Kevin Dunn’s Post

For small businesses, reduced competition means fewer cost-effective health plan options. This puts additional pressure on already tight budgets and makes it harder to offer valuable employee benefits. Fewer health insurers are selling U.S. employers coverage, according to a new U.S. Government Accountability Office report. The GAO is an arm of Congress that helps lawmakers oversee government programs and spending. 1. Decline in Market Competition: Between 2011 and 2022, the number of issuers operating in the large-group market dropped significantly, with the average state seeing a decline from 12 to 8 issuers. Similarly, the small-group market experienced a sharper decline, from 13 to 6 issuers on average per state, indicating reduced competition.  2. Increased Market Concentration: The number of states with highly concentrated markets—where a single issuer controlled over 80% of enrollment—doubled in the large-group market (from 6 to 12 states) and quintupled in the small-group market (from 3 to 15 states), signaling a trend toward monopolistic market structures.  3. Impact on Consumer Choices and Costs: According to the GAO, these high levels of market concentration may limit consumer choice and potentially drive up premiums, contrary to the Affordable Care Act’s original goal of fostering competition in private health insurance markets. The GAO’s findings show how market concentration can limit consumer choice and potentially drive up premiums—challenging the Affordable Care Act’s original goal of fostering competition. Thanks to #AllisonBell and #BenefitsPro for shedding light on this important issue! Read their full article here: #getdecisely #insuretech #employeebenefits https://lnkd.in/eHiCHiB3

Fewer companies are selling group health insurance: Congressional watchdog

Fewer companies are selling group health insurance: Congressional watchdog

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