John Hickman was quoted in an article in Health Plan Week discussing that 2012 could be an “apocalyptic year” for health insurers that are unable to keep their footing on an ever-shifting landscape. The article lists nine challenges that could have an impact on insurers in the year ahead, one of which was the impact of self-funded coverage.
Health insurers will need to compete in a post-health reform market that “provides significant incentives for self-funded [administrative services only] and minimum premium-type arrangements,” Hickman said.
“Insurers will see a significant portion of their business in the medium to small-group market examine and experiment with self-funded and hybrid self-funded arrangements. Insurers will react by re-energizing the small self-funded group market with new products [e.g., stop-loss coverage, wellness programs] targeted at the self-funded small-group market,” he predicted.