How much can Maryland employers save with level-funded vs fully insured?

Based on Maryland's average fully insured PEPM of $730 and typical level-funded discounts, employers can expect to save approximately 11% on a level-funded plan in the expected claims scenario. Best-case savings with surplus refunds can reach 20-30%. The Maryland cost index of 1.05 affects both fully insured and level-funded pricing.

What is the stop-loss cost for level-funded plans in Maryland?

Stop-loss costs in Maryland are indexed at 1.05 relative to the national average. For a $50,000 individual specific attachment point, expect approximately $155 x 1.05 = $162 PEPM before age and industry adjustments. Lower attachment points ($25K-$40K) provide more protection but cost more.

What are the risks of level-funded plans in Maryland?

The primary risk is that actual claims exceed the claims fund, requiring the employer to cover the shortfall up to the aggregate stop-loss corridor (typically 125% of expected). However, specific stop-loss caps individual catastrophic claims, and aggregate stop-loss caps total group exposure. In Maryland, the competitive carrier market provides carefirst dominance offset by national carrier competition.

What carriers offer level-funded plans in Maryland?

Level-funded carriers in Maryland include UnitedHealthcare Level-Funded, Cigna Level-Funded, Aetna Funding Advantage. Fully insured carriers for comparison include CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna. Maryland's level-funded market is classified as competitive, with a minimum group size of 2 employees for most carriers.

Maryland Level-Funded vs Fully Insured
Savings Calculator

Compare level-funded and fully insured health plan costs for your Maryland business. See potential savings, surplus refunds, and worst-case scenarios -- powered by Maryland-specific carrier data and actuarial benchmarks.

Maryland Level-Funded Market at a Glance

Avg FI Premium PEPM

$730/mo

LF Savings Potential

11% avg

Cost vs National Avg

+5%

LF Market

Competitive

Min Group Size: 2 employees

Surplus Return: 45-70% of unused claims fund

LF Carriers: UnitedHealthcare Level-Funded, Cigna Level-Funded, Aetna Funding Advantage

Mandates: ACA plus extensive state mandates including IVF, hair prostheses, and comprehensive mental health

Your Company

Tell us about your Maryland business so we can model level-funded vs fully insured costs using Maryland-specific rates and carrier data.

State ?Maryland has a cost index of 1.05 relative to the national average (1.00). This affects claims fund calculations, stop-loss pricing, and overall level-funded plan costs.Source: KFF 2025 State Health Facts; CMS GPCI Data

Number of Employees ?Full-time employees eligible for health benefits. Level-funded plans in Maryland are available for groups of 2+ employees. Groups of 10-250 are the sweet spot for level-funded savings.Source: KFF 2025 EHBS; UnitedHealthcare Level-Funded Underwriting Guidelines

Average Employee Age ?Average age of covered employees. Level-funded underwriting heavily weights age. Each year above 40 adds roughly 2-3% to expected claims. Younger groups get better rates and lower stop-loss premiums.Source: CMS Federal Age Curve; SOA Group Health Experience Study

Industry ?Industry affects claims experience and level-funded pricing. Healthcare and construction workers tend to have higher claims. Tech and professional services trend lower. Carriers use SIC/NAICS codes for underwriting.Source: SOA Group Health Experience Study; Mercer National Survey 2025

Coverage Tier Mix ?Distribution of employees across coverage tiers affects blended costs. National average: ~55% single, ~15% EE+spouse, ~30% family. Adjust to match your workforce.Source: KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey

% Employee Only

60%

% EE + Spouse

20%

% Family

20%

Current Plan & Level-Funded Model

Enter your current fully insured costs and configure the level-funded model parameters. We'll show a side-by-side comparison using Maryland-specific data.

Current Monthly Premium PEPM ($) ?Per-employee-per-month blended premium (employer + employee share). Maryland's average is ~$730/mo for single coverage. If you don't have current coverage, use the Maryland average as a benchmark.Source: KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey; Maryland DOI Rate Filings

Annual Renewal Increase ?Expected annual increase in fully insured premiums. Maryland's average trend is 8.2%. Fully insured renewals average 7-12% nationally. Level-funded plans are less susceptible to renewal shock.Source: Mercer National Survey 2025; Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey

10%

Plan Tier ?ACA metal tiers determine actuarial value. Higher tiers mean richer benefits and higher premiums, but also higher expected claims in a level-funded model.Source: CMS Actuarial Value Calculator

Expected Claims Ratio ?Portion of premium going to medical claims. Fully insured carriers run 80-85% loss ratios (ACA MLR floor). Level-funded plans target 65-75% expected claims as a percentage of the fully insured equivalent premium.Source: ACA Medical Loss Ratio Rules; TrustMark/Voya Level-Funded Reference Data

70%

Stop-Loss Attachment Point ?Per-person annual deductible on stop-loss policy. Claims above this for any individual are covered by stop-loss. Lower attachment = more protection but higher premium. Maryland's stop-loss factor is 1.05x national average.Source: NAIC Stop-Loss Model Act; Sun Life/Voya Stop-Loss Rate Manuals

Admin Fee Estimate ?TPA fees, network access, and plan management costs. Typically 12-18% of the fully insured equivalent premium. Includes claims adjudication, reporting, compliance, and customer service.Source: Mercer National Survey 2025; SPBA TPA Fee Benchmark Study

15%

Include Pharmacy Carve-Out? ?Carving out pharmacy to a separate PBM can reduce costs by 5-10% on the pharmacy component, which is typically 25-30% of total claims. Adds complexity but improves transparency.Source: Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute; PBMI 2024 Trends Report

Level-Funded Health Insurance in Maryland: What Employers Need to Know

Maryland has a competitive but somewhat concentrated health insurance market, with CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield holding significant market share. The state's cost index of 1.05 reflects above-average costs influenced by the expensive Washington D.C. and Baltimore metro area provider networks. Level-funded plans offer Maryland employers a way to potentially escape community rating and access pricing based on their own group's experience.

Maryland has extensive state-specific benefit mandates, including IVF coverage, hair prostheses for cancer patients, and comprehensive mental health parity requirements. These mandates add to fully insured plan costs but may be avoided by level-funded plans under ERISA preemption. The cost differential between mandated fully insured plans and level-funded plans that can select which mandated benefits to include can be significant for Maryland employers.

The level-funded carrier market in Maryland is competitive, with UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna all actively pursuing business alongside CareFirst's fully insured dominance. The proximity to Washington D.C. means many Maryland employer groups include federal contractors and government-adjacent organizations, which may have specific benefit requirements that affect level-funded plan design. Maryland's unique all-payer hospital rate setting system also creates distinct cost dynamics that carriers factor into their level-funded pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions: Level-Funded Plans in Maryland

Is level-funded health insurance available in Maryland? +

Yes. Maryland employers have access to level-funded health plans from carriers including UnitedHealthcare Level-Funded, Cigna Level-Funded, Aetna Funding Advantage. The minimum group size is typically 2 employees. Level-funded plans in Maryland are treated as self-funded under ERISA, providing flexibility in plan design and potential savings.

How much can Maryland employers save with level-funded? +

Based on Maryland's average fully insured PEPM of $730 and typical level-funded discounts of 11%, employers can expect meaningful savings in the expected claims scenario. Best-case savings with surplus refunds can reach 20-30%, while worst-case exposure is capped by stop-loss insurance.

What happens if claims are higher than expected? +

Stop-loss insurance protects against catastrophic claims. Individual specific stop-loss covers any single claimant above the attachment point (e.g., $50,000). Aggregate stop-loss caps total group claims at 125% of expected. Your maximum exposure is predetermined and contractually limited.

What if claims are lower than expected? +

This is where level-funded shines. If your group's claims are below the funded amount, you receive a surplus refund. In Maryland, typical surplus return provisions are 45-70% of unused claims fund. With fully insured plans, the carrier keeps the difference.

Which Maryland employers are the best fit for level-funded? +

Level-funded plans work best for Maryland employers with 2-250 employees, younger-than-average workforces, and a desire for cost transparency. Industries with lower claims risk (technology, professional services, education) often see the best results. The Maryland market is classified as competitive for level-funded options.

Built on Real Data -- Not Guesswork

This calculator uses Maryland-specific actuarial data, carrier rate filings, and published survey benchmarks.

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KFF Employer Survey

2025 benchmarks from 2,000+ employers on premiums, plan design, and funding type distribution

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SOA Claims Tables

Society of Actuaries group health experience studies for expected claims modeling by age and industry

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Stop-Loss Rate Data

Sun Life and Voya reference rate schedules for specific and aggregate stop-loss pricing by attachment point

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Maryland DOI Filings

State-level rate filings, carrier market share data, and regulatory requirements from Maryland's insurance department

Want a Custom Level-Funded Quote for Maryland?

Get a side-by-side comparison with actual carrier quotes from UnitedHealthcare Level-Funded, Cigna Level-Funded, Aetna Funding Advantage -- reviewed by a benefits advisor who knows the Maryland market.

Calculation Methodology

Fully Insured Cost: Current PEPM x number of employees x 12 months. Projected forward using the annual renewal increase rate.

Level-Funded Breakdown:
- Claims Fund: PEPM x claims ratio x state cost index (1.05 for Maryland) x age factor x industry adjustment x plan tier multiplier. This is held in a claims account to pay medical expenses.
- Admin Fee: PEPM x admin percentage. Covers TPA fees, network access, compliance, and reporting.
- Stop-Loss Premium: Based on attachment point selected. Adjusted by Maryland's stop-loss factor (1.05) and group demographics.
- Total Level-Funded: Claims Fund + Admin Fee + Stop-Loss Premium.

Scenario Modeling:
- Best Case: Actual claims at 55% of expected. Employer receives ~50% of surplus (unused claims fund) as a refund.
- Expected Case: Actual claims match the expected claims fund. Typical savings vs fully insured.
- Worst Case: Claims run 130% of expected, but stop-loss caps total exposure at 125% of expected claims fund.

State Cost Index: Maryland's index of 1.05 adjusts base claims for state-level provider costs, utilization patterns, and regulatory environment. Based on CMS Geographic Practice Cost Index and Maryland DOI rate filings.

Data Sources: SOA Group Health Experience Study, Mercer National Survey 2025, KFF 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey, TrustMark/Voya level-funded reference data, Sun Life stop-loss rate manuals, NAIC stop-loss model regulations, CMS Federal Age Rating Curves, Maryland Department of Insurance filings.

Maryland Level-Funded vs Fully InsuredSavings Calculator