Free & Clear

About Free & Clear

Free & Clear, Inc. operated as a healthcare services company focused on addressing chronic diseases by tackling contributing health risks like tobacco use, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. The company was founded in 2003, previously known as The Center for Health Promotion, and established itself by providing evidence-based programs to corporate and government clients. Its business model centered on offering behavior change solutions to employers and health plans, aiming to improve employee health and reduce long-term healthcare costs. Revenue was generated by providing these services to a substantial client base that included 27 state governments and over 675 health plans and employers, 76 of which were in the Fortune 500.

The company's flagship offering was the "Quit For Life Program," a comprehensive tobacco cessation solution developed in partnership with the American Cancer Society. This program was rooted in research from institutions like the Group Health Cooperative and the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, demonstrating a doubling of quitting success compared to individuals quitting on their own. The service combined telephone-based counseling with a quitline, written materials, and, when appropriate, recommendations for nicotine replacement therapies. Free & Clear also offered the "Mind & Body Program," which focused on inspiring employees to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Both programs utilized personalized coaching to help individuals build healthier lifestyle behaviors.

In a significant milestone, Free & Clear was acquired by Alere Inc. in September 2009 for $100 million and was subsequently renamed Alere Wellbeing, Inc. This acquisition was part of Alere's strategy to build out its wellbeing and health management services. Following this, Alere Wellbeing continued to operate and expand on the original Free & Clear model. The journey came to another turning point when Alere sold its health division, including Alere Wellbeing, to Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, in a $600 million cash deal that closed in January 2015. This final acquisition integrated the company's capabilities into Optum's broader population health management platform.