The Self-Funded Connection

The Latest ACS News and Industry News to Follow

Trend Focus: Virtual Services & Data-Driven Care

The healthcare landscape continues to evolve, and self-funded employers are turning to virtual services and data-driven insights as powerful tools to manage costs and improve employee outcomes.

Telemedicine, AI-enabled platforms, and advanced analytics are no longer future solutions; they are today’s reality. According to a recent Mercer study, nearly 94% of large employers now include telemedicine as part of their benefits strategy. Additionally, data-driven insights are helping HR leaders identify chronic conditions earlier, benchmark costs, and reduce unnecessary utilization.

Why it Matters for Employers:

• Cost Containment: Virtual care reduces ER and urgent care visits, cutting unnecessary expenses while providing employees with faster access to treatment.
• Personalization at Scale: AI and predictive analytics identify at-risk members, enabling proactive outreach and personalized care pathways.
• Employee Engagement: Data transparency and education tools empower employees to make smarter healthcare choices, increasing satisfaction and lowering turnover.
• Inflation Pressure Response: With medical costs projected to rise more than 7% in 2025, these strategies provide employers a way to absorb inflationary pressures without compromising care quality.

As Vice President of Sales, Wes Jones explains:

Employers are under increasing pressure from rising medical costs and inflation. By leveraging data insights and virtual care options, self-funded plans can uncover savings opportunities while still providing employees with convenient, accessible, and high-quality care. This shift to virtual-first, data-backed care models not only lower costs but also expands access to preventive and specialty care, ultimately improving long-term health outcomes and strengthening overall plan performance.

ACS Solution Spotlight: TrueFunding

Traditional insurance models often leave employers paying for coverage they don’t fully use. That’s where TrueFunding comes in.

TrueFunding is ACS’s innovative approach to self-funded health plans, designed to give employers full transparency into costs while offering the financial protection of stop-loss insurance. Employers benefit from:

• Complete visibility into claims and spending
• Flexibility to customize plan design
• Potential for refunds when claims are lower than expected

TrueFunding ensures that every healthcare dollar is working harder, improving value for both employers and employees. Visit acsbenefitservices.com/trufunding to learn more!