By Sherree L. Craig, CEBS, Insured Benefits Division
Sherree L. Craig, CEBS
With a predicted medical trend increase of 6.5% in 2018 (PwC), businesses can expect to see a bump in their health insurance costs again this year.
Until the underlying issue of the cost of medical care can be controlled, company health insurance plans will be impacted with higher premium costs, reduced insurance protection and increased employee dissatisfaction with their benefits.
More businesses are exploring the opportunity to be creative with their company health plan offerings through a risk-mechanism called self-funding. What are they doing? They are paying for all of their employees’ health care with the assistance of a third party administrator (TPA), insuring only their highest cost claims with a stop-loss insurance policy. This way, they have several advantages over a fully insured health plan.
1. Removal of insurance company overhead costs
2. Reduced state premium taxes
3. Improved cash flow and,
4. Flexibility in plan designs and service offered.
This flexibility leads us into several strategic initiatives considered next generation for health plan cost control, and employers are adopting these innovative ideas to help reign in their medical spending.
All health plans are required to pay 100% for preventive services. How about removing all financial obstacles (co-payments and deductibles) for the treatment of the chronic conditions that lead to the largest medical costs down the line? With this concept, Value Based Plan Design” diabetics are getting proper testing and medications to prevent the catastrophic claim that is imminent without proper care.
Another tool being adopted by self-funded health plans is the reference-based pricing model. A reference price (the most that will be paid) is determined for a treatment, either by a percentage of the allowable Medicare payment (i.e., what the federal government has to pay for that service) or by a study of comparable pricing from well-respected providers (Centers of Excellence).
The plan payment for any provider is capped at that reference price. A health plan might also choose to negotiate with that provider to accept that price (Direct Provider Contracting), or the health plan policy might be to have the member pay the balance bill if higher than the reference price.
Self-funding is not an answer for all employers. If you do choose to make that leap, or want to explore the opportunities, be sure to speak with an experienced professional. There is a lot of work to be done when moving in this direction and thorough education, preparation, and analysis is critical.
Sherree Craig is certified in self-funding by the National Association of Health Underwriters.The NAHU Advanced Self-Funding Certification ensures knowledge of regulatory concerns, service model options, cost-containment strategies and underwriting concepts necessary for providing advice and direction on employer self-funded health plans.