Output
Objections to Legit.Health Pricing Strategy
Executive Summary
This document presents critical objections to the pricing strategy outlined in legit-health-pricing-strategy.mdx. Our analysis reveals that the core value assumptions are overstated by approximately 50-100x, the ROI calculations are fundamentally flawed, and the pricing model may actually increase healthcare costs rather than reduce them. The strategy's justification for €25-30 per diagnostic report pricing relies on questionable assumptions that do not withstand scrutiny.
Catastrophic Melanoma Cost Avoidance: A €2,597 Miscalculation
The Claim
The pricing strategy asserts that Legit.Health delivers €2,597.37 per patient in catastrophic cost avoidance through early melanoma detection, representing 99% of the total value proposition.
The Objection
A. Prevalence Rate Error (10x Overstatement)
The document assumes a 3% melanoma prevalence in the dermatology caseload. However:
- General population melanoma incidence: 0.013% per year (13 per 100,000) according to the Spanish National Cancer Registry
- Dermatology consultation melanoma detection rate: 0.3-0.5% based on European dermatology studies
- The 3% figure likely refers to melanoma among diagnosed skin cancers, not all dermatology consultations
This represents a 10x overstatement of the applicable patient population.
B. Attribution Logic Flaw
The calculation assumes the device prevents Stage I melanoma from progressing to Stage IV. This is incorrect:
- The device enables earlier detection, not prevention of progression
- Stage I melanomas, once detected, are treated and don't progress to Stage IV
- The correct comparison is detecting at Stage I vs detecting at Stage II/III (not Stage IV)
- Most melanomas are detected at Stage I or II even without AI assistance
C. Corrected Value Calculation
Realistic melanoma prevalence: 0.3%
Realistic cost differential: €20,000 (Stage II vs Stage I)
Attribution to device: 30% (device assists but doesn't replace clinical judgment)
Device accuracy for melanoma: Unknown (not specified, likely \<90%)
Corrected expected value: 0.003 × €20,000 × 0.3 = €18 per patient
The actual catastrophic cost avoidance is €18-25 per patient, not €2,597 – a 99% reduction in claimed value.
Primary Care Shift: Creating Costs, Not Savings
The Claim
49% of cases can be shifted to primary care, saving €17.05 per patient.
The Objection
The math fundamentally doesn't work:
Current Pathway
- Patient → Specialist consultation: €74
Proposed Pathway with Legit.Health
- Patient → Primary care visit: €56.95
- Primary care → Legit.Health analysis: €25
- Total: €81.95
This is €7.95 MORE expensive than the current pathway, not €17.05 cheaper.
The Only Scenario Where This Saves Money
The device would need to completely replace the primary care visit:
- Patient → Self-service with Legit.Health: €25
- Savings: €74 - €25 = €49
But this contradicts:
- The medical device regulatory requirements
- The need for clinical oversight
- The liability and safety requirements
- The stated implementation model
Per Capita Model: Unrealistic Usage Assumptions
The Claim
The per capita model assumes 7.5-8 reports per patient per year.
The Objection
Dermatology Consultation Statistics
According to Spanish health system data:
- Average dermatology consultations per person per year: 0.15
- For patients with skin conditions: 1.8 consultations per year
- For chronic dermatology patients (psoriasis, eczema): 4-6 visits per year
- Percentage of dermatology patients with chronic conditions: ~20%
Realistic Usage Calculation
80% of patients (acute): 1-2 reports per year
20% of patients (chronic): 5-6 reports per year
Weighted average: 0.8 × 1.5 + 0.2 × 5.5 = 2.3 reports per patient per year
Actual usage is likely 2-3 reports per patient, not 7.5-8 – a 70% overstatement.
Pricing Inconsistency
At 2.5 reports per year:
- Per capita price: €125/year
- Implied per-report price: €125 ÷ 2.5 = €50
- This is double the €25 per-report price
- Either the per capita price is too high, or the per-report price is too low
Device Accuracy: 90% Is Clinically Unacceptable for Triage
The Claim
The device has 90% accuracy for dermatological conditions.
The Objection
For Melanoma Detection
- Required sensitivity for cancer screening: >95% (medical standard)
- At 90% sensitivity: 1 in 10 melanomas missed
- Annual melanomas in Spain: ~5,000 cases
- Missed with Legit.Health: 500 melanomas per year
- Liability per missed melanoma: €100,000-500,000
The potential liability exceeds the entire revenue model.
Accuracy Breakdown Not Provided
- What is the sensitivity vs specificity?
- What is the accuracy for melanoma specifically?
- What is the accuracy for the top 10 serious conditions?
- How does accuracy vary by image quality?
Without this data, the 90% figure is meaningless for clinical decision-making.
Price Adjustment for Uncertainty
If there's a 10% chance of incorrect diagnosis:
- Full confidence price: €25
- 90% confidence price: €25 × 0.9 = €22.50
- Add second opinion requirement for 10% uncertain cases: +€15
- Effective price considering uncertainty: €24
The uncertainty adds hidden costs not reflected in the pricing model.
Comparison to Laboratory Tests: Apples to Oranges
The Claim
Legit.Health at €25 is comparable to a basic X-ray at €25.
The Objection
Laboratory Test ("Analítica básica") at €15
- Requires: Blood draw, sample processing, reagents, equipment, technician time
- Marginal cost: €8-10
- Provides: Objective, quantitative data (blood counts, chemistry panel)
Legit.Health at €25
- Requires: Smartphone photo, AI processing
- Marginal cost: €0.0095 (as stated)
- Provides: Probabilistic diagnosis with 90% accuracy
The €25 price represents a 2,631x markup over marginal cost, compared to laboratory tests with only 1.5-2x markup.
More Appropriate Comparisons
- Other AI diagnostic tools: €5-15 per use
- Telemedicine consultations: €20-30
- Clinical decision support tools: €2-10 per query
Based on comparable digital health tools, Legit.Health should be priced at €10-15 per report.
Care Pathway Reality: Device Adds Costs, Doesn't Reduce Them
The Claim
The device saves money by optimizing the care pathway.
The Objection
Scenario Analysis
Scenario A: Low-Risk Patient (60% of cases)
- Current: No consultation needed
- With Legit.Health: Unnecessary €25 screening
- Net cost increase: €25
Scenario B: Moderate-Risk Patient Managed in Primary Care (30% of cases)
- Current: Primary care only (€56.95)
- With Legit.Health: Primary care (€56.95) + Device (€25) = €81.95
- Net cost increase: €25
Scenario C: High-Risk Patient Needing Specialist (10% of cases)
- Current: Primary care (€56.95) + Specialist (€74) = €130.95
- With Legit.Health: Primary care (€56.95) + Device (€25) + Specialist (€74) = €155.95
- Net cost increase: €25
In ALL scenarios, the device adds €25 in costs without replacing any existing costs.
The only way to save money is if:
- The device replaces consultations entirely (regulatory/liability issues)
- The device prevents unnecessary specialist referrals (but at 90% accuracy, it may create more "just to be safe" referrals)
ROI Calculations: Mathematical Manipulation
The Claim
10,393% ROI based on €2,623 value delivered for €25 cost.
The Objection
Corrected ROI Calculation
Using realistic values:
True value delivered: €30-50 per patient
Device cost: €25
Incremental value: €5-25
ROI: (€5-25) ÷ €25 × 100% = 20-100%
Realistic ROI is 20-100%, not 10,393% – a 100x overstatement.
Payback Period Reality
- Claimed: 1.7 days
- This assumes immediate realization of 10-year melanoma prevention value
- Realistic payback considering:
- Implementation time: 3-6 months
- Adoption curve: 6-12 months
- Value realization: 12-24 months
- Actual payback period: 18-24 months
Volume Risk: The Hidden Business Model Fragility
The Claim
The pricing model is sustainable with conservative volume projections.
The Objection
Break-Even Analysis
At different volumes with €25 pricing:
10,000 reports: Cost = €82.84, Loss = -€57.84 per report
30,000 reports: Cost = €27.61, Loss = -€2.61 per report
50,000 reports: Cost = €16.58, Profit = €8.42 per report
100,000 reports: Cost = €8.29, Profit = €16.71 per report
The model only becomes profitable at >35,000 reports annually.
Adoption Risk
Healthcare technology adoption rates:
- Year 1 typical adoption: 5-10% of target market
- Years 2-3: 20-30%
- Years 4-5: 50-60%
With ~50 major hospitals in Spain:
- Year 1: 2-5 hospitals = 5,000-12,000 reports
- Year 2: 10-15 hospitals = 25,000-37,000 reports
The company faces 18-24 months of losses before reaching profitability.
Maximum Justifiable Price: A Strategic Error
The Claim
Pricing should be set at the maximum justifiable level to capture value.
The Objection
Negotiation Disadvantage
By presenting the "maximum justifiable price," Legit.Health:
- Eliminates negotiation room
- Invites procurement to demand 20-40% discounts
- Creates pressure to reduce price over time
- Provides competitors with a clear target to undercut
Market Entry Strategy
Successful medical device pricing typically follows:
- Introductory pricing: 30-50% below maximum to gain adoption
- Volume building: Focus on utilization over margin
- Price optimization: Increase prices after proving value
- Premium positioning: Only after market leadership
Recommended entry price: €15-18 per report (40% below proposed), increasing to €22-25 after demonstrating value.
Competition and Substitution Threats
The Claim
Legit.Health is defensible at €25 even against lower-priced alternatives.
The Objection
Consumer AI Apps
- Current price: €5-10/month unlimited use
- Accuracy: 85-90% (similar to Legit.Health)
- Regulatory status: Wellness apps, not medical devices
- Risk: Hospitals using consumer apps "off-label" for screening
Traditional Dermoscopy
- Equipment cost: €3,000 (one-time)
- Amortized over 3 years, 1,000 uses/year: €1 per use
- Accuracy with trained user: 85-95%
- Legit.Health at €25 is 25x more expensive per use
In-House AI Development
Major hospital systems are developing their own AI tools:
- Development cost: €500,000-1,000,000
- At 100,000 uses over 3 years: €1.67-3.33 per use
- Legit.Health at €25 is 7-15x more expensive than in-house development
Conclusion: Recommended Pricing Strategy Revision
Current Strategy Flaws
- Value overstated by ~50-100x (€2,623 vs realistic €30-50)
- ROI overstated by ~100x (10,393% vs realistic 20-100%)
- Primary care shift increases costs rather than saving them
- Per capita usage assumptions 3x too high
- 90% accuracy insufficient for clinical triage
Recommended Revised Pricing
Per Diagnostic Report
- Entry price: €12-15 (covers costs at 35K+ volume)
- Standard price: €18 (after proving value)
- Premium price: €22 (with additional features/accuracy)
Per Capita Annual
- Realistic usage: 2.5 reports per patient per year
- Annual price: €40-50 per patient
- Implies: €16-20 per report equivalent
Value Proposition Reframing
Instead of claiming massive cost savings, position Legit.Health as:
-
Quality Improvement Tool
- Reduces diagnostic variability
- Improves primary care confidence
- Enables earlier intervention
-
Access Enabler
- Extends specialist expertise to primary care
- Enables teledermatology programs
- Reduces time to diagnosis
-
Clinical Decision Support
- Augments (not replaces) clinical judgment
- Provides second opinion
- Documents diagnostic reasoning
Realistic Financial Projections
- Year 1: Loss of €200-300K while building volume
- Year 2: Break-even at 40-50K reports
- Year 3: 15-20% EBITDA margin at 100K+ reports
- ROI for healthcare systems: 30-50% (still attractive)
- Payback period: 18-24 months
This realistic positioning maintains credibility while still presenting an attractive value proposition for healthcare systems.