#BCBSMA said it will map all merged market PPO and EPO groups to the closest corresponding HMO Blue New England plan. Groups 10+ needing #PPO plans will either have to use #LevelFunded plans or a #PEO. Everyone else? No options. #Massachusetts
BCBS Massachusetts to drop small group, individual PPO plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will discontinue all PPO and EPO plans in the merged market (the combined individual and small group markets in Massachusetts) after 2026
buff.ly
June 30, 2026 at 10:00 PM
#BCBSMA said it will map all merged market PPO and EPO groups to the closest corresponding HMO Blue New England plan. Groups 10+ needing #PPO plans will either have to use #LevelFunded plans or a #PEO. Everyone else? No options. #Massachusetts
In states where community-rated (#ACA-qualified) enrollment has fallen below 25 percent of the #SmallGroup market, premium growth has run well above the national average, making #CHOICE/#ICHRA and #AHP far more attractive. #LevelFunded #AdverseSelection buff.ly/wIBSsjG
Half the small-group market has left ACA plans - and premiums show it
A CBO report tracks a decade of market migration that is reshaping the renewal math for benefits advisers
www.insurancebusinessmag.com
September 8, 2026 at 8:30 PM
In states where community-rated (#ACA-qualified) enrollment has fallen below 25 percent of the #SmallGroup market, premium growth has run well above the national average, making #CHOICE/#ICHRA and #AHP far more attractive. #LevelFunded #AdverseSelection buff.ly/wIBSsjG
Adding to my previous note: larger employers are more likely to have #SelfFunded or #LevelFunded #HealthInsurance plans. For smaller employers, the market share of these types of plans has been growing quickly over the last several years.
July 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Adding to my previous note: larger employers are more likely to have #SelfFunded or #LevelFunded #HealthInsurance plans. For smaller employers, the market share of these types of plans has been growing quickly over the last several years.
Did you know? If you are on a #SelfFunded (or #LevelFunded) #HealthInsurance plan, state-specific mandates usually don't apply, thanks to #ERISA pre-emption. Curious how many plans this affects? Check out this list from Becker's.
States ranked by share of employer-sponsored plans that are self-funded
buff.ly
July 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Did you know? If you are on a #SelfFunded (or #LevelFunded) #HealthInsurance plan, state-specific mandates usually don't apply, thanks to #ERISA pre-emption. Curious how many plans this affects? Check out this list from Becker's.
Providers of #StopLoss insurance appear to be facing increases in care use rates and care prices that are comparable to fully insured coverage. #SelfFunded #LevelFunded #NABIP
State regulators wrestle with level-funded health plan surge
One team is drafting a paper about the hybrid health plans. Another is talking about employer frustrations.
buff.ly
March 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Providers of #StopLoss insurance appear to be facing increases in care use rates and care prices that are comparable to fully insured coverage. #SelfFunded #LevelFunded #NABIP
State regulators or legislators who get tired of setting new rules for #PBM could turn their attention to #StopLoss insurance and #LevelFunded plans. #MyOpinion: interesting that this is happening in #NC, which is just now emerging as a competitive market in #SmallGroup spaces.
Regulators could restrict stop-loss to rescue fully insured small-group plans
"If North Carolina is any guide, such regulation can be effective at leveling the playing field between the fully insured and self-funded markets," an analyst at Georgetown University's Center for…
buff.ly
February 19, 2026 at 5:00 PM
State regulators or legislators who get tired of setting new rules for #PBM could turn their attention to #StopLoss insurance and #LevelFunded plans. #MyOpinion: interesting that this is happening in #NC, which is just now emerging as a competitive market in #SmallGroup spaces.
Sun Life U.S. #StopLoss sales grew so quickly partly because some competitors increased prices even more, and partly because employer demand was still strong. #SelfFunded #LevelFunded #HealthInsurance
Sun Life raises stop-loss rates 17% but increases sales 56%
Some other market players are too small to be comfortable with the size of the biggest claims, according to the company's CEO.
buff.ly
February 17, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Sun Life U.S. #StopLoss sales grew so quickly partly because some competitors increased prices even more, and partly because employer demand was still strong. #SelfFunded #LevelFunded #HealthInsurance
The ratio of #claims to premiums for the full year was [about] 4% to 7% higher than what #Cigna had expected. #StopLoss #LevelFunded #PremiumIncreases #HealthInsurance (Free registration req'd.) https://buff.ly/3WJENh9
Specialty drugs and cancer surgery claims will push up stop-loss renewal prices, says Cigna CFO
The villains were injectable specialty drugs like Keytruda and inpatient surgical procedures for seriously ill patients.
buff.ly
February 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The ratio of #claims to premiums for the full year was [about] 4% to 7% higher than what #Cigna had expected. #StopLoss #LevelFunded #PremiumIncreases #HealthInsurance (Free registration req'd.) https://buff.ly/3WJENh9
Small employers are shifting to #LevelFunded plans because #HealthInsurance premiums have increased almost three times as fast as the overall rate of inflation. The article fails to mention that this means even higher #ACA plan premiums.
Small employers are fleeing from fully insured market, analyst tells regulators
State insurance commissioners see “level-funded” plans – hybrid self-insured plans – pulling covered lives away.
buff.ly
December 2, 2024 at 8:00 PM
Small employers are shifting to #LevelFunded plans because #HealthInsurance premiums have increased almost three times as fast as the overall rate of inflation. The article fails to mention that this means even higher #ACA plan premiums.