PEO 90% chance of beating Fully Insured
$102,457
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th−$41,82025th$56,380 75th$132,73995th$160,299
South Dakota Health-Plan Funding Guide
South Dakota 2027 funding analysis by employer size
Plan year 2027 Rates used: PY2027 final 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 South Dakota market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO90%
Level-Funded76%
Taft-Hartley0%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $102,457
Level-Funded $88,152
Taft-Hartley −$179,642
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
Level-Funded 76% chance of beating Fully Insured
$88,152
median five-year savings
+8% expected savings
5th−$213,01125th$7,618 75th$121,01695th$141,490
With additional cost containment: $123K to $218K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~94%.
Taft-Hartley 0% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$179,642
median five-year savings
-33% expected savings
5th−$210,67625th−$191,949 75th−$166,18195th−$148,660
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$810 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costPEO · ~28% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianPEO · $102,457
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 8.3% (final, per the state regulator). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 5.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.9%.
30 Employees
30-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with Benefitra's average client savings assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 South Dakota market rates.
Choose another size ↑Blackwell underwriter reviewed and validated
Chance of beating Fully Insured over 5 years
PEO90%
Level-Funded88%
Self-Funded Captive91%
Taft-Hartley0%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO $307,372
Level-Funded $412,306
Self-Funded Captive $373,477
Taft-Hartley −$538,927
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 90% chance of beating Fully Insured
$307,372
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th−$125,46125th$169,140 75th$398,21895th$480,897
Level-Funded 88% chance of beating Fully Insured
$412,306
median five-year savings
+20% expected savings
5th−$262,03625th$241,665 75th$486,58495th$547,067
With additional cost containment: $309K to $488K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~99%.
Self-Funded Captive 91% chance of beating Fully Insured
$373,477
median five-year savings
+19% expected savings
5th−$127,23425th$232,706 75th$456,77895th$532,987
With additional cost containment: $317K to $454K more potential savings; win rate rises to ~99%.
Taft-Hartley 0% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$538,927
median five-year savings
-33% expected savings
5th−$632,02825th−$575,846 75th−$498,54295th−$445,979
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$810 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costPEO · ~28% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianLevel-Funded · $412,306
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 8.3% (final, per the state regulator). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 5.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.9%.
70 Employees
70-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 South Dakota 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-Hartley6%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$201,559
Level-Funded $354,943
Self-Funded Captive $499,548
Taft-Hartley −$1,271,588
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 38% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$201,559
median five-year savings
-7% expected savings
5th−$1,510,62825th−$630,554 75th$268,09095th$1,244,531
Level-Funded 93% chance of beating Fully Insured
$354,943
median five-year savings
+11% expected savings
5th−$93,67425th$230,008 75th$576,41195th$1,283,207
With additional cost containment: $836K to $1.23M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$499,548
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$250,97525th$369,509 75th$724,59595th$1,429,821
With additional cost containment: $813K to $1.08M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 6% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$1,271,588
median five-year savings
-31% expected savings
5th−$1,782,33725th−$1,540,673 75th−$854,64495th$103,043
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$810 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final 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 · $499,548
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 8.3% (final, per the state regulator). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 5.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.9%.
150 Employees
150-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 South Dakota 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-Hartley8%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$770,584
Self-Funded $1,150,130
Self-Funded Captive $1,185,538
Taft-Hartley −$2,647,251
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 31% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$770,584
median five-year savings
-11% expected savings
5th−$3,836,46025th−$1,824,806 75th$309,16395th$2,798,782
Self-Funded 97% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,150,130
median five-year savings
+15% expected savings
5th$214,99725th$826,503 75th$1,573,80695th$2,843,667
With additional cost containment: $1.76M to $2.68M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$1,185,538
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$659,92025th$904,444 75th$1,662,79895th$3,142,599
With additional cost containment: $1.76M to $2.33M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 8% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$2,647,251
median five-year savings
-30% expected savings
5th−$4,013,32925th−$3,319,360 75th−$1,645,03195th$756,148
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$810 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $1,185,538
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 8.3% (final, per the state regulator). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 5.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.9%.
250 Employees
250-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 South Dakota 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-Hartley10%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$1,917,767
Self-Funded $2,015,222
Self-Funded Captive $2,105,726
Taft-Hartley −$4,375,597
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 26% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$1,917,767
median five-year savings
-16% expected savings
5th−$7,365,02325th−$3,793,318 75th$58,19095th$4,422,367
Self-Funded 99% chance of beating Fully Insured
$2,015,222
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$940,99525th$1,566,470 75th$2,748,71095th$4,625,398
With additional cost containment: $2.91M to $4.39M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$2,105,726
median five-year savings
+17% expected savings
5th$1,163,01425th$1,594,824 75th$2,973,17295th$5,254,883
With additional cost containment: $2.94M to $3.89M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 10% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$4,375,597
median five-year savings
-30% expected savings
5th−$6,867,14625th−$5,579,610 75th−$2,507,43695th$1,617,577
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$810 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $2,105,726
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 8.3% (final, per the state regulator). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 5.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.9%.
500 Employees
500-employee funding analysis · 2027
Modeled with conservative assumptions, 2,000 Monte Carlo runs, and 2027 South Dakota 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-Hartley5%
Five-year median savings versus staying Fully Insured
PEO −$3,777,962
Self-Funded $3,911,368
Self-Funded Captive $4,014,187
Taft-Hartley −$8,634,794
5th to 95th percentile 25th to 75th Median
PEO 22% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$3,777,962
median five-year savings
-17% expected savings
5th−$14,644,53125th−$7,276,632 75th−$521,27995th$5,717,738
Self-Funded 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$3,911,368
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$2,062,88325th$3,030,103 75th$5,351,22695th$9,045,896
With additional cost containment: $5.89M to $7.65M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Self-Funded Captive 100% chance of beating Fully Insured
$4,014,187
median five-year savings
+16% expected savings
5th$2,240,11425th$3,072,490 75th$5,539,73795th$9,494,642
With additional cost containment: $5.89M to $7.14M more potential savings; win rate rises to ~100%.
Taft-Hartley 5% chance of beating Fully Insured
−$8,634,794
median five-year savings
-30% expected savings
5th−$12,941,72725th−$10,758,829 75th−$5,835,36295th−$283,706
Fixed · nationwide · transparent pricing Get your Taft-Hartley rate →
Fully Insured today: ~$810 per employee/month is the baseline. Every savings figure above is measured against it.Rates used: PY2027 final rates$0 saved
Day-one and five-year context
Lowest modeled day-one costSelf-Funded · ~12% cheaper
Highest modeled five-year medianSelf-Funded Captive · $4,014,187
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 8.3% (final, per the state regulator). Fully-insured renewal expectation used here: 5.1% a year over five years (six-year filed average incl. 2027); next 1 to 3 years 5.9%.
2026 analysis vs 2027
For 70-employee groups in South Dakota, the modeled median five-year savings for Self-Funded Captive moved from $470,919 to $499,548, and its modeled chance of beating Fully Insured stayed at 100%.
| Employees | PEO | Level-Funded | Self-Funded | Self-Funded Captive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $85,662 → $102,45788% → 90% odds | $72,508 → $88,15275% → 76% odds | Not modeled | Not modeled |
| 30 | $256,986 → $307,37288% → 90% odds | $354,011 → $412,30688% → 88% odds | Not modeled | $322,109 → $373,47790% → 91% odds |
| 70 | −$186,112 → −$201,55938% → 38% odds | $327,740 → $354,94393% → 93% odds | Not modeled | $470,919 → $499,548100% → 100% odds |
| 150 | −$711,527 → −$770,58431% → 31% odds | Not modeled | $1,061,985 → $1,150,13097% → 97% odds | $1,115,372 → $1,185,538100% → 100% odds |
| 250 | −$1,770,792 → −$1,917,76726% → 26% odds | Not modeled | $1,860,778 → $2,015,22299% → 99% odds | $1,978,833 → $2,105,726100% → 100% odds |
| 500 | −$3,488,423 → −$3,777,96222% → 22% odds | Not modeled | $3,611,605 → $3,911,368100% → 100% odds | $3,775,519 → $4,014,187100% → 100% odds |
Fully Insured baseline used: $748 → $810 per employee per month (PY2026 rates → PY2027 final 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 South Dakota 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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