Evaluating, Implementing & Optimizing a Self-Funded Healthcare Program

About this Webinar Series:

Rising healthcare costs, volatile renewals, and high-cost drugs are reshaping the benefits landscape. As a result, self-funding is rapidly shifting from a niche alternative to a strategic path for employers seeking greater financial control, transparency, and long‑term cost management.

This webinar series is designed to support employers wherever you are in their self‑funding journey. Whether you’re considering a transition or looking to strengthen your current self-funded strategy, we provide practical frameworks, market insights, and actionable next steps to help you make informed, confident decisions.

Session 1:

For Fully-Insured Employers Exploring Self-Funding

In this session, we address opportunities and common concerns when moving from fully insured to self-funded, explore experiences from employers who have made the switch, and highlight how the stop loss market has evolved to make self-funding more accessible. You’ll leave with actionable steps outlining what you need to evaluate your readiness and navigate your transition with confidence.

Key topics include:

• Why more employers are reevaluating self-funding in 2026 amid rising costs and renewal volatility
• How CFOs and HR leaders are addressing the most common self-funding concerns
• What’s new in the stop loss market—underwriting flexibility, no‑data quoting, and options for small and mid-sized groups
• How advanced analytics and AI modeling reduce uncertainty by forecasting claims and testing stop loss strategies
• What to expect operationally in year one, from implementation to cash flow considerations
• A clear framework to determine if self‑funding fits your size, risk tolerance, leadership alignment, and strategic goals

Session 2:

For Self-Funded Employers Ready to Optimize

This session focuses on improving performance and controlling cost drivers once you’re already self-funded. We explore the trends shaping plans in 2026 and the strategies employers use to optimize plan design, pharmacy management, and data analytics.

Key topics include:

• The major cost drivers impacting 2026 plans, including specialty pharmacy, GLP-1s, high-cost claimants, and emerging gene and oncology therapies
• Turning claims data into action using data warehouse analytics to spot trends, evaluate vendors, and target interventions
• Which plan design and network strategies drive meaningful savings, from deductible and contribution modeling to network optimization, carve-out decisions, and cost-containment levers
• How AI-enabled analytics shift plans from reactive reporting to proactive risk management
• The impact of pharmacy contracting, including spread pricing, rebate transparency, carve-in vs. carve-out, and fiduciary considerations
• Additional risk strategies beyond medical, including the advantages of self-insuring short‑term disability