Frequently Asked Questions

Employers see an average 12% reduction in total plan costs in the first year alone. Garner's model aligns financial incentives so members choose high-quality, cost-efficient providers. These providers help your employees get healthier, faster and have lower complication rates -- leading to lower healthcare costs.

Garner applies 550+ proprietary clinical metrics to our dataset of de-identified medical claims from 320M+ patients to identify the top-performing providers in your network. Providers are evaluated on clinical outcomes, adherence to evidence-based best practices, and cost efficiency within their specialty, geography, and peerset. Learn more about our data methodology.

No. Garner works as a layer on top of your existing health plan and provider network. Members continue to use their current insurance cards and can see any in-network provider. Garner simply guides them toward the best ones and helps them cover their out-of-pocket costs when they see these top-performing providers.

Garner's user-friendly app and white glove Concierge make it simple and stress free to find the best in-network doctors with availability in your area. Garner incentivizes more of your employees see the best doctors by helping cover their out-of-pocket costs when they see Top Providers. The result is an industry-leading 46% employee engagement rate.

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is an employer-funded benefit that reimburses employees tax-free for qualified medical expenses, such as deductibles and co-pays. With Garner, employers offer an HRA that helps reimburse employees after they visit a Garner Top Provider.

Most navigation tools surface in-network providers or price estimates. Garner goes further by using proprietary quality rankings—built on over 60 billion medical records from 320M+ patients—to identify the best-performing doctors in each specialty and market. Garner then backs that guidance with meaningful financial incentives that motivate members to see these best providers.

A Top Provider is a doctor or provider that Garner has identified as delivering strong clinical quality and cost efficiency within their specialty and local market. Garner designates Top Providers based on analysis of billions of de-identified medical claims—not self-reported data or paid placements.

Garner integrates with most major carriers, TPAs, and HRIS platforms. Implementation is simple and can happen in 60 to 90 days with only a claims data feed from your carrier and a standard enrollment file. Garner's implementation team manages the technical setup, member communications, and HRA configuration.

Garner applies 550+ proprietary clinical metrics to a dataset of over 60 billion de-identified medical claims from 320M+ patients, evaluating patient outcomes, complication rates, adherence to evidence-based clinical guidelines, and cost efficiency. Providers are ranked relative to peers in the same specialty and geographic market. Explore our full methodology.

Onboarding typically takes 60–90 days from contract signing to launch. Garner’s implementation team manages carrier data integration, member communication templates, and HRA configuration. Employers are not responsible for the technical setup. Explore Garner for employers.

Yes. Garner can launch mid-year because it adds a voluntary benefit layer that doesn't require plan design changes or require open enrollment. Employers do not need to wait for their annual benefits renewal to get started.

Garner applies 550+ proprietary clinical metrics to over 60 billion de-identified claims from 320M+ patients, evaluating clinical outcomes, adherence to evidence-based care guidelines, and cost efficiency. Providers who rank in the top tier of their specialty and geographic market earn the Top Provider designation.

Providers currently cannot access their individual rankings directly. Garner's methodology is built on de-identified claims data that is not provider-reported, which keeps the rankings objective and independent.

Yes. Members using Garner are actively guided toward Top Providers through personalized recommendations and financial incentives. Top Providers in markets where Garner operates may see increased patient volume from Garner members who are actively seeking care. Learn more about Garner for providers.

Garner covers over 80 sub-specialties, including primary care, orthopedics, cardiology, gastroenterology, OB/GYN, and more. Coverage is prioritized in the specialties and markets where quality variation and cost impact are greatest.

Health plans can offer Garner as a value-added benefit that reduces total claims cost, improves member outcomes, and differentiates their product in competitive employer markets—without changing plan design or network contracts. Learn more about Garner for health plans.

Yes. Garner works with both fully insured and self-funded arrangements, in addition to level-funded plans.

By directing members to high-quality, cost-efficient providers, Garner reduces unnecessary procedures and avoidable complications, while also helping members get healthy faster. The result is lower total claims spend without restricting member choice or changing plan benefits.

Yes. Health plans can partner with Garner to embed the benefit into their offerings, enabling employers to reduce costs and improve outcomes without requiring a change to plan design or network.

Garner provides regular reporting on member engagement, Top Provider utilization rates, estimated claims savings, and many other metrics. Health plans can use this data to demonstrate ROI to employer clients and track the benefit's impact over time.

Garner analyzes millions of medical claims to identify the doctors who deliver the best health outcomes in your area. Your employer has partnered with Garner to reimburse your out-of-pocket costs when you see a Top Provider. Learn how it works.

Download the Garner app or visit the member portal to find Top Providers near you. When you see one, submit your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to receive your reimbursement.

Garner reimburses for visits to Top Providers across a wide range of specialties. Eligible visits include primary care, specialist care, and certain procedures. Check the Garner app for details specific to your plan.

No. Garner does not accept payment from providers, and providers cannot pay to be designated as a Top Provider. Rankings are based solely on objective analysis of claims data.

No. Garner is not health insurance. Garner is a benefit that works alongside your existing health insurance to help you find the best doctors and earn money when you see them.