Choosing an ICHRA administrator isn’t just choosing software. You’re choosing a partner for health benefits compliance, employee enrollment, broker support, and insurance carrier relationships. It’s one of the largest benefits decisions your company will ever make.
While Thatch and Take Command both administer ICHRAs, they have very different backgrounds. Thatch approaches ICHRA from a fintech perspective, and Take Command was built by health insurance experts with 60+ years of industry expertise.
If you’re evaluating Thatch and Take Command, here’s how the two companies compare.
Compare Thatch to Take Command for HRA experience and expertise
| Thatch | Take Command | |
| Founding Date | 2021 | 2014 |
| Years providing HRA services | ~5 years | 12+ years |
| Plan offerings | Only offer health insurance plans purchased directly from their partner insurance carriers (“off-exchange plans”) | Offer all plans through healthcare.gov and state marketplaces plus off-exchange plans regardless of partnership |
| Leadership background | Technology and fintech with a focus on financial engineering | Health insurance expertise combined with fintech and personalized support
Read: ICHRA provider service can be hit or miss. With Amanda, it’s a hit. |
| Founder experience | Founded by a team of serial tech entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley, including the former product lead who scaled Stripe’s financial products | Take Command CEO Jack Hooper founded and chairs the HRA Council, helped launch ICHRA, and is an active advocate for reformed health insurance |
| ICHRA involvement | Entered ICHRA market a year after it was founded | Directly consulted on federal legislation to create ICHRA |
| Customer support | Chat bots and help desk tickets | Human insurance advocates and 24/7 AI support |
| Employee enrollment support | Technology-driven guidance | Dedicated enrollment team backed by a strong tech stack |
| Fees | Hidden operational costs: Thatch plans have add-on costs buried in fine print, including a minimum monthly fee and required compliance fee | Transparent pricing: Take Command’s all-inclusive pricing structure is transparent and predictable for clients and brokers |
| Payroll connection | Third-party API connections | Monitored, direct-data compliance mapping |
| Compliance integrity | Standardized automated legal templates | Personal legal review for complex class customization |
| Stability | Recent acquisition puts company focus on systems integration and process standardization | Independent healthcare-focused company with 12+ years of continued growth |
Why employers choose Take Command
Take Command delivers the best employee insurance experience on a budget you control
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Deep HRA experience
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Pioneer in the ICHRA market
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Dedicated employee support team
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Trusted by brokers nationwide
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Deep insurance carrier relationships
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Trusted by employers nationwide
- Purpose-built exclusively for HRA administration
How Lycoming College saved $1.4 million on health benefits with ICHRA
Home health provider used ICHRA to deliver 96% employee satisfaction
For Brokers Evaluating Take Command vs. Thatch
ICHRA guidelines are set by law. But ICHRA administration? It’s an open playing field.
Take Command supports brokers in taking care of their clients and their book of business by offering:
Benefits blueprint: What brokers say about working with Take Command
Take Command’s prospecting guide for broker lead gen
Be picky when choosing your ICHRA vendor
The Take Command vs. Thatch verdict
Flashy dashboards look great in a software demo. But health insurance isn’t just a payment transaction, it’s about caring about clients and their employees.
Take Command is a health-first institution. Our company is grounded in experience and customer care. We were first to market, and we’ve built our presence in the ICRHA space with thoughtful consideration.
If you’re interested in partnering with us, connect with an expert, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.
Read next
Choosing the best ICHRA administrator makes all the difference
A key part of ICHRA is the management. An ICHRA administrator essentially acts as the bridge between employees and the ICHRA plan, delivering smooth operations, compliance, and effective communication.
From confusion to clarity: switching from another ICHRA platform
“We had a lot of trouble with our first administrator…we felt like the service [with Take Command] would be a lot more streamlined and the payment system we believed would be much better—and it was.”
ICHRA for brokers
ICHRA guidelines are set by law. But ICHRA administration? It’s an open playing field. Be picky when choosing your ICHRA vendor.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the core expertise of Take Command and Thatch?
Take Command and Thatch are both ICRHRA administrators, but they have very different origins; Thatch is grounded in fintech , and Take Command was founded for the express purpose of providing ICHRA health benefits.
2. How do Take Command and Thatch compare for employee health plan choices?
3. What customer service and enrollment support do Thatch and Take Command offer?
Thatch primarily relies on tech-driven guidance, chatbots, and help desk tickets. Take Command combines 24/7 AI-powered support with human advisors and advocates.
4. Are there add-on fees for Thatch or Take Command?
Take Command has all-inclusive pricing for both clients and brokers. Thatch’s pricing structure includes a base fee plus required compliance fees and minimum monthly fees.
5. How do Thatch and Take Command handle compliance?
Because ICHRA guidelines are regulated by law, compliance is a very important consideration. Thatch uses automated legal templates, and Take Command has a compliance monitor built into their platform plus a compliance team. It’s also worth noting that Take Command founder, Jack Hooper, directly consulted on federal legislation to create ICHRA.
