You worked full time at law firms through college, studied law, and made the Dean's List, but decided not to become a lawyer. Why?
Mike Burmeister: To be honest, there’s still a part of me that believes I’ll become an attorney one day. The idea of practicing law appealed to me for a long time, and I put in the work—balancing full-time jobs at law firms while pursuing my studies and consistently making the Dean's List. Yet, life has a funny way of guiding us in unexpected directions, and one seemingly small incident changed everything for me.
I was preparing to retake the LSAT to boost my score when I had a flat tire on the way to the test. While I waited for AAA, I wandered into a nearby Starbucks. A stranger, noticing my stress, kindly bought me a coffee, and we struck up a conversation. He happened to have an MBA and spoke passionately about how it had opened up a world of opportunities for him in ways he hadn’t expected. It was one of those moments where the universe seemed to nudge me in a different direction. I left that conversation inspired to rethink my career path. Three years later, I had my MBA and found myself on a completely different trajectory than I ever imagined.
While I still have a deep respect for the legal profession and haven’t closed the door on it entirely, my MBA has allowed me to explore a range of fields and industries, including the one I’m in now, which brings me a sense of purpose I never expected.
What led you to healthcare, and why did you stay?
Mike Burmeister: My entry into healthcare was purely accidental. It wasn’t something I had planned, and I didn’t grow up imagining myself working in health insurance. At the time, my primary concern was providing for my newborn daughter and creating a stable, secure life for my family. An opportunity came along, and I seized it. Little did I know, this field would become far more than just a job—it would become my passion and my life’s mission.
Healthcare has always been personal to me. When I was 11 years old, I was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. For nearly a decade, I went undiagnosed, despite increasingly severe symptoms. I spent my formative years in and out of doctor’s offices, trying to make sense of what was happening to my body while my family and I navigated the complexities of the healthcare system with very limited resources. By the time I was properly diagnosed, with Aplastic Anemia, a rare autoimmune disorder where the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells, the disease had progressed, and I was faced with two treatment options: a bone marrow transplant or anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) therapy.
A bone marrow transplant offered the best chance at full remission, but it was costly, and my insurance denied coverage for the procedure. Instead, I underwent ATG therapy, which is far less effective—only about 10% of patients go into remission. But I was fortunate; the treatment worked better than expected, and I went into partial remission. I regained about 95% of normal functioning, but I still have to be hyper-vigilant about my health every day. The emotional and financial toll was significant, and just when I thought I had made it through, I was hit with a staggering $100,000 balance bill for uncovered expenses.
In a twist of fate, my doctor was able to enroll me in a clinical trial, which erased that debt, and once again, I found myself incredibly lucky. But I know my story is not the norm—so many people face these challenges without the same fortunate breaks, and that’s what drives me today. I joined Health Rosetta with a personal mission to improve the healthcare system and ensure that others don’t have to endure the same struggles I did. Healthcare and health insurance are deeply personal to me, and I’m committed to making a difference.
What are the best and worst things about your job?
Mike Burmeister: The best part of my job is the knowledge that I am contributing to meaningful change. Every day, I get to wake up knowing that the work I do has a real impact on people’s lives. Whether it’s helping a company design a better health plan or advocating for more transparent and cost-effective solutions, I’m making healthcare more accessible and affordable. That feeling—knowing I’m part of the solution to a problem as vast as healthcare—is incredibly rewarding.
However, the worst part is the enormity of the challenge. Healthcare in the U.S. is a complex, fragmented system, and sometimes it feels like we’re trying to move mountains. There are days when the scope of the problem feels overwhelming. Even though we make progress, there are still millions of people who fall through the cracks, facing astronomical costs, poor care, and unnecessary hurdles. The fight is far from over, and that can weigh heavily at times.
How do you describe the Health Rosetta to your family?
Mike Burmeister: Explaining Health Rosetta to my family can be a bit challenging because the organization is multifaceted and involved in so many aspects of healthcare reform. But at its core, I tell them that Health Rosetta is an organization committed to transforming the U.S. healthcare system. We provide a blueprint for designing better health plans that prioritize transparency, cost reduction, and improved outcomes. In simpler terms, we’re working to build a healthcare system that works for people, not against them.
I also explain that Health Rosetta is built around the idea that we don’t have to accept the current system as it is. There are better ways to do things, and we’re showing employers, health plans, and providers how to implement those changes. It’s about creating a healthcare system that is sustainable, affordable, and truly centered on the well-being of individuals.
Who else in healthcare inspires you, and why?
Mike Burmeister: I’ve been inspired by several people over the years, and my list keeps growing as I meet more passionate, dedicated individuals working to improve healthcare. One of the first people who really made an impact on me was the late Marshall Allen. His book opened my eyes to the power of asking the right questions and holding the healthcare system accountable. His work focused on exposing the inefficiencies and outright corruption within the system, and it gave me a framework for understanding how we could do better.
Another person who’s been instrumental in my journey is Spencer Smith. His "Self-Funded with Spencer" YouTube series was an invaluable resource when I was new to this industry. Coming from a place of personal experience, I had a steep learning curve, and Spencer’s content helped me grasp the ins and outs of the self-funded health plan space quickly. He made the industry accessible to someone like me who had a limited background in it.
More recently, I’ve been inspired by Amy LeVrier and Montara Pfannestiel, who I have the privilege of working with daily at Health Rosetta. Their dedication to making healthcare better is unmatched. They are relentless in their pursuit of excellence, and their passion for creating real change motivates me to do the same. Working alongside people who share your vision and drive makes all the difference.
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