What percentage of employers are self-insured?

Asked by: Dr. Alycia Jenkins II  |  Last update: August 30, 2025
Score: 5/5 (72 votes)

There is much variation in the percentage of employers offering a self-insured plan by establishment size. Large firms (500 or more employees) are much more likely (74%) than small (16%) and medium-sized firms (32%) to self-insure at least one of their health plans.

How common are self-funded health plans?

Sixty-five percent of covered workers are in a plan that is self-funded, the same percentage (65%) as last year [Figure 10.2].

Do all states allow employers to self-insure?

A small number of states do not permit employers to operate self-insured plans, forcing all companies to either buy commercial insurance or participate in the state fund. In all other states, companies must be approved by the applicable regulatory agency in order to operate a self-insured Workers' Compensation plan.

Why would large employers decide to self-insure?

Self-insured companies have unrestricted access to their employees' claims data. Claims data is unavailable through traditional health care programs, which makes a big difference for companies who want to tailor their insurance coverage to the needs of their workforce.

How many employees do you need to be self-insured?

If you plan to implement a self-funded insurance plan, a typical rule of thumb requires an employer to have at least 100 employees covered. However, many organizations with over 30 employees opt for self-funding insurance plans.

Know Your Rights: Know your Coverage - Self Insured Employer

26 related questions found

What percent of companies self-insure?

Large firms (500 or more employees) are much more likely (74%) than small (16%) and medium-sized firms (32%) to self-insure at least one of their health plans.

When should a company be self-insured?

Company size: In general, larger companies with hundreds of employees get more benefit from self-insurance than small employers. These larger companies are able to spread their risk over a larger pool of employees. But depending on the area of coverage, even small businesses can benefit from self-insurance.

What big companies are self-insured?

The Top Self-Funded Healthcare Companies in the United States
  • IBM. IBM, a renowned technology powerhouse, has been operating a self-funded healthcare plan for years, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to employee health. ...
  • Intel. ...
  • Boeing. ...
  • Walmart. ...
  • General Motors.

What are the risks of self-insuring?

When an organization self-insures, they are taking on the financial risk of potential loss themselves, which can be significant in the event of a catastrophic event or large claim. Large claims can be financially devastating if the funds set aside for self-insurance are insufficient.

What are the disadvantages of self-funded health plans?

Cons of a Self Insured Plan:
  • Higher compliance requirements for HIPAA and other applicable federal laws.
  • Employer must be comfortable with a 3 – 5 year, long-term perspective to analyze plan performance.
  • Monthly cash flow can vary based on claims.

Does HIPAA apply to self-insured employers?

Self-insured plans are regulated at the federal level under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). They are also subject to HIPAA rules, including a prohibition from rejecting an eligible employee or dependent based on medical history.

How does Cobra work with self-insured plans?

Cal-COBRA covers indemnity policies, PPOs and HMOs, but not self-insured plans. Unlike federal COBRA, church plans are covered under Cal-COBRA. Federal COBRA generally extends health coverage for 18 months. Individuals with certain qualifying events may be eligible for a longer extension (e.g., 29 or 36 months).

How do I know if my employer is self-insured?

Based on the logo, it can be hard to tell from your insurance card if you have a self- insured plan. But there may be language on the card that says something like, “this insurance company provides claims processing only and assumes no financial risk for claims.” That is a sign that it is a self-insured plan.

What percentage of Americans pay for their own health insurance?

In 2023, most people, 92.0 percent or 305.2 million, had health insurance, either for some or all of the year. In 2023, private health insurance coverage continued to be more prevalent than public coverage, at 65.4 percent and 36.3 percent, respectively.

Why do employers sponsor self-funded health plans?

There are several reasons why employers choose the self-insurance option. The following are the most common reasons: The employer can customize the plan to meet the specific health care needs of its workforce, as opposed to purchasing a 'one-size-fits-all' insurance policy.

How much does it cost to self-insure health?

A recent study by eHealth found that for the first half of the 2021 Open Enrollment Period, these were the average national monthly costs for ACA-compliant plans: Average monthly premiums for individual coverage: $484. Average monthly premiums for families: $1,230.

Why is self-insurance not feasible?

Self-insurance works less well for individuals who have dependents, significant debts, and/or fewer assets. Why? Dependents may need financial support after one's death – especially if they are young, need individualized care, or don't have significant income of their own.

Is it worth it to self-insure?

Self-insuring against certain losses may be more economical than buying insurance from a third party. The more predictable and smaller the loss is, the more likely it is that an individual or firm will choose to self-insure.

Why go self-insured?

These plans are often more flexible for you as the employer because you may not be subject to certain state requirements, and at the end of the plan year, you can get money back. Self-insurance offers you the flexibility to meet health care challenges and allows you to better manage health care costs.

Is Coca Cola self-insured?

In general, we are self-insured for large portions of many different types of claims; however, we do use commercial insurance above our self-insured retentions to reduce the Company's risk of catastrophic loss.

Is Target self-insured?

Typically, if an employer is a non-subscriber, it is either self-insured or carries some other form of insurance to cover employee injuries. Target is one company that maintains its own workers' injury insurance.

How many Americans are self-insured?

Introduction. In the United States, more than 178 million (56%) Americans receive insurance coverage through an employer; of these, approximately 60% have insurance from a self-insured employer.

Is self-insurance a risk retention?

Self-insurance is a risk retention mechanism in which, rather than contractually transferring risk to a third party as it would in a traditional commercial insurance arrangement, a company sets aside money to fund future losses.

Why would a business self-insure instead of buying an insurance policy?

Some large businesses may choose to self-insure to save money and control costs for their commercial property, auto and general liability coverages. When a business chooses this route, they don't buy a plan from an insurance company.

What does it mean when a company says they are self-insured?

Type of plan usually present in larger companies where the employer itself collects premiums from enrollees and takes on the responsibility of paying employees' and dependents' medical claims.