Share
THE SITUATION
- The client seeks national expansion, planning to launch a new business, offering self funded plans for small group employers within several target markets.
- Stax assignment: Determine addressable market size
and assess the competitive landscape within the target geographies.
THE ASSIGNMENT
- We conducted a comprehensive assessment of the target markets, the landscape and channel dynamics, determining current and potential market opportunity.
THE BENEFITS
- Based on our assessment we were able to provide a market map of the commercial payer landscape in each target market, including: Size, Share and expected shifts in share.
- Stax
was able to provide a comparison and review of offerings and key competitors in the space for prioritization of most attractive markets for growth expansion.
THE FINDING
- Growing Acceptance of Self-Funding:
- There is growing awareness and interest in self-funding among smaller employers. More brokers are presenting self-funding as an option to smaller employers—sometimes to firms as small as 5–10 employees.
- Broker’s Play a Large Role in Employer Benefits Decision-Making:
- Benefits decision-makers in small-mid sized firms lack familiarity with both the extent and variety of available plan options as well as current regulations and their implications. Therefore, smaller employers tend to rely heavily on brokers to recommend the plans best-suited for them—entrusting them to understand their needs and shop for plans.
- High Healthcare Costs is a Key Pain Point:
- Driving down healthcare costs is a key concern for smaller employers as premiums and employer contributions continue to rise at 4%–5% annually over the last 5 years. Greater cost predictability and sustainable financial management are particularly critical for smaller employers in the current healthcare environment.
Read More
Grant Thornton Stax supported AKAM, a provider of property management serving residential and commercial properties, on its recent acquisition by Audax Private Equity. Read more.
Grant Thornton Stax congratulates Blackstone on its recent acquisition of Champions Group, a leading provider of essential home services. Click here to read about the deal.
Learn why ESG, SCRM, EHS, and GRC software are converging around strategic risk management and how investors evaluate durable risk platforms.
Expo West 2026 revealed key trends shaping natural and better-for-you CPG. Explore three insights investors should watch, from fiber innovation to clean labels.
"The Consulting Report" is pleased to announce The Top 25 Women Leaders in Consulting for 2026, including our very own Kelsey Chisholm (Partner). Click here to read more.
A recap of Grant Thornton Stax and Raymond James’ healthcare breakfast on PE investment opportunities across the pharma tech ecosystem.