Health insurance executives expect more U.S. employers to self-fund their group health insurance plans as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to a survey by Munich Health North America. Eighty-two percent of executives say that employers are showing growing interest in self-funding. Thirty-two percent say that employer interest has increased significantly.
Richard Phillips, president of Munich Health North America’s Reinsurance Division said, “The trend towards self-funding stems from employers’ desire to maintain…flexibility and control in the design and financing of their employees’ health benefits. A properly designed self-funded health plan can allow a company to directly reap the benefits of their cost containment and wellness activities as opposed to having to pay a monthly premium based on an arbitrary set of rating restrictions. As companies struggle with the growing cost of providing quality benefits, we expect self-funding to continue to grow in popularity.”
Health insurance organizations expect to see growth in their self-funded or administrative services only (ASO) portfolios as a result of this trend. Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed plan on growing their self-funding or ASO portfolios over the next year. For more information, visit www.munichhealthna.com
