PEO 89% chance of beating Fully Insured
$89,251
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th−$43,44025th$47,089 75th$117,12895th$142,322
Iowa Health-Plan Funding Guide
Iowa 2027 funding analysis by employer size
Plan year 2027 Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final
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 Iowa market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO89%
Level-Funded76%
Taft-Hartley0%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $89,251
Level-Funded $76,117
Taft-Hartley −$228,061
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
Level-Funded 76% chance of beating Fully Insured
$76,117
median five-year savings
+7% expected savings
5th−$201,02225th$2,039 75th$106,33995th$125,086
With additional cost containment: $113K to $200K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~94%.
Taft-Hartley 0% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$228,061
median five-year savings
-47% expected savings
5th−$257,70725th−$239,678 75th−$215,26695th−$198,813
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$745 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costPEO · ~28% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianPEO · $89,251
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 4.19% (proposed, not yet final). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 4.6% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.1%.
30 Employees
30-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with Benefitra's average client savings assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Iowa market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO89%
Level-Funded88%
Self-Funded Captive91%
Taft-Hartley0%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $267,754
Level-Funded $364,235
Self-Funded Captive $332,688
Taft-Hartley −$684,184
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 89% chance of beating Fully Insured
$267,754
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th−$130,31925th$141,266 75th$351,38495th$426,966
Level-Funded 88% chance of beating Fully Insured
$364,235
median five-year savings
+19% expected savings
5th−$255,91125th$207,903 75th$432,60295th$488,515
With additional cost containment: $285K to $449K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~99%.
Self-Funded Captive 91% chance of beating Fully Insured
$332,688
median five-year savings
+19% expected savings
5th−$127,47525th$203,546 75th$409,39495th$479,475
With additional cost containment: $290K to $416K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~99%.
Taft-Hartley 0% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$684,184
median five-year savings
-47% expected savings
5th−$773,12025th−$719,035 75th−$645,79795th−$596,438
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$745 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costPEO · ~28% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianLevel-Funded · $364,235
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 4.19% (proposed, not yet final). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 4.6% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.1%.
70 Employees
70-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Iowa market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO38%
Level-Funded93%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley3%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$185,291
Level-Funded $326,296
Self-Funded Captive $469,399
Taft-Hartley −$1,574,208
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 38% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$185,291
median five-year savings
-7% expected savings
5th−$1,388,70825th−$579,663 75th$246,45395th$1,144,087
Level-Funded 93% chance of beating Fully Insured
$326,296
median five-year savings
+11% expected savings
5th−$86,11325th$211,445 75th$529,89095th$1,179,642
With additional cost containment: $769K to $1.13M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$469,399
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$240,88925th$349,856 75th$676,28495th$1,324,592
With additional cost containment: $744K to $988K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 3% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$1,574,208
median five-year savings
-42% expected savings
5th−$2,045,56825th−$1,820,812 75th−$1,191,82495th−$313,751
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$745 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded Captive · ~11% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $469,399
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 4.19% (proposed, not yet final). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 4.6% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.1%.
150 Employees
150-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Iowa market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO31%
Self-Funded97%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley4%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$708,391
Self-Funded $1,057,305
Self-Funded Captive $1,111,647
Taft-Hartley −$3,300,653
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 31% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$708,391
median five-year savings
-11% expected savings
5th−$3,526,82725th−$1,677,530 75th$284,21195th$2,572,899
Self-Funded 97% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,057,305
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$197,64525th$759,797 75th$1,446,78795th$2,614,160
With additional cost containment: $1.62M to $2.47M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,111,647
median five-year savings
+17% expected savings
5th$628,45025th$853,239 75th$1,550,38895th$2,910,758
With additional cost containment: $1.61M to $2.14M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 4% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$3,300,653
median five-year savings
-42% expected savings
5th−$4,566,17825th−$3,916,783 75th−$2,379,58595th−$172,242
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$745 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $1,111,647
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 4.19% (proposed, not yet final). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 4.6% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.1%.
250 Employees
250-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Iowa market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO26%
Self-Funded99%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley5%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$1,762,988
Self-Funded $1,852,578
Self-Funded Captive $1,972,096
Taft-Hartley −$5,471,568
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 26% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$1,762,988
median five-year savings
-16% expected savings
5th−$6,770,60725th−$3,487,168 75th$53,49395th$4,065,447
Self-Funded 99% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,852,578
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$865,04925th$1,440,044 75th$2,526,86895th$4,252,092
With additional cost containment: $2.67M to $4.03M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,972,096
median five-year savings
+17% expected savings
5th$1,105,46825th$1,502,427 75th$2,769,53295th$4,867,091
With additional cost containment: $2.69M to $3.57M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 5% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$5,471,568
median five-year savings
-41% expected savings
5th−$7,775,40025th−$6,576,284 75th−$3,759,07795th$50,236
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$745 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $1,972,096
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 4.19% (proposed, not yet final). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 4.6% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.1%.
500 Employees
500-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Iowa market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO22%
Self-Funded100%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley2%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$3,473,051
Self-Funded $3,595,690
Self-Funded Captive $3,762,847
Taft-Hartley −$10,828,259
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 22% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$3,473,051
median five-year savings
-17% expected savings
5th−$13,462,60125th−$6,689,351 75th−$479,20895th$5,256,271
Self-Funded 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$3,595,690
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$1,896,39225th$2,785,550 75th$4,919,34095th$8,315,821
With additional cost containment: $5.41M to $7.03M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$3,762,847
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$2,131,95625th$2,897,153 75th$5,165,27395th$8,800,986
With additional cost containment: $5.40M to $6.54M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 2% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$10,828,259
median five-year savings
-42% expected savings
5th−$14,811,34925th−$12,799,421 75th−$8,251,50595th−$3,182,234
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$745 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $3,762,847
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 4.19% (proposed, not yet final). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 4.6% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.1%.
2026 analysis vs 2027
For 70-employee groups in Iowa, the modeled median five-year savings for Self-Funded Captive moved from $455,590 to $469,399, and its modeled chance of beating Fully Insured stayed at 100%.
| Employees | PEO | Level-Funded | Self-Funded | Self-Funded Captive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $74,434 → $89,25187% → 89% odds | $61,798 → $76,11773% → 76% odds | Not modeled | Not modeled |
| 30 | $223,303 → $267,75487% → 89% odds | $316,258 → $364,23587% → 88% odds | Not modeled | $288,550 → $332,68889% → 91% odds |
| 70 | −$177,840 → −$185,29138% → 38% odds | $313,174 → $326,29693% → 93% odds | Not modeled | $455,590 → $469,399100% → 100% odds |
| 150 | −$679,903 → −$708,39131% → 31% odds | Not modeled | $1,014,786 → $1,057,30597% → 97% odds | $1,077,800 → $1,111,647100% → 100% odds |
| 250 | −$1,692,090 → −$1,762,98826% → 26% odds | Not modeled | $1,778,077 → $1,852,57899% → 99% odds | $1,910,885 → $1,972,096100% → 100% odds |
| 500 | −$3,333,382 → −$3,473,05122% → 22% odds | Not modeled | $3,451,089 → $3,595,690100% → 100% odds | $3,647,718 → $3,762,847100% → 100% odds |
Fully Insured baseline used: $715 → $745 per employee per month (PY2026 rates → PY2027 requested (filed) rates, not yet final). 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 Iowa 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 PY2027 requested (filed) rates can change before they are final.
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Use your own data or speak with a Benefitra advisor.