Serving Employers and Individuals throughout Michigan since 1990 Learn More
CLIENT LOGINS|SECURE FILESHARE
810-230-1266
Request Quotes
Request Quotes

Search insurance plans, services or people.

Helping you take care of the people that matter most with solutions designed around you.

Contact Info

Phone
810-230-1266
Location
2357 Stonebridge Dr. Flint, MI 48532

Follow us

Drag

Cost Saving Strategies

Home > Cost Saving Strategies

Cost Saving Strategies

Stop shopping rates. Start controlling costs.

If your renewal goes up every year no matter which carrier you choose, the problem isn’t the carrier. It’s how the plan is funded. We help Michigan employers change that, so costs level out and stay there.

Request a Free Cost Review

The renewal cycle most employers are stuck in

  • Shop carriers every year for the lowest quote
  • Raise deductibles or cut benefits to hit budget
  • Pay the carrier the same, good claims year or bad
  • Never see the data behind the increase

How we break it

  • Change how the plan is funded, not just who carries it
  • Keep the savings when your group has a good year
  • Use tax-advantaged accounts to stretch every dollar
  • Plan ahead with real claims data, every year

Level-Funded Plans

Predictable payments, with money back in a good year

Level funding is where most of our cost conversations start. It works like a traditional plan month to month, but you’re no longer paying for claims your employees never had.

Lower Premiums

How level funding works

You pay one steady monthly amount, just like you do now. Behind the scenes, part of it covers administration and stop-loss protection, and the rest goes into a fund that pays your group’s claims.

With a traditional plan, the carrier keeps whatever isn’t spent. With level funding, a good year can work in your favor.

1

One fixed monthly payment

Budgeting stays as simple and predictable as a fully insured plan.

2

Claims are paid from your fund

Stop-loss coverage steps in if claims run high, so there are no surprise bills.

3

Unused claim dollars can come back

When claims come in under the fund, part of the surplus can be returned or credited to you.

A Simple Example

What a good year can look like

Say a 25-employee company pays $300,000 a year on a level-funded plan. About 30% covers fixed costs. The rest is set aside for claims.

If the group’s claims come in lower than expected, the unused money doesn’t vanish. Depending on the contract, a portion of it can come back to the company.

Illustration · 25 employees · 1 year
Fixed costsClaims paidSurplus
Admin & stop-loss (fixed)$90,000
Claims fund set aside$210,000
Claims actually paid$170,000
Unused claim dollars$40,000

Hypothetical numbers for illustration only. Actual costs, surplus amounts and refund terms vary by group, carrier and contract.

Is It Right for You?

Level funding is often a strong fit when…

Signs your group could benefit

  • Your renewals keep climbing on a traditional plan
  • Your employees are generally healthy
  • You want predictable monthly costs
  • You'd like real claims data to plan with
  • You want more control without taking on big risk

Not sure? We’ll review your data and tell you honestly whether it makes sense. Sometimes a traditional plan is still the better choice.

Larger group?

Self-Funded Plans

For larger employers, self-funding takes the same idea further: you fund your own claims and keep what you don’t spend.

  • Full control of plan design
  • Detailed claims data to plan with
  • Stop-loss coverage to cap your risk
Ask if it fits your group →

Tax-Advantaged Accounts

Stretch every benefit dollar further

These accounts work alongside your plan, lowering taxes for you and your employees. We help you pick the right mix and handle the setup.

HSA

Health Savings Account

Moving to a high-deductible plan?

Pre-tax savings employees own, keep and can grow year after year.

Best for: HDHP plans

HRA

Health Reimbursement Account

Want lower premiums without shifting all the cost?

Raise the deductible, then reimburse employees for part of the gap.

Best for: Employer-funded savings

FSA

Flexible Spending Account

Employees paying out of pocket?

Employees set aside pre-tax dollars for medical, dental and vision costs.

Best for: Any group plan

POP

Premium Only Plan

Is everyone paying premiums after tax?

Employees pay their share pre-tax, which lowers your payroll taxes too.

Best for: Every employer

More Ways to Control Costs

Savings that go beyond funding

Healthier people, lower claims

Wellness Plans

Screenings, coaching and incentives that help keep claims down over time.

Learn More →

Richer benefits, little or no cost

Voluntary Benefits

Employee-paid coverage at group rates that fills gaps without raising your spend.

Learn More →

Paying for coverage nobody uses?

Smarter Plan Design

Networks, deductibles and contributions shaped around how your people use care.

Learn More →

Questions

Common questions about level funding

Not in the way most people expect. Your monthly cost is fixed, and stop-loss coverage pays claims above the expected amount, so a bad year doesn’t mean surprise bills. The main difference from a traditional plan is the upside when claims run low.

Stop-loss insurance covers claims beyond the fund, so you keep paying the same monthly amount. High claims can affect your next renewal, which is true of traditional plans as well.

Usually not. They get ID cards, networks and benefits just like a traditional plan. Most of the change happens behind the scenes in how the plan is paid for.

We start with a free review of your current plan, renewal and any claims information available. If level funding doesn’t fit, we’ll tell you, and show you the options that do.

Find out what your group could save.

A free cost review of your current plan and renewal, with a straight answer on whether level funding fits.

Request a Free Cost Review
Prefer to call?
810-230-1266
  • Aetna
  • Allianz
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
  • Delta Dental
  • Everence Trust Life
  • HAP
  • Humana
  • McLaren Health Plan
  • North American
  • Priority Health
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • VSP

Our Office

Security First Benefits Corporation

2357 Stonebridge Dr.
Flint, MI 48532

Employer Resources

Individual Resources

Medicare Resources

Other

Legal

Have a question? We're here to help.

“Send us a note about your coverage, your employees or your options, and a licensed advisor will get back to you.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent [#] organizations which offer [#] products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

© 2026 Security First Benefits Corporation. All rights reserved.

GENERAL DISCLAIMER:

 
Security First Benefits Corporation is a licensed insurance agency authorized to market Medicare plans. This is a solicitation for insurance, and a licensed agent may contact you after you request a quote. Benefit information is a brief summary, not a full description of benefits; contact the plan for details. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Security First Benefits Corporation is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

Interested in an account? Contact us.