Posts by Category

Health Plans

  • What are Self-Insured Plans and When Should I Go Self-Insured

    What are Self-Insured Plans and When Should I Go Self-Insured

    So far, we’ve learned about how health plans work, the elements of a health plan, and the differences between a fully-insured and self-insured health plan. But maybe a self-insured plan is the best for a business, and you want to find out more about it. In this article, I’ll go more in-depth about what self-insured plans are and […]

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  • Health Plan Costs and Savings

    Health Plan Costs and Savings

    For years, the answer to escalating health plan costs has been to shift more and more of this cost to employees. But is there an opportunity for real savings and not simply cost-shifting? The answer is, “Yes.” However, it will be necessary to understand the basic elements of a health plan to recognize potential savings. […]

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  • Pharmaceuticals Drive 20% of Health Plan Costs!

    Pharmaceuticals Drive 20% of Health Plan Costs!

    No one needs to study detailed tables to be aware of the rising costs of prescription drugs.  Daily headlines and your wallet tell the tale.  In 2004, 100ml of Lantus, a basic insulin, was priced at $52.  Today, 15 years later, it is $300. Take control of the prescription benefit your company offers and buck […]

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  • Level Premium – A Plan For Your Small Business

    Level Premium – A Plan For Your Small Business

    The Affordable Care Act caused a dramatic shift in the health insurance landscape, particularly for small businesses. Underwriting a fully insured plan under 50 employees is no longer allowed. While this simplifies the process and offers many protections, the inflationary impact has been enormous, driving many employers to evaluate the feasibility of having no health […]

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  • Fully-Insured vs. Self-Insured Health Plans

    Fully-Insured vs. Self-Insured Health Plans

    In my article entitled “Health Plan Costs and Savings,” we defined some basic elements of health plans. I also briefly introduced two different plans: fully-insured plans and self-insured plans. Let’s go into a little more detail about fully-insured vs. self-insured health plans.  Fully-Insured Plans – Fully-insured plans have dominated the small group health insurance market for years. Being […]

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