Articles

Gene and cell therapies now run $2–4 million per treatment, and stop-loss carriers are responding with exclusions, sublimits, and lasering. Here's what self-funded employers need to know before the next renewal.

Group medical captives let 100–500 life employers pool the volatile middle layer of stop-loss risk with 10 to 30 other companies, share dividends when claims run well, and keep full control of their own plan design. Here's how the structure works, what you actually own, and when it beats standalone stop-loss.

Gene therapy claims are crossing $2 million and landing on mid-market employers' desks. Here's a decision framework covering medical necessity criteria, stop-loss positioning, outcomes-based contracts, and installment payment options.

Stop-loss premiums are up nearly 10% and million-dollar claims surged 60% in four years. Here's how to calculate the right ISL attachment point, handle lasering, and avoid the five most common mistakes at renewal.

Specialty drugs now exceed 50% of employer pharmacy spend. With oncology, GLP-1s, and $3 million gene therapies in the 2027 pipeline, here's what self-funded employers need to do before it hits.

Your stop-loss carrier raises your specific deductible and calls it a deal. Here's how to model the breakeven, spot laser risk, and decide whether to accept, push back, or shop the market.

Leveraged trend explains why stop-loss premiums jump 30% when underlying claims only grew 10%. Here's the math, and what self-funded employers can do about it.

Stop-loss loss ratios have hit 85% and carriers are calling it unsustainable. Here's what's driving 2026 rate increases, from reinsurance hardening to GLP-1 claims, and what you can push back on.

A fully-insured to self-funded transition takes 12 months done right. Here's the phase-by-phase roadmap, from actuarial analysis through employee communication and go-live.

Stop-loss rates are hardening fast. Before you accept your renewal quote, here are three concrete alternatives: higher specific deductibles, captive reinsurance, and corridor self-insurance.

Renewal negotiations fail when brokers show up with a quote instead of a data case. Here's the specific information that actually moves carriers.

Million-dollar-plus claims rose 29% in 2024. Stop-loss carriers are already adjusting. Here's what to pull before August renewal negotiations begin.