And it's just in time for all of the premiums to skyrocket for 2026. The big beautiful bill in action.
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It’s not. No amount of bs building up internally as a “beneficial change” makes it better for an associate. The company is trying hard to get away from having to offer their standard set of benefits. Don’t ever think this is a move that is meant to be best for you.
@OP https://medcitynews.com/2025/10/centene-ichra-health-insurance/
She pretty much describes exactly what sort of employee or person would benefit the most from having an ICHRA plan. Good luck to you you if you or your family member have a disability, chronic conditions or a medical emergency and now have to pay much more out of pocket. It's easier to see the silver lining of an ICHRA plan when you're a healthy multimillionaire.
Is this just IN for 2026? What’s the roll out to other states? Many top providers do not accept Marketplace plans now. So prepare to lose providers.
Wait until you have to go through a pre-coverage health assessment before they fully cover you. High blood pressure? Over weight? History of x, y, z? Higher premiums!
It rewards the healthy and penalizes the sick and elderly. If you’ve got existing chronic conditions, be prepared to pay more than you do today.
Deplorable company
@anx please complain loudly and often so that we can get rid of this
@OP no it will not be good for employees, it will be great for the company. Good luck finding a decent plan on the marketplace with comparable premium/cost share and benefits unless you choose a cr-ppy high deductible plan. And think of all the hoops you’ll have to jump through to get anything other than preventive visits. They will charge you more if you are older too, and especially if you smoke. Wonder if they will still make us jump through the healthy pathways hoops to get a cr-ppy ICHRA plan
I was afraid they would eventually move employees to it. I hope the pilot goes horribly and they don't roll it out to all employees down the road.
Good luck!
@5g4 they are making employees in my state change to ichra in 2026 as a “pilot”. We should not have to be on some cr-p poor person marketplace plan!
The Indiana market employees (only residents, not if you work in the market but live in another state) are being forced into ichra plans 1/1/2026. We had a webinar with Sarah London today.
I haven't heard ANYTHING that Centene may switch their employees to ICHRA. ICHRA is related to the ACA and part of their Ambetter product. It is a way for small and medium businesses to offer insurance to their employees when they may have not offered it before due to cost reasons. If it takes off, it should be good for Centene... And possibly a small step in the direction of fixing the US' system where so many are tied to their employer directly for coverage... With ICHRA, you can quit your job and pay a higher premium, but keep your coverage (especially if you met your deductible already), etc.
Are employees moving toward ICHRA for sure for next year ?
“Generally speaking this is NOT a good thing for employees. The company you work for is not benevolent. None of them are. This is going to cost you more in the end.”
Generally elaborate on how it’s gonna cost employees more in the end.
No, it’s not a good thing from an employee point of view, it’s excellent for shareholders and the bottom line.
I have had chronic health issues since childhood and even with the best insurance offered to me through the company there are some years when I feel like I can't afford to live inside of my own body. While I can see that this option would be more cost-effective for the company and appears to give employees more freedom on the surface, it is essentially a financial penalty to those of us who already shoulder the burden of dealing with health issues and the medical debt that comes along with them. I have worked my butt off for this company for years and am considered a relatively high performer on my team but if they move us to ICHRAs then I'm going to interpret that as a sign that I and others with similar personal or family health situations are being shown the door.
Generally speaking this is NOT a good thing for employees. The company you work for is not benevolent. None of them are. This is going to cost you more in the end.
Sure! ICHRA stands for Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement. It’s a relatively new type of employer-sponsored health benefit that allows businesses to reimburse employees tax-free for individual health insurance premiums and other medical expenses, rather than offering a traditional group health insurance plan.
How Does ICHRA Work?
Employer Sets the Budget – The employer decides how much money they will reimburse each employee for health insurance costs.
Employees Buy Their Own Insurance – Employees use that money to purchase their own health insurance plans through the marketplace or a private insurer.
Reimbursement – The employer reimburses employees up to the set amount for qualified medical expenses.
Pros of ICHRA
✅ Flexibility for Employers & Employees – Employers can customize reimbursements based on employee classes (e.g., full-time vs. part-time). Employees can choose a plan that fits their needs.
✅ Cost Control for Employers – Unlike traditional group health insurance, employers set a fixed budget and don’t have to worry about unpredictable premium hikes.
✅ Tax Advantages – Reimbursements are tax-free for both employers and employees (if the plan meets affordability requirements).
✅ Portability – Employees keep their insurance even if they leave the company.
Cons of ICHRA
❌ Complexity – Employees must navigate the health insurance marketplace on their own, which can be confusing.
❌ Potential Higher Costs for Employees – If the reimbursement amount isn’t high enough, employees may still face significant out-of-pocket costs.
❌ Limited Group Benefits – Employees miss out on the collective bargaining power of traditional group plans, which sometimes offer better coverage at lower costs.
Is ICHRA a Good Thing?
It depends on your perspective. If you’re an employer looking for a cost-effective and flexible alternative to traditional group health insurance, it can be a great option. For employees, it offers freedom of choice but also puts more responsibility on them to find the right coverage.
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