It’s preferable to stop a fire from starting than it is to stop the flames from spreading, or to undo the damage that they cause. Prevention is naturally a primary goal for healthcare providers, who strive to keep patients from becoming sick and/or getting sicker. But self-insured employers benefit from this branch of  healthcare too. Though it’s hard to say definitely if preventive medicine will help you dramatically slash costs, embracing prevention has lasting benefits for all involved. Continue Reading >

When was the last time you scrolled through the health and fitness apps available on your favorite device? Maybe you’ll check them all out the next time you have, oh, five or six free days in a row. That’s probably about how long it would take you to review the full range of health apps available in your device’s app store. Continue Reading >

Saving money is the primary reason that many employers decide to provide self-funded insurance. Balancing that objective and the healthcare needs of employees can be an ongoing struggle. Trimming benefits would help you cut spending, but not without sacrificing employee health and morale. Instead, think about making some strategic shifts to your plan. For some employers, it only takes a few small changes to dramatically slash healthcare spending. Continue Reading >

How can you make this upcoming year the best one yet for your business? It’s a lofty goal, but an achievable one too – that is, if your employees are ready to give you their best work this year. Launching a workplace wellness program is one way to motivate them to do just that. Continue Reading >

As we head into a new flu season, self-funded employers have good reason to be concerned about healthcare costs. Let’s face it, the flu is bad news for everyone. The best case scenario involves a healthy adult getting a mild case, spending a week feeling miserable and maybe making a single trip to the doctor. But others aren’t as lucky. Continue Reading >

Did you know self-funded plans are required to comply with ERISA guidelines? Typically when we think of ERISA we think of pensions and retirement benefits. However, even though the plan pays for healthcare coverage, a self-funded plan is fundamentally a pool of money. And that money needs to be insured. In order to protect the members, ERISA covers the plan and its fiduciaries. Continue Reading >

When 79 percent of Americans agree about something, politicians take notice. That’s the percentage of people who consider drug prices “unreasonable,” according to a 2019 KFF poll. Outrage about rising prescription drugs costs has reached a fever pitch. However, these feelings are nothing new. Early in his presidency,  the Trump administration vowed to make medication more affordable for American patients. They unveiled a new policy with the claim to reduce drug costs. So have they delivered? Continue Reading >

Do you know the most common type of cancer in the U.S.? Judging by awareness ads, personal experiences and the GoFundMe pages you see shared on social media, you might assume that breast or lung cancers are the biggest threat. Skin cancer, you might assume, falls somewhere down the list. You see plenty of pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness and billboards about the dangers of smoking, but have you seen many mentions of skin cancer lately? This May, hopefully you will. Continue Reading >

If only a crystal ball or portal to another time could help us predict the future of American health care. Heck, even a Magic 8 ball with a high rate of accuracy could be useful. Alas, no such magic device exists (we think), so the confusion and uncertainty that surround health care and insurance aren’t ending anytime soon. Many people agree that our current system is broken, but no simple solution exists to bring down costs and give all Americans access to the care they need. Considering the political discord around this issue, it seems unlikely that a major change – like a move to a single-payer system – is just around the corner. So what does that have to do with self funded insurance? Continue Reading >