AccessHealth

What AccessHealth does

AccessHealth is a private nonprofit community health organization founded in September 1999 and headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan. It operates the Access C3 Health Plan, a community multi-share health coverage model that targets working uninsured and underinsured individuals and the small businesses that employ them across Muskegon, Oceana, and Ottawa counties.

The plan is structured so members pay roughly 30% of total premium, with the community contribution covering the remaining 70%. The total monthly premium is $82, implying a member contribution of about $24.60 per month. Underlying the program is a Community Information Exchange that coordinates medical and social-care referrals, alongside a Health Risk Assessment tool that incorporates social determinants of health (SDoH) for member risk profiling. AccessHealth reports having served over 2,000 local businesses and 60,000 workers cumulatively, with an average monthly medical spend per member of $136.75 compared with $649.83 for comparable Midwest commercial plans.

The organization is governed by a board that includes representatives from Michigan Insurance Group, Trinity Health, Goodwill, and Advomas, and is led by CEO Jeff Fortenbacher and COO Samantha Cornell. It is registered as the first community-based multi-share plan in the nation to hold CMS Minimum Essential Coverage certification. Revenue is generated through member premium contributions, employer participation fees, and grant funding, including a 10-year, $12 million NIH ComPASS award and a $250,000 Michigan Public Health Institute Health Equity Council grant. Additional programs layered onto the core plan include RIP Medical Debt (medical debt abolishment, since November 2022), Muskegon SHIP public enrollment (launched October 2024), How YOU Birth Doulas, and a Health Resilience Zone.

Name

AccessHealth

Legal name

Access Health

Website

https://accesshealth.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AccessHealth is a Muskegon, Michigan nonprofit that runs the Access C3 Health Plan, a community multi-share coverage model serving working uninsured individuals and small businesses across three West Michigan counties via a CMS-certified multi-share structure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Coverage

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAIAFAD

Small Group Health Insurance (2–50/100)

Financial & Insurance/Insurance — Life & Health/Group Health Insurance (Employer-Sponsored)

SECONDARYFSAIAFAC

Level-Funded Group Health Plans

Financial & Insurance/Insurance — Life & Health/Group Health Insurance (Employer-Sponsored)

SECONDARYBPAIAKAH

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Social Security, Benefits & Welfare Administration

Keywords

• Community health coverage
• Multi-share health plan
• Small business health insurance
• Population health management
• Social care coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Multi-Share Health Plan Premiums: Access Health generates revenue through a community multi-share funding model where health coverage costs are shared among three or more stakeholders: local care providers/hospitals, small businesses, and individual members. Members pay 30% of premiums while the remaining 70% is covered by community stakeholders including hospitals, businesses, and other partners. This structure enables monthly fees of $82 per member while maintaining comprehensive coverage with $0 deductibles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AccessHealth operates the Access C3 Health Plan, a multi-share community health coverage product where local care providers, hospitals, small businesses, and members share premium costs. Members pay 30% of premiums (~$24.60/month) with the remaining 70% covered by community stakeholders, enabling $0 deductible, $10 office copay, and $300 max hospitalization copay coverage for working uninsured individuals and small business employees in the Greater Muskegon area. The Enhanced Plan bundles in the Continuous Health Improvement (CHI) Program with health coaching, predictive analytics-driven risk assessment, and Social Determinant of Health (SDoH) evaluation.

Product overview

AccessHealth operates a multi-product portfolio centered on the Access C3 Health Plan, a multi-share community health insurance product with two plan options (Enhanced and Standard) offering $0 deductible coverage for small business workers and low-income families in the Muskegon area. The Enhanced Plan integrates the Continuous Health Improvement (CHI) Program as an add-on module, providing health coaching, predictive analytics-driven risk assessment, and educational curriculum. The product portfolio extends beyond insurance to include population health management programs including the NIH-funded Muskegon SHIP, Community Information Exchange, RIP Medical Debt partnership, How YOU Birth Doulas, Muskegon CHIR, Health Resilience Zone, and Muskegon County Food Club — all coordinated through community partnerships and supported by a provider online portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• C3 Health Plan: A community multi-share health coverage plan providing affordable health coverage with shared costs among providers, hospitals, businesses, and members.
• Continuous Health Improvement (CHI)

Products and services

• Access C3 Health Plan A multi-share community health coverage plan providing affordable health insurance with $0 deductible, low premiums, and low cost-sharing for small business workers and low-income working families (133–350% FPL) in the Greater Muskegon area. Members pay 30% of premiums; care providers, hospitals, and businesses cover the remaining 70%.
• Continuous Health Improvement (CHI) Program A whole-person population health management program integrated into the Enhanced Access C3 Health Plan, using health analytics and predictive modeling to identify risks and drive improvement through member engagement, health coaching, and educational curriculum targeting chronic disease, financial literacy, health literacy, and healthy eating.
• Muskegon SHIP (Sustainable Health Investment Partnership) A multi-year community health improvement program funded by a 10-year, $12 million NIH ComPASS award, designed to improve health outcomes and provide economic mobility for workers and their families by removing structural barriers to health.
• Community Information Exchange (CIE) A social care coordination tool developed through the Muskegon CHIR initiative to align providers and integrate data across health and social care sectors, with AccessHealth serving as the technology development convening partner.
• RIP Medical Debt Partnership Program A community impact partnership addressing causes and impact of medical debt, including RIP's abolishment of $25M of medical debt for Muskegon County residents, combined with free health coaching for area residents.
• How YOU Birth Doulas A community-led initiative to reduce health disparities by improving birth outcomes in populations of color through coordinated doula access and culturally competent care, including free training, ongoing education, and administrative support.
• Health Resilience Zone A place-based initiative developed through the Muskegon CHIR's collective impact process to improve population health at the neighborhood level while building capacity within local grassroots organizations, focused on South Heights census tract 14.2.
• Muskegon County Food Club A non-profit, membership-based grocery store model replicated from Grand Rapids, providing dignified food access and healthy options for food-insecure households while promoting economic stability.
• Health Coaching

Quantifiable outcome

• 35% savings in health costs demonstrated under Muskegon Care state ABW program
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• RIP Medical DebtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Access Health partnered with RIP Medical Debt in November 2022 to address medical debt affecting Muskegon County residents. The partnership has abolished $25M of medical debt and includes community-engaged research, advocacy, two community action teams, and expansion of local assessment tools to understand the impact of medical debt. Free health coaching is offered to eligible Muskegon area residents through this partnership.
• Community Food Club of Grand Rapids / Michigan Health Endowment FundmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022The Michigan Health Endowment Fund provided a grant to support replication of the food club model in Muskegon County. Community Food Club of Grand Rapids developed the model and is partnered with Access Health, which facilitates stakeholder convening and needs assessment for the Muskegon County Food Club initiative.
• Trinity HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrinity Health is a key health system partner in the multi-share community health coverage model, sharing in the cost of coverage and providing integrated care delivery within the Access C3 Health Plan network.
• Corewell HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) collaborates with Access Health as a care provider partner in the multi-share model, contributing to shared cost coverage and integrated provider delivery.
• United Way (local and Michigan 211s)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of the Lakeshore and Michigan 211s partner with Access Health on community health initiatives including the Community Information Exchange (CIE), community resource navigation, and referral services.
• HealthWest Community Mental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthWest Community Mental Health collaborates with Access Health on integrated behavioral health services and community health improvement initiatives within the multi-share model.
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFQHCs in the Muskegon area participate as care provider partners in the Access C3 Health Plan, offering primary care services within the network and contributing to integrated community health delivery.
• Michigan Primary Care AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Michigan Primary Care Association supports Access Health's community health model as a statewide partner representing and advocating for community health centers.
• Goodwill of West MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwill of West Michigan participates in the Access Health partner ecosystem, supporting workforce stability and economic advancement for community members.
• Michigan Works!coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Works! collaborates with Access Health on workforce stability and employment support services, addressing economic self-sufficiency as part of the comprehensive health improvement approach.
• Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPHI partners with Access Health to evaluate health improvement impacts of the Muskegon SHIP program, conducting research and assessment as part of the multi-year initiative.
• W.E. UpJohn Institute for Employment ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe W.E. UpJohn Institute partners with Access Health to assess economic and employment impacts of the Muskegon SHIP program, providing rigorous evaluation of workforce and economic outcomes.
• Center for Health Research TransformationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Center for Health Research Transformation collaborates with Access Health on research and evaluation of health outcomes, supporting evidence-based population health management.
• Muskegon CHIR (Community Health Innovation Region)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuskegon CHIR is a broad stakeholder initiative (including employers, health providers, residents, social care partners, faith partners, and government) that works to align policies and resources to collectively improve community health. Access Health serves as technology development convening partner for the Community Information Exchange and provides backbone services for the CHIR. The CHIR addresses housing, transportation, food insecurity, and access to quality medical care.
• CALL-211 (Resource Directory)coreTechnology or IntegrationCALL-211 provides the resource directory component of the Community Information Exchange (CIE), enabling social care coordination by connecting residents to community resources across health and social care sectors.
• Feeding America West MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeeding America West Michigan identified Muskegon County as a priority area for food club replication and partners with Access Health on the Muskegon County Food Club initiative to address food insecurity.
• Kent County Health Department (BC3NP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKent County Health Department manages the Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP), which Access Health refers eligible women to for cervical and breast cancer screening services.
• Hackley Community CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHackley Community Care provides behavioral health services that Access Health refers members to on a discounted or sliding fee scale basis when available through community-based programs.
• Muskegon Family CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMuskegon Family Care provides behavioral health services that Access Health refers members to on a discounted or sliding fee scale basis when available through community-based programs.
• How YOU Birth DoulasmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccess Health provides fiduciary and backbone services for the How YOU Birth Doula initiative, a community-led effort to reduce health disparities by improving birth outcomes in populations of color through coordinated doula access and culturally competent care. To date, 11 birth doulas have been recruited and trained, and 17 postpartum doulas trained. Access Health supports free training, ongoing education, startup materials, and administrative support leveraging Michigan's Medicaid coverage for doula services.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Priority Health: Michigan-based nonprofit health plan offering commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid coverage across the state. Comparable to Access Health in its Michigan nonprofit status, broad health plan portfolio for low- and moderate-income residents, and integrated care partnerships.
• CareSource: Nonprofit health plan serving Medicaid and low-income populations across multiple states with a mission-driven focus on underserved communities. Comparable to Access Health in its nonprofit structure, low-income target population, and emphasis on social determinants of health.
• CareOregon: Oregon-based nonprofit community health plan serving Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) and Medicare Advantage members with integrated social care. Comparable to Access Health as a community-rooted, nonprofit health plan targeting low-income populations with social determinants of health focus.
• Molina Healthcare: Managed care company specializing in Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace plans for low-income and government-sponsored populations. Comparable to Access Health in its focus on serving the working uninsured and Medicaid-adjacent population that cannot afford commercial coverage.
• Health Alliance Plan (HAP): Michigan-based nonprofit health plan offering commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid coverage. Comparable to Access Health in its Michigan nonprofit structure, focus on value-based care, and partnership ecosystem with regional health systems.
• L.A. Care Health Plan: Largest publicly-operated health plan in the U.S., serving Medi-Cal and low-income residents of Los Angeles County through a community-based model. Comparable to Access Health in its public-option/community health plan structure, focus on vulnerable populations, and integration of social care resources.
• Meridian Health Plan (Centene): Michigan-based Medicaid managed care plan serving beneficiaries across the state. Comparable to Access Health in its Michigan focus, government-program alignment, and targeting of low-income populations that overlap with Access Health's 133-350% FPL member base.
• Health Net (Centene subsidiary): Health plan serving Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Marketplace populations across multiple states with a focus on low-income and government-sponsored members. Comparable to Access Health in serving the same underserved, Medicaid-adjacent population with affordable coverage products.

Others

• Unite Us: Technology platform coordinating social care services across health and social service providers with a focus on Social Determinants of Health. Comparable to Access Health's Community Information Exchange (CIE) initiative, which similarly integrates health and social care coordination, though operating at national scale rather than a single community.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan: Michigan's largest health insurer, offering commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid products statewide. Comparable to Access Health as a major Michigan-based health coverage provider serving the same small-employer market, though operating at a vastly larger scale and through traditional insurance underwriting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/accesshealth_tx

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AccessHealth