SmartHealth

What SmartHealth does

SmartHealth is an employer-sponsored health insurance plan operated by Ascension, one of the largest non-profit Catholic health systems in the United States. The plan is offered exclusively to Ascension's associates and their covered dependents, functioning as a captive benefits product rather than a commercially distributed insurance offering. SmartHealth provides comprehensive medical coverage including preventive care, pharmacy benefits, virtual urgent care, behavioral health services, maternity support, digital physical therapy, and cardiometabolic coaching, with members accessing care primarily through Ascension's Tier 1 provider network. A new Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) variant is being launched in 2026 for associates in Kansas, Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin, designed to deliver more predictable expenses and tighter care coordination by restricting non-emergency coverage to Ascension Network facilities.

The plan's technology layer centers on the MySmartHealth.org member portal and the Ascension One mobile application, which provide benefits information, claims access, pharmacy resources, provider search, and enrollment in digital health programs. SmartHealth is not a standalone technology product; instead, it integrates third-party partner capabilities for specialized functions: VytlOne administers pharmacy benefits, Blue Cross Blue Shield (including Anthem) provides national network referrals and international coverage, LiveHealth Online delivers 24/7 virtual urgent care, Sword Thrive offers digital physical therapy with motion sensors, Vida Health provides chronic-condition coaching, Edgepark supplies breast pumps, and Nest Collaborative offers virtual lactation support. The Ascension Illinois Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center is designated as an in-network Center of Excellence for substance use disorder treatment, with travel benefits and waived cost-sharing for PPO members.

As a wholly owned, internally distributed benefits plan, SmartHealth generates revenue through employer premiums paid by Ascension rather than through external commercial sales. The plan has no disclosed headcount, no external funding, no public financial reporting, and no independent commercial growth runway beyond Ascension's workforce. Its strategic value is supporting Ascension's associate retention and total-rewards strategy and steering care utilization to Ascension-owned facilities, rather than operating as a stand-alone profit center or investable external entity.

Name

SmartHealth

Legal name

SmartHealth

Website

https://mysmarthealth.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SmartHealth is an employer-sponsored health insurance plan operated by Ascension, offering comprehensive medical, pharmacy, virtual care, digital physical therapy, and cardiometabolic coaching benefits exclusively to Ascension's associates and their covered dependents across multiple US states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Virtual-First Health Plans / ICHRA-Enabled Virtual Primary Care (HLALADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Care Navigation, Advocacy & Benefits Guidance Platforms (HLALADAJ), Primary Care & General Medicine Virtual Care (Employer-Sponsored) (HLALADAA)

Keywords

• Employer-sponsored health plan
• Health insurance coverage
• Pharmacy benefit management
• Virtual urgent care
• Digital physical therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Health Insurance Premiums: SmartHealth generates revenue through employer-sponsored health insurance premiums paid by Ascension for its associates and their dependents. Members receive comprehensive medical coverage including preventive care, pharmacy benefits, virtual care, and specialty programs such as digital physical therapy and cardiometabolic coaching.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SmartHealth is a private, employer-sponsored health insurance plan designed by Ascension and offered exclusively to Ascension associates and their covered dependents. The plan delivers comprehensive medical coverage including 100%-covered preventive care, pharmacy benefits through VytlOne and Ascension Rx, 24/7 virtual urgent care via LiveHealth Online, behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment, digital physical therapy (Sword Thrive), cardiometabolic coaching (Vida Health), maternity and lactation support, and travel benefits to Ascension Network facilities. A new Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) variant launches in 2026 in Kansas, Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin for more predictable expenses and coordinated care through the Ascension network.

Product overview

SmartHealth is a health insurance plan designed by Ascension, offered as a single integrated health plan with multiple benefit modules and partner integrations. The core SmartHealth Medical Plan provides comprehensive coverage including preventive care, pharmacy benefits through VytlOne, virtual care via LiveHealth Online, and behavioral health services. Additional modules include Sword Thrive for digital physical therapy, Vida Health for cardiometabolic coaching, pregnancy and maternal health support (with Edgepark and Nest Collaborative integrations), supportive care (home health, palliative, hospice), and travel benefits. The 2026 EPO Plan variant offers network-restricted coverage with enhanced care coordination. SmartHealth connects members to the Ascension provider network while partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield for national and international coverage, creating a multi-partner ecosystem of care delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartHealth Medical Plan A comprehensive employer-sponsored health insurance plan operated by Ascension for its associates and their covered dependents. Provides medical coverage including 100%-covered preventive care, pharmacy benefits through VytlOne and Ascension Rx, virtual care through LiveHealth Online, behavioral health services, maternity support, chronic condition management programs, and travel benefits to Ascension Network and Center of Excellence facilities.
• SmartHealth EPO Plan Exclusive Provider Organization variant of the SmartHealth Medical Plan. Provides network-restricted coverage focused on Ascension Network providers with predictable out-of-pocket expenses and coordinated care. Available in 2026 to eligible Ascension associates in KS, FL, IN, OK, TN, TX, and WI.

Quantifiable outcome

• SmartHealth members using Sword Thrive digital physical therapy can reduce pain by up to 70%
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VytlOnecoreTechnology or IntegrationVytlOne provides pharmacy benefit administration for SmartHealth members, processing prescription claims and coordinating with pharmacies. Ascension Rx serves as the recommended pharmacy for specialty and maintenance medications, offering delivery to members at no additional cost.
• Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreTechnology or IntegrationBlue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) provides the national network for SmartHealth EPO plan referrals when services are unavailable within the Ascension Network. BCBS also offers international coverage options (Global Core) for members traveling outside the United States, with 800-810-BLUE (2583) for emergency coordination abroad.
• GeoBlueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeoBlue is offered as a separate purchasable international travel insurance plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield Global. Members can purchase this supplemental coverage for additional travel protection outside the United States.
• Sword Thrive (Sword Health)coreTechnology or IntegrationSword Thrive provides SmartHealth members with a digital physical therapy program combining licensed physical therapists with motion sensor technology. The program ships a tablet and sensors to members for at-home treatment, offered at no cost to eligible members 18+.
• Vida HealthcoreTechnology or IntegrationVida Health offers SmartHealth members personalized health coaching combined with digital therapeutic programs for chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, prediabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The platform matches members to human coaches empowered by a mobile app.
• LiveHealth OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationLiveHealth Online provides SmartHealth members with 24/7 virtual urgent care access through video visits with experienced doctors and advanced practitioners. Members access this service by selecting Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield from the provider dropdown.
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue ShieldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnthem Blue Cross Blue Shield processes referrals for SmartHealth EPO plans when services are unavailable in the Ascension Network. Anthem providers must be used for referred services, with SmartHealth medical ID cards and Anthem medical ID cards issued to members for appropriate care settings.
• Ascension Illinois Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ascension Illinois Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center is designated as a Center of Excellence (COE) for substance use disorder and addiction treatment. SmartHealth provides travel benefits and waived copays/deductibles for PPO members receiving treatment at this facility.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SmartHealth