Thrive Health Tech

Thrive Health Tech (THT) is a Nashville, Tennessee health care technology company whose stated aim is to reduce the digital divide and improve access to health care for underserved Americans. Its first consumer product, Thrive Mobile, is a wireless service that the company describes as the first health care-focused wireless carrier approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Thrive Mobile offers nationwide broadband coverage said to reach 99% of U.S. households, with unlimited talk and text.

Thrive Mobile plans are delivered through the federal Lifeline program, with Lifeline service provided by SafetyNet Wireless. The Essential plan is $0 per month with a Lifeline benefit and includes 5GB of data plus unlimited talk and text; additional high-speed data top-ups are sold in the Thrive Mobile app starting at $10 for 3GB. A second plan, Healthcare+, is offered at $0 per month exclusively through select health plans and includes unlimited talk and text, unlimited data (10GB high-speed, then 128kbps), health resources, weekly check-ins, and either a free device or bring-your-own-device. Customers can keep an existing phone and number or receive a new smartphone, and onboarding is presented as an eligibility check followed by plan selection and activation.

The accompanying Thrive Mobile app functions as a support hub, linking users to local resources for food, transportation, housing and health care, and offering member discounts on everyday essentials such as groceries and fuel. The company also operates a call center staffed by "Thrive Assistants" who help members with tasks such as organizing medical appointments."]

Founding story

John Anderson is identified as founder and CEO of Thrive Health Tech, which set out to eliminate the digital divide and make health care easier and more affordable for millions of Americans by using mobile devices as an engagement platform.

Business model

THT distributes wireless service to low-income and Medicaid-eligible consumers, with plans priced at $0 per month when a subscriber applies the federal Lifeline benefit through SafetyNet Wireless. Incremental consumer revenue comes from in-app data top-ups starting at $10 for 3GB of high-speed data. The Healthcare+ plan is made available exclusively through select health plans, indicating a channel relationship with payers alongside direct consumer sign-up.

Subsidy-supported wireless service (Lifeline benefit applied through SafetyNet Wireless) at $0 monthly to the consumer, supplemented by paid in-app data top-ups from $10 for 3GB, and a Healthcare+ plan distributed through select health plans.

Traction

Thrive Mobile was announced as the company's debut product alongside its 2023 pre-seed round, with nationwide coverage reaching 99% of U.S. households. The company states the service will save consumers an average of $840 annually. Customer testimonials on the company site reference delivered devices, call center support and appointment assistance.

Latest developments

Thrive Mobile is live with two plans: the $0 Essential plan (5GB data, unlimited talk and text) via the Lifeline benefit through SafetyNet Wireless, and Healthcare+, a $0 plan with unlimited data, health resources, weekly check-ins and a free device or BYOD, available through select health plans.