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In a self-insured or self-funded health plan, the employer acts as the insurer, assuming the financial risk for employee healthcare costs. Rather than paying premiums to a traditional insurance carrier, the employer sets aside funds to cover claims directly. Often, a third-party administrator (TPA) is employed to handle claims processing and other administrative tasks. Stop-loss insurance is typically purchased to protect the employer from catastrophically high claims.

The potential advantages of this model include greater flexibility in plan design, allowing employers to tailor benefits to the specific needs of their workforce. Direct access to claims data can offer insights into healthcare utilization patterns and inform cost-containment strategies. Self-funding can also result in lower administrative costs compared to fully insured plans, particularly for large, healthy employee populations. However, it also exposes the employer to greater financial risk and requires careful planning and management to ensure its success. The historical context of self-funding is rooted in the rising costs of traditional health insurance, prompting some employers to seek alternative approaches to managing employee healthcare expenses.

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