Insurance Podcasts

Take Two: EP398: Why Are Commercial Carrier Marketplaces Completely Boring? Maybe Because There Isn't a Marketplace, With Jacob Asher, MD

In this episode of the "No Market" series, host Stacey Richter talks with Dr. Jacob Asher, a former chief medical officer for major health plans, about why commercial carrier marketplaces—especially in California—are stagnant and lack true competition. They identify six structural reasons, including employer inertia, the outsized role of benefit consultants, carriers' focus on Medicare Advantage, reliance on existing provider networks, volume‑based contract negotiations, and limited incentives for plans to differentiate on quality. Dr. Asher explains how these forces keep carriers like Kaiser in a unique position while other plans struggle to gain market share or innovate, and he reflects on modest improvements in plan‑employer communication and engagement.