Vitable Health is a Philadelphia-based healthcare company that provides affordable, direct primary care to hourly and low-income workers who often fall into the gap between public assistance and private insurance. The company partners with small and mid-sized employers to offer a monthly membership that includes virtual and in-home visits, mental health support, lab work, and prescription medications—with no copays, deductibles, or surprise bills. Designed around simplicity and access, Vitable Health delivers care on workers’ terms, making it easier for people to get help without missing work or navigating complex insurance systems.

A Problem Rooted in Reality

Vitable Health launched in Philadelphia in 2020, focusing on hourly and low-wage workers who are often left out of employer health plans. Many of them had gone years without seeing a doctor. For them, getting care often meant going to the emergency room or paying out of pocket for a visit they couldn’t afford.

That reality shaped Vitable’s business model. Employees sign up through their employers, often small businesses or home-care agencies. They then receive access to primary care doctors, therapists, and nurses who come to their homes or see them through virtual appointments—without additional charges. Medications and basic labs are also included.

Vitable’s first members were largely caregivers and essential workers. Word spread quickly. The model gave people access to health care in a way that felt personal and dignified. Many had never received a home visit from a medical professional before.

Building on Early Momentum

After the initial rollout in Philadelphia, Vitable expanded to other regions including New Jersey, Illinois, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Florida. It continued to work closely with small employers, adapting its offerings to meet the needs of businesses with limited budgets but a strong desire to support their workforce.

In 2024, the company raised $16 million in Series A funding. That gave the team resources to expand services to additional states and invest in technology and care coordination. The goal is to serve more employers across 40 states by the end of 2025, with expansion already underway in Texas and Ohio.

Employers see the benefits clearly. Vitable becomes a recruitment and retention tool. In industries where turnover is high, being able to offer quality health care, even outside of traditional insurance, helps companies compete.

A Founder Grounded in Experience

Joseph Kitonga didn’t come to this problem as an outsider. He grew up in a family of immigrants in Philadelphia. His parents ran a home-care agency and faced a problem many small businesses do: offering health coverage that was both useful and affordable.

He studied computer engineering but dropped out of college to pursue the idea full-time. Joseph was accepted into the Thiel Fellowship and eventually joined Y Combinator, where he refined the model and raised early funding. He launched Vitable with a small team, testing services in malls and with local staffing agencies. From day one, the goal was to understand what underserved communities really needed—not just what the healthcare system had historically offered.

“I didn’t want to build something for the sake of fundraising,” Joseph said in an early interview. “I wanted to build something that mattered to the people using it.”

Rethinking How Healthcare is Delivered

Vitable reimagines what care looks like for hourly workers. It replaces the stress of paperwork, copays and wait times with a model built around ease and access. Everything from appointment scheduling to prescription management happens through a digital dashboard. A member can message a care provider, book a visit and receive medication without leaving home—or their job.

That convenience changes behavior. Vitable has reported member engagement rates much higher than traditional insurance plans. People actually use the service because it fits into their lives. Employers benefit too. By catching health issues early, Vitable reduces absenteeism and helps employees stay healthier over time.

The company has also invested in mental health, offering therapy as part of its primary care bundle. That reflects the reality that mental health is not separate from physical health—it’s often the starting point for many people seeking care.

Strategy for Growth

The path forward is clear. Vitable is focused on two priorities: expanding into new states and deepening the quality of care offered. With the recent funding round, the company is scaling operations, hiring care teams and investing in better care navigation tools.

There is also work underway to integrate with existing benefit structures. While Vitable is not a replacement for insurance, it complements it—especially in self-funded or ICHRA (individual coverage HRA) setups. That makes it appealing to benefits brokers and third-party administrators who are looking for creative ways to serve clients.

The company is also bringing its model into broader public conversation. A recently launched podcast, “The Five Mile Difference,” highlights how life expectancy can differ drastically in neighborhoods just five miles apart. It’s a reflection of how Vitable views health as more than just a service, it’s a basic right that too many still go without.

Measuring What Matters

Impact is measured in human terms. Vitable tracks standard metrics like utilization, patient satisfaction and cost savings. But what the team values most is the feedback from members. People who haven’t seen a doctor in years are now getting check-ups. Families are getting prescriptions without skipping meals to afford them. These aren’t statistics. They’re stories of lives made better.

In one case, a home health aide avoided an emergency room visit by speaking with a Vitable nurse from her kitchen. In another, a warehouse worker was diagnosed and treated for diabetes through an in-home visit that included lab work and counseling—all at no cost to him.

These are the outcomes that matter. They reflect a system that works because it’s grounded in empathy and designed for people who have been left behind by traditional healthcare.

Not Just a Startup, but a Standard

Vitable Health is not chasing hype. It’s building something that small businesses and hourly workers need. The company has proven that delivering care at home—without insurance hassles—can be done at scale and at a price point that makes sense for employers.

Joseph’s leadership is quiet, methodical and personal. He didn’t build Vitable to pitch to Silicon Valley. He built it because he saw his own family struggle with this problem. That’s what gives the company its staying power.

There’s still a long road ahead. Healthcare in the U.S. is deeply fragmented, and change doesn’t come quickly. But if Vitable continues to grow, it could provide a new model—one that meets people where they are, and offers care not as a luxury, but as a starting point.

What’s Next

Vitable plans to enter several new states by the end of the year and roll out more specialized care programs, including chronic disease management and maternal health support. The company is also forming partnerships with regional employers and healthcare providers to expand its reach.

If it succeeds, it won’t just grow—it will shift expectations for what affordable healthcare should look like in America.

Joseph Kitonga, Founder & CEO, Vitable Health