What Is a Health Captive?
A health captive is a type of self-insurance where a group of companies form their own insurance company to provide health benefits for employees. Instead of relying solely on large carriers that dictate rates and structures, dealers in a captive gain control over plan design, cost structure and transparency into their claims data.
In simple terms: dealers regain control and create a smarter way to manage health care costs.
Why Dealers Are Making the Switch
Many dealer groups are frustrated by:
- Unpredictable renewals: Annual cost increases with little explanation.
- Limited flexibility: Rigid networks that make it harder for employees to access care outside the system.
- Lack of transparency: No access to claims data, making it difficult to understand cost drivers.
By joining JM&A Group Dealership Insurance Services Health Captive, dealers gain more flexibility, better insight into employee needs, and often meaningful savings.
Shared Risk, Shared Reward
The Health Captive is designed with three layers of protection:
- Self-insurance: Each dealer sets their own level of risk tolerance.
- Captive layer: Members contribute equity dollars that pool risk across the group.
- Reinsurance: High-cost claims above a set threshold are covered, helping to protect dealers from unexpected spikes.
This layered structure balances control with stability, giving dealers greater predictability than traditional self-insurance.
Why JM&A Group’s Health Captive Is Different
Unlike captives built primarily for profitability, JM&A’s program was designed with two key priorities:
- For Dealers: Reduce costs and return surplus profits to the dealership.
- For Employees: Provide a better, more supportive health care experience.
This includes concierge HR support, employee navigation tools, and resources that simplify the process for both staff and management. Rather than adding work for HR, the third-party administrator handles the heavy lifting, from billing and claims questions to employee onboarding.
A Better Employee Experience
Employees don’t just have a plan; they receive guided support. With JM&A’s Health Captive, a “white glove” concierge service helps them:
- Find and compare doctors or specialists.
- Schedule appointments directly through their plan.
- Understand cost differences between options to make informed choices.
This approach helps ensure employees feel supported while also helping the dealership control unnecessary costs.
Onboarding Made Simple
Dealers can select the onboarding method that works best for their teams, whether in-person at the dealership, virtually, or through traditional paper enrollments. JM&A’s team works directly with employees to explain options, answer questions, and ensure a seamless transition.
When to Start the Conversation
If your renewal date is approaching, the best time to evaluate alternatives is now. JM&A Group’s team reviews census data, claims history, and financials to build a side-by-side comparison of your current plan versus a captive structure. Dealers also see projections for best, expected, and worst-case scenarios, providing full transparency into how the program works.
One of the biggest opportunities comes from prescription drug costs. The Health Captive’s Rx programs can deliver significant savings while helping control overall plan expenses.
Take Back Control of Health Care Costs
For dealerships, employee benefits do not have to feel like an uncontrollable expense. JM&A Group’s Health Captive provides flexibility, transparency, and meaningful savings while delivering a better experience for employees and reducing the burden on HR.
If you’re ready to explore whether your dealership qualifies, talk to JM&A Group today about joining the Health Captive.
For a Deeper Dive
Watch the full live session How Dealerships Are Taking Control of Health Insurance Costs as Scott Blume, VP JM&A Group Dealer Insurance Services, and Bill Christie, Director JM&A Group Dealership Insurance Services, break down how JM&A’s Health Captive helps enhance the employee experience, delivers cost savings, and simplifies health plan management for dealerships.
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