NATM Association Health Plan: Delivering Exceptional Value to Member Companies
2026 promises to be a big year for the NATM’s Association Health Plan (AHP). January 1st, 2026, represents the first practical effective date members have had to participate in the AHP and early results are encouraging. With carrier commitment to support the association we have been able to deliver rate reductions in excess of 30 percent. These results represent the best of what is possible through an AHP and that is by design.
When we started exploring this member benefit, it was important to get a commitment from our carrier partners to underwrite and rate each NATM member group separately. This underwriting consideration is important because it allows members with healthy group profiles to secure more favorable rates than what would otherwise be available to them.
Outside of the AHP, most companies with fewer than 100 employees on plan have their rates determined from a blended health profile that includes both healthy and unhealthy groups of similar size and location. Insurance companies prefer underwriting this model because it is much more cost efficient than assessing and rating hundreds or even thousands of groups individually. And because individual groups of this size are not given detailed claim information about their group, they are at the mercy of the insurance companies in determining what is a fair rate.
The NATM’s AHP has received carrier commitments for various levels of rate relief for employers with 200 or fewer employees on plan. When you combine the NATM specific discounts with an underwriting model that rates each member company individually you have an opportunity for healthy groups to receive rate relief in excess of 30 percent. It is important to note that not all NATM member companies will receive rates that are more favorable than what they currently pay. Unhealthy groups with high utilization will likely not receive rate relief through the NATM AHP.
The NATM AHP is being managed by Marsh McLennan.
Schedule a call with one of their consultants and explore if this newest member benefit is a fit for you.