In this episode of Blueprints for Better Benefits, we demystify one of the most important, and misunderstood, components of self-funded health plans: stop-loss insurance.

Self-funding gives employers control over plan design and healthcare spend. Stop-loss provides the protection that makes that control practical and predictable.

We explain how stop-loss works, why most Fortune 100 companies rely on self-insurance, and how mid-sized employers can use the same strategies without exposing themselves to catastrophic risk. This episode breaks down complex concepts into clear, real-world explanations so employers can evaluate self-funding with confidence.

You’ll learn how specific and aggregate stop-loss work together to cap financial exposure, why fully insured plans trap employers on a renewal treadmill, and how self-funded plans allow organizations to benefit from good claim years instead of being penalized for them.

In This Episode, We Cover

• Why self-funding typically costs less than fully insured plans
• The difference between specific and aggregate stop-loss
• How stop-loss protects against catastrophic and cumulative claims
• Why fully insured plans reward carriers—not employers
• What a transparent self-funded cost structure looks like
• How employers choose the right stop-loss deductible
• Why the “deconstructed” benefits model is the future

Who This Episode Is For

✔ Employers with 50–750 employees ✔ CFOs and financial leaders ✔ HR and benefits decision-makers ✔ Organizations evaluating self-funding for the first time

Connect with Triforta

Interested in building a smarter, safer benefits strategy?

📩 hello@triforta.com 🌐 https://www.triforta.com/education 🔗 LinkedIn @Triforta-partners

We are Triforta, and we help employers build predictable, transparent, and sustainable healthcare strategies.