What is stop-loss insurance?
By Allstate Benefits
Last updated: October 2024
Stop-loss insurance, in combination with a self-funded group health plan, is a type of coverage that protects companies from catastrophic or unexpected medical claims.
Why choose a plan with stop-loss coverage?
Protecting a company financially is critical and stop-loss is an employer's safety net. With the Self-Funded Program through Allstate Benefits, stop-loss insurance is included in employers' monthly payments. This protects the employer against higher-than-expected claims. With level-funding, employers will never have to pay more than the amount, agreed upon up front, that they are responsible for funding the claims account each year.
By choosing a self-funded plan with stop-loss coverage, employers limit their risk, protect themselves against high claims, and have the potential for great savings. In some instances, they may even receive a refund in years claims are lower than anticipated.¹
The aggregate deductible is the maximum amount the employer will pay for covered charges, regardless of if any specific deductibles are met. Once the plan hits the aggregate deductible, the stop-loss coverage kicks in for covered charges under the plan for the remainder of the year.
Mid-market group options
We understand that with more group members comes the need for more options to customize plan designs.
Mid-market groups have multiple stop-loss options. Aggregate Only Stop-Loss is coverage with a single stop-loss deductible to meet for the entire group.²
Aggregate deductibles for Aggregate Only Stop-Loss coverage are based on a percentage of the total expected claims, calculated based on the census of the group and other factors. Once the health plan hits the aggregate deductible, the stop-loss coverage kicks in for covered charges incurred for the rest of the plan year.
Aggregate Only Stop-Loss does not protect against an individual's claims on the plan and instead protects only against higher-than-expected total claims. This allows the employer to take on a little extra risk, and increase potential savings. Specific Only Stop-Loss is also available for traditional funded groups and provides protection solely against an individual's claims on the plan.
Learn how stop-loss insurance can benefit you! Call your Group-Health sales consultant or call 877-225-5077.