Buffer Insurance is an independent brokerage. We shop multiple carriers to find the group health plan that matches your budget, your workforce, and your goals — not the plan that pays us the highest commission.
Start Your Free Assessment →Health insurance is the most valued employee benefit in the United States. Offering a competitive group health plan is one of the most effective ways to recruit, retain, and protect your workforce.
Source: KFF 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey
Every employer has different risk tolerance, cash flow needs, and workforce demographics. Buffer helps you evaluate all three funding models to determine which structure delivers the best value for your organization.
You pay a fixed monthly premium to the insurance carrier. The carrier assumes all claims risk and handles administration. This is the simplest model to manage and the most predictable from a budgeting standpoint.
For small groups under 50 employees, there is no medical underwriting — the carrier cannot rate your group based on its specific claims history. Instead, premiums are based on the aggregate claims experience of the carrier's entire regional pool. This means your group's renewal increase may not directly reflect your own claims performance.
You pay a fixed monthly amount that covers expected claims, stop-loss insurance, and administration. If your group is healthier than projected, you may receive a surplus refund. You get the upside potential of self-funding with the cost predictability of a fully-insured plan.
The employer pays claims directly as they are incurred, with stop-loss insurance protecting against catastrophic claims. This model offers the greatest flexibility in plan design and the most detailed claims data for making informed decisions.
As an independent brokerage, Buffer Insurance has access to every major group health carrier in Texas. We are not captive to a single carrier, which means our recommendations are based entirely on what fits your business — not on carrier incentives. We handle all of the heavy lifting so you can focus on running your company.
We learn your business, your workforce demographics, your budget, and what matters most to your employees.
We submit your census to multiple carriers, run provider network checks, and compare plan options side by side.
We walk you through the top options with clear cost comparisons, contribution modeling, and our recommendation.
We manage enrollment, employee communications, carrier coordination, and ensure a smooth effective date.
We handle claims issues, billing questions, new hire enrollments, and begin renewal strategy 120 days out.
Every Buffer engagement includes the following services at no additional cost to the employer. Our compensation comes from the carrier you select — the premium you pay is the same whether you use a broker or go direct.
We benchmark your current plan against industry standards and design options that balance cost with competitive coverage.
We leverage our market relationships and your group's data to negotiate the most competitive rates available.
We create clear plan comparison materials and conduct enrollment meetings so your employees understand their options.
We review your plan for compliance with the ACA, ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and applicable Texas regulations. We flag issues before they become liabilities.
We start the renewal process 120 days before your plan year ends. No last-minute surprises. You see the market before you have to make a decision.
We do not disappear after enrollment. Claims issues, billing disputes, new hire additions, terminations — we handle it all year long.
Straightforward answers to the questions we hear most from Texas employers evaluating group health insurance.
Group health insurance is one piece of a competitive benefits package. Explore these related solutions to build a program that works together.