EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Rethinking Benefits Funding: Why the Status Quo Is No Longer a Risk Strategy
March 2026
For many employers, healthcare benefits have become one of the largest and least predictable business expenses. What was once treated as a relatively stable cost now carries significant volatility, uncertainty, and risk.
Skyrocketing healthcare costs, including larger-than-ever high-cost claims, and shifts in pharmacy costs are forcing organizations to explore creative alternatives for cost savings. Renewal conversations are tougher. Negotiating with medical carriers on renewals is harder. Leadership teams are asking for solutions to manage the trend long-term.
In today’s environment, reviewing how you fund your benefits is no longer a status quo, it’s a risk management strategy.
That’s the focus of our upcoming exclusive webinar, Rethinking Benefits Funding as a Risk Management Strategy, designed for leaders who want to move beyond reactive renewal decisions and evaluate strategies with a long-term, enterprise-wide lens.
The Market Has Shifted
Over the past year, employers across industries have faced:
- Unpredictable renewal outcomes for fully insured plans
- Higher premiums and tighter underwriting
- Greater exposure to volatile, high-cost claims
These pressures have exposed the limitations of traditional funding approaches, particularly when decisions are made year to year, without a broader framework for risk and governance.
Our session will explore how employers can step back from short-term fixes and begin aligning funding strategies with business objectives, financial readiness, and market realities.
Funding Models Are About More Than Risk
Most organizations understand the spectrum of funding options—from fully insured to self-funded. But not all understand what those choices truly require.
Funding decisions impact far more than premiums. They influence cash flow variability, data access, operational complexity, and compliance responsibility. During the webinar, we’ll discuss:
- The different funding models available to employers of all sizes
- How different funding models provide various cost savings strategies
- What employers should consider before making a funding structure choice
The goal isn’t to promote one model over another, but to help leaders evaluate whether their current approach still aligns with where the organization is headed.
Transparency Changes Decision-Making
One of the most meaningful differences between funding models is transparency, particularly around claims and pharmacy data.
With better visibility, employers can move from reacting to renewals to proactively managing cost and risk. The discussion will highlight how enhanced data access can:
- Identify true cost drivers and claims trends
- Inform stop-loss and vendor decisions
- Strengthen fiduciary oversight and documentation
We’ll also touch on how analytics tools are enabling more informed, strategic conversations at the executive level.
Reinsurance, Captives, and Vendor Decisions Matter More Than Ever
As employers take on greater responsibility, understanding reinsurance structures and vendor relationships becomes critical. The session will address:
- Key stop-loss considerations and transition challenges
- Where captives fit within a broader risk strategy
- Why vendor and network decisions are fiduciary decisions—not just pricing exercises
These choices require education, alignment, and confidence across HR, finance, and leadership teams.
Join the Conversation
This webinar is designed for leaders who want a clearer framework for evaluating benefits funding—not just for the next renewal, but for the long term.
Rethinking Benefits Funding as a Risk Management Strategy
📅 Thursday, March 5 | 2:00 p.m. ET
🎙 Featuring EPIC’s Louis Runge and Renee Bosley, moderated by Tiffany McClellan
If you’re questioning whether your current funding approach still serves your organization, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Join us on Thursday, March 5!
- 11:00 a.m. to Noon a.m. PT
- Noon to 1:00 p.m. MT
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT
- 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET
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