Larger groups are having far more success this year than smaller groups at controlling health insurance and life insurance rates.
Researchers at the Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, Washington, asked benefits brokers about rates for small accounts with 50 or fewer employees, medium accounts to 51 to 500 employees, and large accounts with 501 or more employees.
This year, 23% of the small accounts, 44% of the midsize accounts and 60% of the large accounts are enjoying falling health insurance prices, flat prices or increases of less than 10%, according to the CIAB.
In 2005, only 13% of the small accounts, 28% of the midsize accounts and 47% of the large accounts succeeded at achieving that kind of rate stability.
Meanwhile, despite group life industry concerns about the risks large, concentrated groups may face from events such as natural disasters, large groups also had better luck at holding down group life rates.