Get the budget predictability of a fully-insured plan — plus the savings potential of self-funding.

If you’re a small business owner in Ohio shopping for group health insurance, you already know the frustration: premiums keep climbing, options feel limited, and you’re paying for coverage whether your employees use it or not.

There’s a better option that most business owners have never heard of. It’s called a level-funded health plan — and it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular choices for Ohio businesses with 10 to 100 employees.

What Is a Level-Funded Health Plan?

A level-funded plan is a type of self-funded health coverage where your business pays one predictable monthly amount — no surprises, no mid-year adjustments. That payment covers three things:

  • Your employees’ projected claims for the year
  • Stop-loss insurance to protect you from unexpectedly large claims
  • Administrative costs for claims processing and network access

Here’s the key difference from a traditional fully-insured plan: if your actual claims come in lower than projected, you get the unused portion back at year-end. With a fully-insured plan, the carrier keeps that money. With a level-funded plan, it comes back to you.

Is This Right for Your Ohio Business?

Level-funded plans tend to be an excellent fit if your business:

  • Has between 10 and 100 employees
  • Wants predictable monthly costs for easier budgeting
  • Is tired of rate increases that don’t reflect your team’s actual health
  • Has a generally healthy workforce
  • Wants more insight into where healthcare dollars are actually going

Not every group is the right fit — if your team has significant ongoing health conditions, the math may look different. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced broker who can run the numbers for your specific group before making a recommendation.

5 Reasons Ohio Businesses Are Making the Switch

1. Your Monthly Cost Is Fixed Just like a fully-insured plan, you know exactly what you’re paying each month. No surprises, no volatility — which makes budgeting much easier for small business owners.

2. You Could Get Money Back If claims come in under budget, the unused claims dollars are refunded to your business. For companies with younger or healthier workforces, this can add up to real savings year after year.

3. You’re Protected Against Big Claims Every level-funded plan includes stop-loss insurance. If one employee has a serious illness or injury, stop-loss coverage kicks in so a single claim can’t derail your finances.

4. You Get Real Data on Your Healthcare Spend Unlike traditional fully-insured plans, level-funded plans give you access to aggregated claims data. You can see where your healthcare dollars are going — and make smarter decisions about wellness programs and plan design.

5. More Flexibility in Plan Design Level-funded plans allow for more customization than off-the-shelf group insurance. You can build a benefits package that reflects your workforce — including options like telemedicine, mental health support, and chronic care management.

Why Ohio Business Owners Trust Ohio Health Benefits

Finding the right small business health insurance in Ohio takes more than an online quote. It takes someone who knows the local market, understands your business, and has access to every major carrier — not just one or two.

Ohio Health Benefits is a locally-owned independent broker with offices in Tallmadge, Hiram, and Canton. We serve businesses across all of Ohio, and we’re appointed with all major carriers — which means we shop the full market on your behalf to find the best fit for your team and your budget.

We offer both Group Health – Fully Insured and Group Health – Self Funded plans, level-funded options, HRA/HSA administration, dental, vision, life, disability, telemedicine, and more. Most importantly, we don’t just sell you a plan and disappear — our team is here to support you all year long.

  • Our services are free to you — we’re compensated by the carriers, not by you
  • We analyze your group’s specific situation before recommending any plan
  • We’re here all year, not just at renewal time
  • We keep up with Ohio’s ever-changing health insurance landscape so you don’t have to

Ready to See If a Level-Funded Plan Is Right for Your Business?

Call us for a free, no-pressure consultation. We’ll review your current benefits, run the numbers, and give you an honest recommendation — whether that’s a level-funded plan, a fully-insured plan, a self-funded plan, or something else entirely.

📞 Call Ohio Health Benefits: 330-633-7713

Calls are not recorded. Your information is completely confidential.