Self-Funding Group Health Plans Cohort
Every Thursday, November 5 - December 10, 2026 (minus Thanksgiving)
Online Workshop
The Certificate in Online Cohort Self-Funding Group Health Plans blends on-demand courses with weekly, instructor-led cohort sessions to reinforce learning and deepen understanding. Through the online coursework, you’ll explore strategic approaches to cost containment strategies, understanding stop loss insurance, health plan administration and much more.
As you progress through the courses, you’ll also have the opportunity to participate in interactive cohort sessions that expand on key concepts, answer questions, and encourage peer discussion—helping you confidently apply what you’ve learned. Cohort sessions are held Thursdays from November 5 - December 10, 2026, (minus Thanksgiving) at 1:00 p.m. ET. Join this dynamic learning experience that combines flexibility, expertise, and collaboration.
Employers that sponsor a group health plan for their employees may choose to self-fund the plan instead of purchasing health insurance. The decision to self-fund is complex and involves strategic decision-making regarding plan design, cost-containment strategies, whether to purchase stop-loss insurance, and plan administration. This online certificate includes four required courses that will review these decision points in detail.
Benefits of Earning Your Certificate
After successfully earning your Certificate in Self-Funding Group Health Plans, you will be able to:
- Explain why an employer might decide to self-fund its health plan
- Identify similarities and differences between self-funding and fully insuring health plans
- Describe the two main methods for financing self-funded plans
- Identify tools, like stop-loss insurance, that self-funded plans can use to reduce risk exposure and manage costs
- Describe key provisions of stop-loss insurance including specific deductibles, aggregate deductibles and lasering
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of in-house administration of a self-funded plan compared to contracting a TPA or an ASO company
- Identify regular tasks that a plan administrator or service provider must perform on behalf of the plan
- Outline how self-funded health plans must comply with federal laws like ACA, COBRA, HIPAA and ERISA
- Evaluate effective cost containment strategies like data analysis, predictive modeling, provider network design, cost sharing design, utilization management, wellness incentives, surcharges and exclusions
- Improve health literacy of plan participants to affect overall plan cost.
Who Should Enroll
- Group health plan sponsors including single employer plan sponsors and multiemployer plan trustees
- Plan administrators
- Professional service providers that are new to the industry, including accountants, attorneys, actuaries, investment managers and advisors, TPAs, insurance agents, benefits consultants, and recordkeepers
- Experienced benefits professionals serving a new type of plan or considering a new health plan funding method.
Agenda
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
This kickoff session will begin with brief introductions of the instructors, instructional designers, and cohort participants to help build connections within the learning community. Participants will then dive into the fundamentals of self-funded health plans, exploring why employers choose them and how they compare to fully insured plans. The session will also cover key funding, risk management, compliance, and administrative considerations that shape successful self-funded plans.
Available Virtually
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
This 1-hour session will cover and present an overview of what all self-funded health plan administrators should know including everything from a basic understanding of the parties involved when a self-funded health plan is established; why stop-loss policies are important; current litigation trends; and best practices and practical advice for plan administrators. We will focus on the critical role of PBMs in these arrangements and how they differ from each other and the application of federal and state laws to their operations.
Available Virtually
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
In this session, participants will review key findings from the 2025 Aegis Risk Medical Stop Loss Premium Survey and learn how to interpret premium trends in the context of self-funded health plans. Participants will explore how survey data can be used as benchmarks to evaluate a plan sponsor’s existing stop-loss coverage and inform renewal strategy discussions.
Available Virtually
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
This session will explore how to evaluate provider network performance, including financial results, participant access, and service quality. We will look at how plan design and employee contribution approaches can shape how participants use their health plan. We will close by reviewing current market trends and supplemental programs that can help address gaps in a provider network.
Available Virtually
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
In this final cohort session, participants will reflect on key insights from the program and discuss how to apply their learning within their organizations. We will review the remaining eLearning course expectations and certificate requirements to support successful completion of the program. The session will conclude with an interactive instructor panel discussion, offering participants the opportunity to ask questions, gain additional perspectives, and deepen their understanding of self-funded health plans.
Available Virtually
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