CVS Health: Building Healthcare’s Consumer Platform

Josh Weiner left Meta to return to CVS Health with two painful realizations: consumers don't manage their health—they expect it, and the healthcare market fundamentally violates every principle of economics. In this conversation with a16z's Julie Yoo, the CVS Senior VP explains why 50% of Americans can't afford a healthcare emergency, how CVS is becoming a platform to solve structural healthcare problems, and why the future depends on consumers finally controlling their own health data. Timecodes: 0:00 The Healthcare Market Isn't Functioning 2:30 Consumers Don't Manage Health, They Just Expect It 3:39 Why Consumer Playbooks Die in Healthcare 5:41 Motion vs Progress: The Innovation Illusion 8:46 Platform Philosophy: "It Takes a Village" 11:38 The Vaccine Paradox Under One Roof 19:37 The 40% Hidden Reality: Healthcare Is Caregiving 21:04 The Deductible Comprehension Crisis 22:10 "This Does Have an Expiration Date" 24:40 The Health Passport Future Resources: Find Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshweiner2/ Follow Julie on X: https://x.com/julesyoo Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company.