Fully vs Self

Fully Insured Group Health Plan. Health insurance purchased by an employer from an insurance company. Fully insured health plans are regulated by Massachusetts. See also Self-Insured Group Health Plans.

Self-Insured Group Health Plans. Plans set up by employers who set aside funds to pay their employees’ health claims. Because employers often hire insurance companies to run these plans, they may look to you just like fully insured plans. Employers must disclose in your benefits information whether an insurer is responsible for funding, or for only administering the plan. If the insurer is only administering the plan, it is self-insured. Self-insured plans are regulated by the U.S. Department of Labor, not by Massachusetts.