Podcast Summary

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Inside Clever Care Health Plan’s Growth: Blending Cultures, Community, and Value-Based Care
Date: October 25, 2025
Host: Jacob Emerson (A)
Guest: Richard Green, President of Clever Care Health Plan (B)

Episode Overview

This episode explores Clever Care Health Plan’s culturally tailored approach to Medicare Advantage, focusing on its unique blend of Eastern and Western medicine, the role of community centers, and how the plan thrives amid industry headwinds. Richard Green, Clever Care’s President, shares insights on the company's recent growth, community engagement strategies, and sustainable innovation in healthcare.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Richard Green’s Background & Clever Care’s Mission

• Richard Green outlines his nearly 30-year career in healthcare, emphasizing operational and financial leadership, including at AppleCare Medical Management (00:24).
• Mission: Clever Care was founded to deliver a culturally sensitive Medicare Advantage plan, with care offered in members’ languages and with respect for their cultural traditions.
• Unique Approach: The plan intentionally blends Eastern and Western medicine and focuses on value-based care models.

Notable Quote

“We give members access to care that's delivered in their own language and with their own unique cultural traditions in mind. We have a value based care model that essentially blends Eastern and Western medicine.”
— Richard Green (00:28)

2. Clever Care’s Community Centers & Member Engagement

• Community Centers: The new Rowland Heights center is Clever Care’s fourth in California, joining Monterey Park, Westminster, and Koreatown (02:06).
• Offerings: Services include Tai Chi, mental health and dental classes, technology lessons, book clubs, sing-alongs, and more—facilitated in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
• Impact: In 2024, the three original centers logged nearly 18,000 visits—demonstrating high member engagement, better satisfaction, and higher retention.

Notable Quote

“These centers position us to deliver an exceptional member experience and build deeper, more meaningful relationships with the communities we serve. And these centers are places of connection and belonging and that's a foundation of our growth.”
— Richard Green (03:32)

Memorable Moment

• Many events are member-driven, featuring live music and community celebrations, creating vibrant, socially connected spaces (02:25).

3. Navigating Medicare Advantage Headwinds

• Industry Challenges: Amidst plan consolidations and tightening margins, Clever Care continues to invest and expand.
• Growth & Model: The plan doubled its membership since 2023 to nearly 30,000, thanks to a model that “honors culture and tradition” and achieves solid financial results (04:34).
• Provider Relationships: Smooth claims processing, timely payments, and a unique network of 700+ directly contracted acupuncturists and alternative specialists drive success.
• Benefit Stability: Maintained stable benefits over several years, earning the trust of both members and brokers.

Notable Quote

“We've proven our model, which honors culture and tradition, delivers financial results... Outcome-based models tend to take time to deliver on cost savings, but we feel as though we're leading the way with a sustainable model that works.”
— Richard Green (04:42)

4. Innovation & Differentiation in Medicare Advantage

• Benefit Design: Focus on integrating traditional health practices meaningfully, recognizing they are core to many members’ wellness strategies (06:43).
• Care Delivery: Reliability, transparency, and partner trust are essential.
• Member Engagement: Physical community presence and multilingual engagement are crucial for better health outcomes.
• Guiding Philosophy: Differentiation comes from a deep understanding of and commitment to serving members’ unique needs, supported by strong financial stability.

Notable Quote

“Engagement, especially when delivered in our members' own language, is what drives better outcome. And the plans that will differentiate themselves are the ones that genuinely understand and serve their members' unique needs while maintaining the financial stability to deliver on their commitments year after year.”
— Richard Green (07:17)

5. Advice for Insurers Navigating Change

• Sustainable Growth: Avoid chasing unsustainable expansion; focus on solid operational foundations, real provider-payer relationships, and true knowledge of member communities (08:16).
• Leadership Investment: Strategic hires—CIO, VP Ops, VP Sales—underscore the commitment to sustainable growth for Clever Care and serve as a model for peers.

Notable Quote

“First I would say, don't chase unsustainable growth. Build something that lasts through strong operational foundations, genuine relationships with the provider network, and a clear understanding of the communities you serve.”
— Richard Green (08:19)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic / Quote | |---------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:24 | Richard Green’s background and introduction to Clever Care's mission | | 02:06 | Role and impact of Clever Care’s community centers | | 04:34 | Navigating Medicare Advantage industry headwinds | | 06:43 | Opportunities for differentiation and innovation in Medicare Advantage | | 08:16 | Richard’s advice to insurers on sustainable growth and leadership investment |

Episode Highlights & Tone

Richard Green articulates a vision of healthcare that fuses cultural humility, responsive community outreach, and operational discipline. The tone is insightful and optimistic, emphasizing stability and sustainability rather than high-risk growth. The episode will interest anyone following value-based care trends, culturally responsive models, or strategic growth in Medicare Advantage.