A smiling healthcare provider in scrubs hands a white bag to a person in a navy shirt inside a bright green clinic interior
Case Study

City of Arvada’s innovative healthcare strategy

Learn how the City of Arvada cut healthcare costs by more than 30% in two years while improving employee health through a self-funded plan and personalized primary care.
Read the case study

Municipal employers face a persistent tension: how do you protect employee health without letting costs spiral? The real question isn't whether to change; it's how to change in a way that improves outcomes and the bottom line. This case study explores how one municipality built a smarter healthcare strategy that delivered measurable results for employees and the city.

A smiling healthcare provider in blue scrubs holds a clipboard while speaking with a person
ABOUT THE CITY OF ARVADA

A municipality reimagining employee healthcare

Who they are

The City of Arvada is a Colorado municipality with approximately 1,500 employees. Arvada is responsible for offering competitive benefits that support a diverse workforce—while managing costs in a fiscally accountable way.

A commitment to getting it right

Arvada took a deliberate, stakeholder-driven approach to evaluating their healthcare strategy. The goal wasn't just to cut costs—it was to find a partner and model that could genuinely improve the health and well-being employees.

THE CHALLENGE

Rising costs and a system that wasn't working for employees

Arvada was caught in a familiar cycle: rising costs, limited proactive care, and ineffective benefits adjustments. The city recognized that incremental plan changes wouldn’t deliver the needed outcomes for their workforce or budget.

  • Escalating healthcare costs with no clear path to sustainable savings

  • Limited access to primary and preventive care for employees

  • A fully insured model that offered little flexibility or cost control

Arvada needed more than a vendor—they needed a fundamentally different model. One that could improve access, engage employees in their health, and deliver real financial accountability. That meant finding a partner equipped to manage preventive care, chronic conditions, and a move to self-funding.

THE MARATHON HEALTH SOLUTION

Partnering with Marathon Health to build a more sustainable care strategy

Transitioning to a self-funded health insurance plan

The City of Arvada moved from a fully insured to a self-funded health plan, gaining greater transparency and control over spending.

Implementing a personalized primary care program

Marathon Health delivered care built on the doctor-patient relationship and real access. Employees gained primary care centered on their needs—with more provider time and proactive outreach.

Proactively managing preventive and chronic care

Marathon Health goes beyond reactive treatment. By proactively managing chronic conditions and preventive care, employees received more consistent care—improving long-term health outcomes.

City skyline with tall buildings, a lakeside pavilion, autumn trees, and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky
0 %

reduction in healthcare costs achieved over a two-year period

0 %

of surveyed employees reported improvements in their overall health

0 K+

employee hours saved annually through improved care access and coordination

0

patient satisfaction NPS score reflecting a high-quality, trusted care experience

  • Marathon Health showed us a completely different model…the emphasis is on doctor patient relationship and access to care.

    GABRIELLA BOMMER
    Director of Human Resources, City of Arvada
GET THE CASE STUDY

See how Arvada transformed its healthcare strategy

Arvada's results didn't happen by chance—they happened because of a deliberate strategy, the right partner, and a model built around people. Download the full case study to see how the city cut costs by more than 30%, improved employee health, and built a program that works.
LET'S CONNECT

Find the best advanced primary care model for your people

Talk to our team