Historically<unk> -funding has been most effective for large corporations and Fortune 500 companies with over 1,000 employees but with the rising cost of healthcare over the past ten years at a rate of close to 10%,<unk> -funding has become an option for smaller employers. It is now estimated that the average<unk><unk>  plan covers 300-400 employees and that, of private sector employees that have a workplace health plan, 59% were covered by a plan that is at least in part<unk> -insured. While some large employers<unk> -administer their<unk><unk>  group health plan, most find it necessary to contract with a third party for assistance in claims adjudication and payment. Third party administrators (TPA's) provide these and other services, such as access to preferred provider networks, prescription drug card programs, utilization review and the stop loss insurance market. Insurance companies offer similar services under what is frequently described as "administrative services only" or "ASO" contracts. In these arrangements the insurance company provides the typical third party administration services but assume no risk for claims payment. Perhaps the biggest advantage of<unk><unk>  plans is transparency of claims data.<unk><unk>  employers who contract a TPA receive a monthly report detailing medical claims and pharmacy costs. Knowing this information becomes instrumental in controlling costs by shifting buying patterns. Other advantages include plan flexibility, access to national PPO networks, and financial savings.
Self-funded health care
Publicly funded health care
Involuntary commitment by country
Free-market healthcare
Migrant Architects of the NHS
NHS trust
Personal medicine
Good clinical practice