US COMPANIES NOW SELF-INSURE HEALTH BENEFITS

More than half of American businesses providing employee health benefits are now self-insured, according to a recent survey by Confederation Life Insurance Company. Companies are responding to increases in health insurance premiums by assuming the risks of health care themselves, creating a fund from which to pay health claims, the survey finds. Although Fortune 500 companies have led the way, some smaller companies are now among the 55 percent of US firms of 250 or more employees that are self insured.