Oscar Health CEO Mark Bertolini revealed talks for a potential partnership with Hims & Hers Health (HIMS). HIMS shares rose following the announcement. The discussions focus on Hims & Hers offering retail drugs through Oscar's new AI-powered consumer platform, the Lucie Health Marketplace.
The collaboration could provide Hims with a new distribution channel. It targets a potential market of over 200 million consumers. Bertolini noted the marketplace could help consumers find and purchase drugs not covered by insurance. This includes certain GLP-1 weight-loss treatments. The strategy aligns with Hims' direct-to-consumer model.
Oscar's Lucie marketplace allows consumers to compare insurance plans, benefits, and cash-pay healthcare services. By joining the platform, Hims could gain access to a large base of customers. These customers actively shop for healthcare with employer-funded benefits.