Ask Capacity: A Smarter Way to Manage Health and Wellness Costs

Welcome to the intro...

In today’s healthcare landscape, one of the biggest obstacles to getting the care you need is affordability.



Out-of-pocket costs have soared to $470B in the U.S. vs. $194B in 2000, and traditional financing options often mean turning to high-interest credit or loans—paths that can dig people deeper into debt. From the get-go, Ravida’s mission is to change this dynamic by giving consumers a smarter, interest-free way to manage all of their healthcare expenses. At the core of this solution is a powerful feature we call “Ask Capacity.”



Ask Capacity is designed to empower consumers by giving them an income-based spending limit, allowing them to cover medical costs without relying on their credit scores or taking on expensive debt.



Let's dive into how Ask Capacity works, its role in helping you budget for healthcare and wellness costs, and the financial leverage it offers when negotiating bills with providers.

What Is Ask Capacity?

Ask Capacity is a personalized spending limit on healthcare expenses provided through Ravida’s platform. When a new user signs up, they provide us with information about their income instead of a credit score, which enables us to make an income-based assessment. Using this data, we assign each user an Ask Capacity—a maximum dollar amount they’re eligible to request from Ravida. This means that if your Ask Capacity is $5,000, you can “Ask” for up to $5,000 in assistance without needing to repay the balance right away.



The Ask Capacity model aligns perfectly with our mission of making healthcare affordable and accessible for all, as it gives users access to funds based on their financial reality rather than their credit history. And this capacity grows as you responsibly make micropayments to repay the funds you’ve used, giving you added flexibility to manage future healthcare expenses.



Ask Capacity is about more than just managing health and wellness costs; it’s about empowering people to take control of their healthcare experience. By basing funding on income rather than credit, we’re taking the pressure off those whose credit may have taken a hit—often through no fault of their own, due to factors like sudden unemployment or prior medical emergencies.



With Ask Capacity, financial history isn’t a barrier, which means you have more freedom and dignity when accessing the care you need.

How Does Ask Capacity Work?

When you sign up, we set your Ask Capacity based on your income and personal financial situation. Here’s how it unfolds from there:



  1. Initial Ask Capacity Setting: After signing up and providing income information, you receive an Ask Capacity tailored to your budget, needs, and ability to make micropayments. This initial setting reflects a careful balance between empowering you to access healthcare and ensuring your ability to pay in manageable portions.
  2. Requesting Funds with an Ask: You can request funds from your Ask Capacity for any healthcare expense, from an elective procedure to an unexpected medical bill to a gym membership (who give you discounts if you pay for the year upfront). You’ll know exactly how much is available, meaning you’re empowered to budget or plan accordingly. Whether it’s a dentist appointment, a medical emergency, or a mental health session, you have clarity on what’s possible.
  3. Tracking Remaining Capacity: If you have an Ask Capacity of $5,000 and you request $4,000, your remaining capacity will be $1,000. This transparency lets you know how much you have available at any moment, empowering you to manage your healthcare expenses with precision. The Ravida platform ensures you have a real-time view of your Ask Capacity, making it easier to avoid surprises.
  4. Building Capacity as You Repay: Every time you make a micropayment (we offer biweekly or other flexible repayment schedules), your Ask Capacity edges up incrementally. For example, if you’ve taken out $4,000 of your $5,000 capacity, leaving $1,000 available, a $400 payment will refill your capacity to $1,400. This gradual increase rewards consistent, timely payments, allowing you to steadily regain the ability to request funds as needed.

The Value of Ask Capacity for Healthcare Budgeting

Unlike traditional financing options, which rely on credit scores, collateral, and often high interest rates, Ravida's platform is straightforward and designed to meet your healthcare needs affordably.



Here’s what makes it a game-changer for personal budgeting and financial stability:



Predictable, Interest-Free Costs: Ravida’s model is flat-fee-based, not interest-based, so you know the exact cost of repaying an Ask upfront. This predictability gives you the freedom to make healthcare decisions without worrying about variable interest rates or ballooning monthly payments. In a financial landscape where unpredictability is the norm, Ask Capacity brings a refreshing clarity.



Simple, Transparent Limits: Knowing your Ask Capacity makes budgeting easier. You have a clear, fixed amount available to request, and the number is easy to track, giving you control over how you allocate it toward different healthcare needs. You no longer have to guess about your available funds or feel uncertain when managing medical costs. This transparency empowers you to make informed choices.



Building Your Capacity: By making regular micropayments, you automatically rebuild your Ask Capacity, which can then be used for future expenses. The process is similar to a revolving line of credit but with a capped, controlled increase and no revolving debt to worry about. You’re building financial strength with every payment, enhancing your ability to meet health needs confidently.



Empowerment and Independence: For many, the healthcare system feels inaccessible, with high costs serving as a barrier to even considering a needed procedure or doctor visit. Ask Capacity shifts that narrative by empowering individuals with a clear, supportive financial structure. This approach not only helps you pay for care but also improves your experience, removing the stress that can come from managing out-of-pocket expenses.

Leveraging Ask Capacity for Better Healthcare Bill Negotiations

One of the most powerful applications of Ask Capacity is the ability to negotiate with healthcare providers more confidently. Many providers are open to reducing or adjusting bills if they receive an upfront payment, and Ask Capacity gives you the financial backing to make this happen.



Imagine this scenario:



You receive a medical bill for $1,200. With an Ask Capacity of $5,000, you already know you can comfortably cover this amount. However, instead of paying the full bill right away, you contact the provider and negotiate, offering to pay $700 upfront in exchange for having the bill marked as paid in full.



Knowing that you can easily access the $700 through your remaining Ask Capacity, you have a solid basis for negotiation.



Because Ravida’s Ask Capacity is pre-approved and accessible almost instantly (often within five to ten minutes), you’re empowered to negotiate bills at the time of service, reducing the financial strain and ultimately saving money. This approach gives users leverage that is otherwise hard to achieve when finances are uncertain or credit-based approvals are needed.



With Ask Capacity, you’re not just managing healthcare costs—you’re proactively reducing them.



The ability to negotiate in real-time means you can secure discounts that make a significant difference in the overall cost of care. This is particularly powerful for elective procedures where providers are more flexible with pricing.

How We Promote Financial Health (as well as Physical and Mental Health)

Ask Capacity isn’t just about giving you funds—it’s a financial tool for healthcare that promotes smart spending, financial discipline, and confidence in managing costs associated with your health. It aligns with Ravida’s vision of helping consumers improve their financial well-being by encouraging timely payments, supporting future financial goals, reducing financial fear, and enhancing financial literacy.



Since Ask Capacity doesn’t involve high-interest debt, you’re better positioned to maintain a healthy credit profile, save for other priorities, and avoid the pitfalls of revolving credit.



Health-related debt is a significant source of financial distress ($140B of healthcare bills are in collections and it's the #1 reason for personal bankruptcy), but Ask Capacity provides a fair and predictable alternative that aligns with your broader financial goals.

Closing it out: A New Path to Affordable Healthcare

Ravida’s Ask Capacity is transforming the way consumers approach the intersection of their health and finances. When we provide a personalized spending limit based on income, our goal is to empower users to take charge of their health expenses without the weight of high-interest debt.



It's is more than just a feature; it’s a shift in how healthcare finance works, designed to give you control, flexibility, and peace of mind.



Whether you’re planning for an elective procedure, covering an unexpected bill, or negotiating costs with a provider, Ask Capacity allows you to navigate healthcare expenses with confidence. It’s a smarter, interest-free way to get the care you need, when you need it, and to repay on terms that work for you.



In a world where medical debt is a growing concern, Ravida is offering a future where healthcare financing is transparent, affordable, and accessible.



With Ask Capacity, you gain a new kind of leverage—not only to manage costs but to take control of your healthcare journey. It’s a tool that doesn’t just solve a problem; it changes the entire experience, making healthcare more humane, affordable, and within reach for everyone.

Ravida makes healthcare more humane.

Help us, help others.



And make money doing it.