Health Care Crowdfunding

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andy Schoonover, CEO of CrowdHealth, located in Austin, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

CrowdHealth is a healthcare crowdfunding platform that enables people to ditch their health insurance and experience the freedom of being uninsured. Our customers are people who are free thinkers, who love to buck the status quo, and are tired of insurance meddling in the doctor-patient relationship.

Tell us about yourself

I had placed my faith in healthcare.gov. It worked until I had to use it. My one-year-old had recurring ear infections, so we went to the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, who told us she had a perforated eardrum and would need tubes in her ears. We went to the hospital and had the 15-minute procedure that cured her drums. There were no more ear infections, but we did get the bill in the mail: $8,000. Then we got a note from our insurance company that said that the procedure was medically unnecessary. I was pissed, so I canceled insurance and have been living uninsured for over two years.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

We find the biggest accomplishment in helping people pay their healthcare bills. The most notable was an awesome family in Wisconsin. They needed a heart procedure. Their local hospital quoted them $83K. We found them two other options. One was 90 minutes away and was $44K, and the other was 1,000 miles away for $22K. They chose the $22K option. We crowdfunded 21,500 for them, and they saved a ton of money.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

If a business model were clear, everyone would be doing it. Value is created for the company and the customers when someone steps up and tries to do something that others thought was impossible. The naysayers are annoying but proof that we are on to something really special.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Ignore the naysayers. If you feel it will work in your gut, go for it.
I don't believe in ridiculous hours working. It breaks you down physically and emotionally. Get 7-8 hours of sleep. Work out, Love your family well, and only then should you be focused on the business. My best ideas come when I am rested.
Know your skills and hire people for things you suck at. You might have to do those things for a while, but as soon as you can hire someone to compensate for your weaknesses...do it!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joincrowdhealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joincrowdhealth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoinCrowdHealth
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joincrowdhealth/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.