Cutting Health Care Costs for Self-Funded Employers with Kirat Kharode of HealCo

Cutting Health Care Costs for Self-Funded Employers with Kirat Kharode of HealCo

Author: Startup Junkie September 1, 2026 Duration: 19:16

Employer health care costs have risen 70% over the last decade while wages have grown just 30%. Kirat Kharode, CEO and Founder of HealCo, joins the Startup Junkies Podcast's Fuel Accelerator health tech series to break down why self-funded employer health plans are becoming unsustainable, and how HealCo's governance layer helps route employees to lower-cost, high-quality care before costs spiral.

In this episode:

  • Why self-funded health plans are under more scrutiny than ever
  • The site-of-entry problem driving up specialty care costs
  • How HealCo's governance and routing model works
  • What a real cost-savings diagnostic looks like for employers
  • Why Northwest Arkansas is fertile ground for this kind of infrastructure


This episode is part of our Fuel Accelerator series

⏱️ Chapters: 


00:18 – Welcome & the Fuel Accelerator health tech cohort
00:42 – Meet Kirat Kharode, CEO & Founder of HealCo
01:00 – 20 years inside hospital C-suites 
01:26 – Inside the self-funded health plan landscape 
02:07 – Why costs are outpacing wages 
03:06 – Site of entry: where health costs really start 
04:02 – Specialty care and the $15K vs. $50K cost divide 
05:33 – HealCo's origin story and validation lab 
06:36 – Building the governance layer and how employees benefit 
09:06 – Sponsor: RISE Arkansas 
09:33 – Validating the model & where self-funded care is headed 
11:48 – HealCo's 5-year vision, case studies & broker demand 
15:49 – Why Northwest Arkansas, plus advice for CFOs 
18:50 – Connect with Kirat + episode wrap-up


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Connect with Kirat & HealCo

🔗https://www.healco.us/

🔗https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirat-kharode/

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The Startup Junkies Podcast is brought to you in part by RISE, helping Arkansas tech and tech-enabled startups grow with no-cost coaching, capital navigation, and expert connections. Learn more at RiseArkansas.org.


Hosted by Jeff Amerine and the practical minds at Startup Junkie Consulting, The Startup Junkies Podcast digs into the real work of building a company. This isn't about abstract theory; it's a direct conversation on the stages every founder faces. You'll hear discussions on moving from a raw idea to a proven concept, the intricacies of strategic planning, and the daily grind of scaling operations. Episodes tackle leadership under pressure, effective marketing without a massive budget, and even the long-game considerations of exit strategies. The core of the podcast is built on conversations with those who have been in the trenches-seasoned business owners, resilient entrepreneurs, and specialists who offer actionable advice. The focus is consistently on tangible value, providing insights that can be applied directly to your own challenges. Tune in for a grounded perspective that aims to help you navigate each critical decision, pushing your venture forward one practical step at a time. It’s a resource for anyone who prefers honest talk about business growth over empty inspiration.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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