PEO 95% chance of beating Fully Insured
$182,559
median five-year savings
+22% expected savings
5th$4,02025th$124,562 75th$220,37595th$255,044
Colorado Health-Plan Funding Guide
Colorado 2027 funding analysis by employer size
Plan year 2027 Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates
Compare your options based on what matters most: Year 1 cost, five-year savings, and the likelihood of outperforming Fully Insured.
10 Employees
10-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with Benefitra's average client savings assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Colorado market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO95%
Level-Funded81%
Taft-Hartley59%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $182,559
Level-Funded $149,098
Taft-Hartley $5,083
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
Level-Funded 81% chance of beating Fully Insured
$149,098
median five-year savings
+13% expected savings
5th−$236,36025th$46,356 75th$191,62395th$218,443
With additional cost containment: $154K to $279K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~96%.
Taft-Hartley 59% chance of beating Fully Insured
$5,083
median five-year savings
+1% expected savings
5th−$31,88625th−$9,294 75th$20,50695th$42,905
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,004 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costPEO · ~28% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianPEO · $182,559
These are separate measures, not a recommendation or a single “best” pick. Probability, downside range, eligibility, administration, and risk tolerance also matter.
Cost containment: Reference-Based Pricing · Cash Pay · Centers of Excellence · Specialty Rx Management · Care Navigation · High-Cost Dialysis Carve-Out · Direct Primary Care. Most strategies do not affect employees’ provider access or care.
Illustrative profile: Average age (~42), average health, state-adjusted premium, and approximately 10 enrolled employees. Actual quotes and underwriting can materially change results.
2027 renewal assumption: 2027 small-group filed rate 14.0% (final, approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 9.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 11.9%.
30 Employees
30-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with Benefitra's average client savings assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Colorado market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO95%
Level-Funded91%
Self-Funded Captive93%
Taft-Hartley59%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $547,676
Level-Funded $635,430
Self-Funded Captive $570,863
Taft-Hartley $15,249
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 95% chance of beating Fully Insured
$547,676
median five-year savings
+22% expected savings
5th$12,05925th$373,686 75th$661,12695th$765,131
Level-Funded 91% chance of beating Fully Insured
$635,430
median five-year savings
+24% expected savings
5th−$225,00525th$418,217 75th$731,96795th$808,853
With additional cost containment: $393K to $624K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 93% chance of beating Fully Insured
$570,863
median five-year savings
+23% expected savings
5th−$63,98925th$392,455 75th$676,99095th$775,440
With additional cost containment: $407K to $582K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 59% chance of beating Fully Insured
$15,249
median five-year savings
+1% expected savings
5th−$95,65925th−$27,881 75th$61,51795th$128,715
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,004 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costPEO · ~28% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianLevel-Funded · $635,430
These are separate measures, not a recommendation or a single “best” pick. Probability, downside range, eligibility, administration, and risk tolerance also matter.
Cost containment: Reference-Based Pricing · Cash Pay · Centers of Excellence · Specialty Rx Management · Care Navigation · High-Cost Dialysis Carve-Out · Direct Primary Care. Most strategies do not affect employees’ provider access or care.
Illustrative profile: Average age (~42), average health, state-adjusted premium, and approximately 30 enrolled employees. Actual quotes and underwriting can materially change results.
2027 renewal assumption: 2027 small-group filed rate 14.0% (final, approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 9.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 11.9%.
70 Employees
70-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Colorado market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO44%
Level-Funded91%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley37%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$148,596
Level-Funded $419,624
Self-Funded Captive $568,611
Taft-Hartley −$256,168
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 44% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$148,596
median five-year savings
-4% expected savings
5th−$1,768,51125th−$688,324 75th$487,98795th$1,951,886
Level-Funded 91% chance of beating Fully Insured
$419,624
median five-year savings
+11% expected savings
5th−$199,82225th$220,606 75th$774,09495th$1,913,082
With additional cost containment: $1.07M to $1.57M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$568,611
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$185,84125th$367,149 75th$933,74395th$2,092,949
With additional cost containment: $1.05M to $1.38M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 37% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$256,168
median five-year savings
-3% expected savings
5th−$953,61025th−$631,705 75th$342,71195th$1,801,596
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,004 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded Captive · ~11% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $568,611
These are separate measures, not a recommendation or a single “best” pick. Probability, downside range, eligibility, administration, and risk tolerance also matter.
Cost containment: Reference-Based Pricing · Cash Pay · Centers of Excellence · Specialty Rx Management · Care Navigation · High-Cost Dialysis Carve-Out · Direct Primary Care. Most strategies do not affect employees’ provider access or care.
Illustrative profile: Average age (~42), average health, state-adjusted premium, and approximately 70 enrolled employees. Actual quotes and underwriting can materially change results.
2027 renewal assumption: 2027 small-group filed rate 14.0% (final, approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 9.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 11.9%.
150 Employees
150-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Colorado market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO37%
Self-Funded96%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley40%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$700,454
Self-Funded $1,398,150
Self-Funded Captive $1,377,198
Taft-Hartley −$431,380
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 37% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$700,454
median five-year savings
-8% expected savings
5th−$4,530,42625th−$2,053,039 75th$750,97995th$4,252,597
Self-Funded 96% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,398,150
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$52,46025th$914,425 75th$2,081,09095th$4,234,801
With additional cost containment: $2.24M to $3.43M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,377,198
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$579,37825th$946,895 75th$2,134,36995th$4,489,213
With additional cost containment: $2.26M to $2.99M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 40% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$431,380
median five-year savings
-2% expected savings
5th−$2,287,91025th−$1,365,765 75th$1,014,59295th$4,287,280
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,004 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded · $1,398,150
These are separate measures, not a recommendation or a single “best” pick. Probability, downside range, eligibility, administration, and risk tolerance also matter.
Cost containment: Reference-Based Pricing · Cash Pay · Centers of Excellence · Specialty Rx Management · Care Navigation · High-Cost Dialysis Carve-Out · Direct Primary Care. Most strategies do not affect employees’ provider access or care.
Illustrative profile: Average age (~42), average health, state-adjusted premium, and approximately 150 enrolled employees. Actual quotes and underwriting can materially change results.
2027 renewal assumption: 2027 small-group filed rate 14.0% (final, approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 9.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 11.9%.
250 Employees
250-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Colorado market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO31%
Self-Funded99%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley43%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$1,944,774
Self-Funded $2,478,186
Self-Funded Captive $2,489,902
Taft-Hartley −$613,856
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 31% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$1,944,774
median five-year savings
-13% expected savings
5th−$8,801,72325th−$4,314,262 75th$730,73795th$6,511,687
Self-Funded 99% chance of beating Fully Insured
$2,478,186
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$837,36225th$1,780,943 75th$3,664,86395th$6,825,604
With additional cost containment: $3.71M to $5.61M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$2,489,902
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$1,054,50925th$1,736,789 75th$3,809,70695th$7,322,104
With additional cost containment: $3.78M to $5.00M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 43% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$613,856
median five-year savings
-2% expected savings
5th−$3,979,58525th−$2,277,466 75th$1,805,80195th$7,604,244
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,004 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $2,489,902
These are separate measures, not a recommendation or a single “best” pick. Probability, downside range, eligibility, administration, and risk tolerance also matter.
Cost containment: Reference-Based Pricing · Cash Pay · Centers of Excellence · Specialty Rx Management · Care Navigation · High-Cost Dialysis Carve-Out · Direct Primary Care. Most strategies do not affect employees’ provider access or care.
Illustrative profile: Average age (~42), average health, state-adjusted premium, and approximately 250 enrolled employees. Actual quotes and underwriting can materially change results.
2027 renewal assumption: 2027 small-group filed rate 14.0% (final, approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 9.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 11.9%.
500 Employees
500-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Colorado market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO27%
Self-Funded100%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley40%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$3,850,905
Self-Funded $4,788,063
Self-Funded Captive $4,693,808
Taft-Hartley −$1,185,698
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 27% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$3,850,905
median five-year savings
-14% expected savings
5th−$17,477,77825th−$8,177,505 75th$567,33495th$9,331,552
Self-Funded 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$4,788,063
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$1,955,68525th$3,396,879 75th$7,072,07495th$13,323,183
With additional cost containment: $7.51M to $9.78M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$4,693,808
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$2,015,39125th$3,285,245 75th$7,038,92695th$13,398,317
With additional cost containment: $7.57M to $9.18M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 40% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$1,185,698
median five-year savings
-2% expected savings
5th−$6,965,30225th−$4,075,023 75th$2,633,53795th$10,671,379
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,004 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final approved rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded · $4,788,063
These are separate measures, not a recommendation or a single “best” pick. Probability, downside range, eligibility, administration, and risk tolerance also matter.
Cost containment: Reference-Based Pricing · Cash Pay · Centers of Excellence · Specialty Rx Management · Care Navigation · High-Cost Dialysis Carve-Out · Direct Primary Care. Most strategies do not affect employees’ provider access or care.
Illustrative profile: Average age (~42), average health, state-adjusted premium, and approximately 500 enrolled employees. Actual quotes and underwriting can materially change results.
2027 renewal assumption: 2027 small-group filed rate 14.0% (final, approved by the Colorado Division of Insurance). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 9.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 11.9%.
2026 analysis vs 2027
For 70-employee groups in Colorado, the modeled median five-year savings for Self-Funded Captive moved from $514,255 to $568,611, and its modeled chance of beating Fully Insured stayed at 100%.
| Employees | PEO | Level-Funded | Self-Funded | Self-Funded Captive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $136,485 → $182,55993% → 95% odds | $107,328 → $149,09878% → 81% odds | Not modeled | Not modeled |
| 30 | $409,454 → $547,67693% → 95% odds | $486,903 → $635,43089% → 91% odds | Not modeled | $436,116 → $570,86392% → 93% odds |
| 70 | −$130,348 → −$148,59644% → 44% odds | $368,092 → $419,62491% → 91% odds | Not modeled | $514,255 → $568,611100% → 100% odds |
| 150 | −$614,433 → −$700,45437% → 37% odds | Not modeled | $1,226,447 → $1,398,15096% → 96% odds | $1,241,226 → $1,377,198100% → 100% odds |
| 250 | −$1,705,942 → −$1,944,77431% → 31% odds | Not modeled | $2,173,847 → $2,478,18699% → 99% odds | $2,239,387 → $2,489,902100% → 100% odds |
| 500 | −$3,377,987 → −$3,850,90527% → 27% odds | Not modeled | $4,200,055 → $4,788,063100% → 100% odds | $4,227,902 → $4,693,808100% → 100% odds |
Fully Insured baseline used: $881 → $1,004 per employee per month (PY2026 rates → PY2027 final approved rates). Taft-Hartley is priced as a fixed nationwide rate rather than a state-rate model, so it is not compared here.
View the archived 2026 Colorado analysis (last year's model results, not current advice).
Illustrative model results, not a quote, a forecast or insurance, tax or legal advice. Actual premiums, claims, eligibility and underwriting vary by employer, and the rates used here may differ from the rates an employer is quoted.
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