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Fiduciary & Governance Engine

Stop-Loss Contract Scoring

Score stop-loss contracts across 35 provisions including laser language, run-in/run-out, margin transparency, and pooling terms to prevent hidden carrier profits

The $3.1M Pooling Trap

Your stop-loss carrier quoted a "competitive" $125 specific deductible with 12/12 coverage. Looks standard. Then a $2.8M cancer claim hits in month 11. Carrier denies: "Run-in period applies—claim incurred before contract start." Your actuary reviews the contract: pooling charges retroactively increased premium by 18% over three years. That "competitive" contract cost you $3.1M in hidden carrier profit.

Hidden Margin
15-28%
typical carrier profit markup
Laser Triggers
$150-250K
most carriers laser threshold
Plans Auditing
<5%
independent contract review

What Fails Without This Engine

  • Can't identify unfavorable terms: no framework to evaluate complex stop-loss language
  • Pooling charges hidden: retroactive premium increases not disclosed upfront
  • Run-in/run-out gaps: coverage holes allow carriers to deny legitimate claims
  • Laser abuse: carriers trigger lasers at low thresholds to increase premiums

35-Point Stop-Loss Audit

Our Stop-Loss Contract Scoring Engine evaluates agreements across 35 critical provisions (deductible levels, laser language, pooling charges, run-in/run-out, margin transparency, terminal liability), scores each provision 0-100, identifies unfavorable terms, and generates negotiation recommendations.

Stop-Loss Contract Scoring Algorithm
// 35-point stop-loss contract evaluation CONTRACT_PROVISIONS = [ deductible_structure, laser_provisions, pooling_charges, run_in_run_out, margin_transparency, terminal_liability, claim_administration ] FOR each provision IN CONTRACT_PROVISIONS: // Deductible Structure (6 provisions) IF provision == deductible_structure: SCORE: - Specific deductible competitive? (15 pts) - Aggregate corridor reasonable? (15 pts) - Contract basis (12/12 vs 15/12)? (15 pts) - Deductible stacking prohibited? (15 pts) - Family vs individual aggregation clear? (20 pts) - Lifetime maximum adequate? (20 pts) // Laser Provisions (7 provisions) IF provision == laser_provisions: SCORE: - Laser threshold ≥$250K? (20 pts) - 60-day advance notice required? (15 pts) - Medical justification required? (15 pts) - Laser premium formula disclosed? (15 pts) - Max laser premium cap defined? (15 pts) - Removal criteria specified? (10 pts) - Appeal rights included? (10 pts) // Pooling Charges (5 provisions) IF provision == pooling_charges: SCORE: - Pooling charge formula disclosed? (25 pts) - Historical loss ratio provided? (20 pts) - Retroactive adjustment prohibited? (25 pts) - Cap on pooling charge increase? (15 pts) - Annual transparency report required? (15 pts) // Run-In/Run-Out (4 provisions) IF provision == run_in_run_out: SCORE: - 12/12 coverage guaranteed? (30 pts) - No run-in period exclusions? (30 pts) - 12-month run-out minimum? (20 pts) - Terminal liability transferrable? (20 pts) // ... 3 more provision categories ... // Calculate composite score total_score = WEIGHTED_AVERAGE(all provisions) risk_classification = CLASSIFY: IF total_score < 55: "High Risk — unfavorable terms, renegotiate" IF 55-70: "Moderate Risk — improvements needed" IF 70-85: "Low Risk — adequate protections" IF > 85: "Optimal — best-in-class terms" // Generate negotiation strategy FOR each low_scoring_provision: IDENTIFY market_standard FROM benchmark_database CALCULATE cost_impact OF unfavorable_term PRIORITIZE BY expected_savings OUTPUT: - Overall contract score - Provision-by-provision analysis - Negotiation priority ranking - Cost impact quantification

Engineering Architecture

Core Components

  • 35-Provision Scorecard: Evaluate deductibles, lasers, pooling, run-in/out, margin disclosure
  • Hidden Margin Detector: Calculate true carrier profit from pooling and laser charges
  • Coverage Gap Identifier: Find run-in/run-out holes that allow claim denials
  • Benchmark Comparator: Score against top-quartile stop-loss terms

Scoring Metrics

Typical Score
52-68
broker-negotiated contracts
Target Score
85+
optimal terms
Hidden Margin
$800K-2.1M
identified per 10K lives
Review Time
<90 min
complete contract audit

Real-World Applications

Pooling Charge Recovery

  • Contract provision: 'Pooling charge based on claims experience'
  • Engine score: 25/100 on pooling transparency
  • Hidden issue: Retroactive premium increases averaging 18% annually
  • Carrier couldn't justify loss ratio when pressed
  • Renegotiated: Fixed pooling charge with 5% annual cap
  • 3-year savings: $1.4M in avoided pooling charges

Laser Threshold Negotiation

  • Original contract: $150K laser threshold
  • Engine flagged: 15/100 (Critical risk)
  • Carrier triggered 14 lasers over 2 years
  • Lasers added $420K annual premium
  • Renegotiated: $300K threshold + medical justification required
  • Year 1 post-renewal: Only 2 lasers, saved $310K

Stop Overpaying for Stop-Loss

Score your stop-loss contract across 35 provisions. Identify hidden carrier margins. Negotiate optimal terms. Turn stop-loss from a black box into a transparent, competitive bid.

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