Eager to leap in where so many others have stumbled, Silicon Valley investors have been pumping capital—$1.2 billion in 2015 alone—into startups taking on the task of improving health insurance for individuals and employers. It’s not for the faint-hearted: The industry is rapidly consolidating, making it harder for new companies to gain traction. But the payoff could be huge. “It’s a big, juicy opportunity with a lot of market cap,” says Sequoia Capital’s Mike Dixon. Here, four of the biggest bets on the future of health insurance.
Oscar Health
What it is: Consumer-friendly alternative to traditional insurance—with a $750 million war chest.
Big idea: Use technology to make health care less confusing, more fun for millennials.
Secret weapon: An intuitive app that allows members to find and chat with doctors, access their medical history, and refill prescriptions.
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