PEO 93% chance of beating Fully Insured
$153,272
median five-year savings
+19% expected savings
5th−$29,06025th$94,610 75th$191,89995th$226,744
Maryland Health-Plan Funding Guide
Maryland 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 Maryland market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO93%
Level-Funded78%
Taft-Hartley28%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $153,272
Level-Funded $124,708
Taft-Hartley −$12,630
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
Level-Funded 78% chance of beating Fully Insured
$124,708
median five-year savings
+9% expected savings
5th−$264,63325th$20,320 75th$167,43795th$193,924
With additional cost containment: $157K to $282K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~95%.
Taft-Hartley 28% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$12,630
median five-year savings
-2% expected savings
5th−$49,21825th−$26,778 75th$2,68095th$24,742
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,026 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 · $153,272
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 10.2% (final, approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 6.8% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 7.5%.
30 Employees
30-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with Benefitra's average client savings assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Maryland market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO93%
Level-Funded89%
Self-Funded Captive92%
Taft-Hartley28%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $459,815
Level-Funded $564,172
Self-Funded Captive $498,006
Taft-Hartley −$37,889
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 93% chance of beating Fully Insured
$459,815
median five-year savings
+19% expected savings
5th−$87,18125th$283,830 75th$575,69695th$680,231
Level-Funded 89% chance of beating Fully Insured
$564,172
median five-year savings
+21% expected savings
5th−$307,02925th$343,515 75th$661,05995th$739,729
With additional cost containment: $398K to $631K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~99%.
Self-Funded Captive 92% chance of beating Fully Insured
$498,006
median five-year savings
+20% expected savings
5th−$145,35125th$317,195 75th$605,61195th$704,828
With additional cost containment: $412K to $589K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~99%.
Taft-Hartley 28% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$37,889
median five-year savings
-2% expected savings
5th−$147,65525th−$80,334 75th$8,04095th$74,225
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,026 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 · $564,172
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 10.2% (final, approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 6.8% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 7.5%.
70 Employees
70-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Maryland market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO42%
Level-Funded92%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley39%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$180,533
Level-Funded $438,738
Self-Funded Captive $587,492
Taft-Hartley −$197,264
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 42% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$180,533
median five-year savings
-5% expected savings
5th−$1,841,39825th−$738,719 75th$443,31795th$1,858,554
Level-Funded 92% chance of beating Fully Insured
$438,738
median five-year savings
+11% expected savings
5th−$176,48125th$246,018 75th$769,04195th$1,829,958
With additional cost containment: $1.08M to $1.59M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$587,492
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$217,61725th$394,670 75th$925,93295th$2,007,101
With additional cost containment: $1.06M to $1.40M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 39% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$197,264
median five-year savings
-1% expected savings
5th−$879,03525th−$564,426 75th$391,40595th$1,785,076
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,026 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 · $587,492
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 10.2% (final, approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 6.8% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 7.5%.
150 Employees
150-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Maryland market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO35%
Self-Funded96%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley42%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$800,246
Self-Funded $1,436,154
Self-Funded Captive $1,410,178
Taft-Hartley −$294,590
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 35% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$800,246
median five-year savings
-9% expected savings
5th−$4,707,21425th−$2,155,744 75th$639,31295th$4,029,017
Self-Funded 96% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,436,154
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$118,11825th$971,180 75th$2,076,37995th$4,075,322
With additional cost containment: $2.27M to $3.47M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,410,178
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$646,97825th$999,479 75th$2,119,53795th$4,322,535
With additional cost containment: $2.29M to $3.03M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 42% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$294,590
median five-year savings
-1% expected savings
5th−$2,136,51325th−$1,230,557 75th$1,079,60895th$4,271,433
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,026 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 · $1,436,154
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 10.2% (final, approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 6.8% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 7.5%.
250 Employees
250-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Maryland market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO29%
Self-Funded99%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley45%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$2,140,184
Self-Funded $2,538,984
Self-Funded Captive $2,544,418
Taft-Hartley −$440,437
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 29% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$2,140,184
median five-year savings
-14% expected savings
5th−$9,116,72125th−$4,544,759 75th$513,73295th$6,222,949
Self-Funded 99% chance of beating Fully Insured
$2,538,984
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$974,44525th$1,866,387 75th$3,662,97095th$6,586,596
With additional cost containment: $3.76M to $5.67M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$2,544,418
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$1,172,22925th$1,810,326 75th$3,796,37695th$7,219,129
With additional cost containment: $3.83M to $5.06M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 45% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$440,437
median five-year savings
-1% expected savings
5th−$3,742,93225th−$2,061,195 75th$2,006,69095th$7,691,012
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,026 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 · $2,544,418
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 10.2% (final, approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 6.8% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 7.5%.
500 Employees
500-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 Maryland market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO26%
Self-Funded100%
Self-Funded Captive100%
Taft-Hartley44%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$4,232,418
Self-Funded $4,899,594
Self-Funded Captive $4,803,812
Taft-Hartley −$748,819
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 26% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$4,232,418
median five-year savings
-15% expected savings
5th−$18,109,77525th−$8,609,235 75th$165,19995th$8,481,105
Self-Funded 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$4,899,594
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$2,197,50625th$3,588,620 75th$7,083,79995th$12,867,952
With additional cost containment: $7.59M to $9.89M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$4,803,812
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$2,232,65625th$3,448,332 75th$7,042,31895th$13,042,711
With additional cost containment: $7.67M to $9.28M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 44% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$748,819
median five-year savings
-1% expected savings
5th−$6,477,44525th−$3,631,930 75th$2,904,83095th$10,776,995
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$1,026 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 · $4,899,594
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 10.2% (final, approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 6.8% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 7.5%.
2026 analysis vs 2027
For 70-employee groups in Maryland, the modeled median five-year savings for Self-Funded Captive moved from $544,777 to $587,492, and its modeled chance of beating Fully Insured stayed at 100%.
| Employees | PEO | Level-Funded | Self-Funded | Self-Funded Captive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $117,731 → $153,27290% → 93% odds | $91,639 → $124,70874% → 78% odds | Not modeled | Not modeled |
| 30 | $353,193 → $459,81590% → 93% odds | $447,958 → $564,17287% → 89% odds | Not modeled | $392,594 → $498,00689% → 92% odds |
| 70 | −$163,823 → −$180,53342% → 42% odds | $398,129 → $438,73892% → 92% odds | Not modeled | $544,777 → $587,492100% → 100% odds |
| 150 | −$726,176 → −$800,24635% → 35% odds | Not modeled | $1,303,225 → $1,436,15496% → 96% odds | $1,304,645 → $1,410,178100% → 100% odds |
| 250 | −$1,942,090 → −$2,140,18429% → 29% odds | Not modeled | $2,303,978 → $2,538,98499% → 99% odds | $2,350,561 → $2,544,418100% → 100% odds |
| 500 | −$3,840,669 → −$4,232,41826% → 26% odds | Not modeled | $4,446,093 → $4,899,594100% → 100% odds | $4,442,479 → $4,803,812100% → 100% odds |
Fully Insured baseline used: $931 → $1,026 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 Maryland 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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