The Truth About Level Funding: What Most Brokers Still Don’t Understand | Jason Powers

In this episode of The Noble Agent’s Guide, we sit down with Jason Powers of Legacy Brokers to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in employee benefits: level funding.Jason has spent decades in the self-funded and level-funded space helping brokers and employers navigate the real mechanics behind these plans — beyond the marketing language.This conversation goes deep into:Why “level funded” is mostly a marketing termThe dangerous differences between carrier-model and true self-funded plansWhy many brokers are selling self-funded plans without even realizing itThe importance of guardrails, accommodation, advance funding, and surplus ownershipHow incentives change when carriers control surplus dollarsWhy underwriting still matters in a post-ACA worldThe difference between transactional brokers and consultative advisorsHow great brokers think about risk, curiosity, and long-term client relationshipsWhy self-funding isn’t the answer — but the conduit to finding the answerOne of the biggest takeaways:Self-funding doesn’t lower costs by itself. It creates visibility. And visibility is what allows employers to finally manage healthcare spend intelligently.Jason also shares:How the industry has changed from “self-funding is dangerous” to mainstream adoptionWhy the best brokers ask better questionsHow AI and instant quoting can create shallow advisory workThe “company credit card” analogy for self-funded health plansWhy curious brokers consistently outperform transactional onesIf you’re a broker trying to understand the future of level funding, stop-loss, and self-funded strategy — this is a foundational conversation.Guest:Jason PowersLegacy BrokersTopics Covered:Level funded vs self-fundedStop loss and accommodationSurplus ownershipFixed costs vs claims liabilityBroker incentivesUnderwritingCost containmentConsultative sellingSmall group self-fundingCarrier-model plansEpisode 7 | Season 1#LevelFunding #SelfFunding #HealthInsurance #EmployeeBenefits #StopLoss #BrokerStrategy #HealthcareCosts #InsuranceBroker #NobleAgentsGuide