podcast conversation with Crumdale Specialty's Matt Naylor, embedded in this article, covering his journey from pharmacy to founding Handl Health.
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