Premium & contribution
What the plan costs in total, and how much of it your people cover in every paycheck.
Your health benefits renewal
Benefits renewal is a climb. You should know the route before you start.
Every renewal brings yet another premium increase—but why does it grow each year?
Your increase percentage is calculated on what you’re paying today, not what you agreed to when you started. That means a steady increase costs a little more each year, and the climb gets steeper as you go. Use our calculator to map out your next five years and see how they stack up against IronRoad’s projections.
Illustrative example
Same trailhead. Two different heights.
Starting annual premium $100,000
12% annual increase$176,234
IronRoad 6% projection$133,823
Take a company that pays $100,000 a year for employee health insurance. With a 12% increase every year, its premium reaches $176,234 by Year 5. With IronRoad's projected 6% a year, it reaches $133,823.
IronRoad's 6% is a projection; actual rates and savings may vary.
PREMIUM INCREASE CALCULATOR
Plot your route for the next five years.
Start with your current annual medical premium and the increase on your renewal. Renewal not here yet? Use the increase you're budgeting for and come back when you're sure. The industry average is 12%.
02 Your 5-year view
Your five years next to IronRoad's.
You'll see your five-year total and the difference before we ask for your contact details.
Total premium difference over five years
$0
Your renewal path
IronRoad 6% projection
The 6% figure is IronRoad’s annual projection for this illustration.
Actual rates are set each year. Actual savings may vary.
Your full projection
See the year-by-year breakdown.
Add your details to see the projections side by side, including the yearly difference and the total difference to date.
The year-by-year view
Your projected premiums
| Renewal year | Your renewal path | IronRoad 6% projection | Annual difference | Cumulative difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five-year total | — |
Positive differences mean the entered renewal path costs more; negative differences mean the IronRoad projection costs more. Rates are projections, not guaranteed savings.
How lower renewals happen
Lower renewals are often bought with plan changes that affect employees.
Plan design changes remove the handholds your employees rely on by raising the deductible, lowering coinsurance, raising copays, and moving prescriptions to more expensive tiers. The renewal increase looks reasonable, but your employees notice the difference when they need care.
In Business Group on Health's survey of 127 employers, released in August, employers projected a median 9.2% healthcare cost increase for 2027 and expected plan design changes to bring it down to 8%. And Mercer found that 51% of large employers were likely to make plan design changes in 2026 that shift more cost onto their employees, up from 45% a year earlier.
Sources: Business Group on Health | Mercer
Check the gear
Six things to check on your renewal besides the rate.
To make sure your employees aren't being led down a rougher path, compare this year's plan next to next year's before you sign that renewal.
Deductible
What employees pay before the plan starts sharing costs.
Coinsurance & copays
What employees pay each time they see a doctor, fill a prescription, or end up at the hospital.
Out-of-pocket maximum
The most an employee could pay in a year. It matters most to someone facing surgery or managing a chronic condition.
Provider network
Whether or not your people can keep the doctors and hospitals they already trust.
Prescription coverage
How well the plan covers the medications your people take, and what they'll pay at the pharmacy counter.
↗At IronRoad, we'll help you find the plan that gives your employees the most coverage for what you spend.
A lower increase, without giving up ground.
WE ARE YOUR (PEO)PLE
A partnership that helps you reach new heights.
An iron road is a steel cable bolted along a dangerous route so climbers can reach peaks that would otherwise be off-limits. IronRoad's medical plan does the same for small- and mid-size businesses.
We own our own plan through the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network, which means a separate carrier doesn't set your renewal. IronRoad clients get the benefits of a self-insured plan without taking on the risk themselves—and their employees enjoy consistent medical plans that meet their needs.
Your next step
Bring your renewal. We'll read it with you.
Send us your renewal and current plan. We'll show you how the premium changed, what changed in the plan design, what your employees will pay for care, and how your group compares on IronRoad's plan.
The summit is yours to choose. Our job is to show you the whole map before you take the next step.
Bring us your renewal ↗A few more answers
Frequently asked questions.
The price, the plan, and what comes next.
What is a health benefits renewal? +
A health benefits renewal is the annual update to the price and terms of an employer's medical plan for the next plan year. It can include a premium increase and changes to the deductible, coinsurance, copays, out-of-pocket maximum, provider network, prescription coverage, or employee contribution.
What is a normal health insurance renewal increase for 2027? +
KFF's August 2026 analysis of preliminary rate filings from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. found that nearly 300 small-group insurers proposed a median premium increase of 14% for 2027. Your actual renewal can be higher or lower based on your group, plan, location, and funding arrangement.
Why are health insurance renewals increasing? +
Small-group insurers cited rising prices for hospital care, physician services, and prescription drugs, along with higher use of healthcare services, as major drivers of proposed 2027 increases in KFF's analysis. An individual employer's renewal also reflects its plan structure and the way the coverage is funded.
Is a lower health insurance renewal always better? +
A lower percentage can be a better result. Its value depends on what changed in the plan and how the cost is shared with employees. Compare the deductible, coinsurance, copays, out-of-pocket maximum, employee contribution, provider network, and prescription coverage alongside the premium increase.
How do I compare two health plans fairly? +
Compare the premium and employee contribution with the deductible, coinsurance, copays, out-of-pocket maximum, provider network, and prescription coverage. A deductible is one number inside the whole plan. Two plans with similar premiums can ask very different amounts from employees when they actually use the coverage.
How does health insurance work with a PEO? +
In a PEO relationship, eligible employees can participate in benefits offered through the PEO while the PEO handles defined plan and administrative responsibilities. The exact plan structure and eligibility depend on the PEO and the employer group. With IronRoad, the medical plan is self-funded, and IronRoad is the plan sponsor and plan administrator. Client employers participate through the PEO relationship, and the medical plan uses the UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network.
What does IronRoad mean by a self-funded medical plan? +
IronRoad sponsors and administers the medical plan and carries the plan-level responsibilities that come with that structure. Client employers participate through the PEO relationship while IronRoad remains the plan sponsor and plan administrator. That structure is one reason IronRoad's benefits work includes plan administration, member support, plan management, and renewal work throughout the year.
What is the 6% figure in the renewal calculator? +
The 6% figure is IronRoad's projected annual increase used for the five-year illustration. Both paths in the calculator start with the annual medical premium you enter. Actual rates are agreed upon each year, and actual savings may vary.
When should an employer start reviewing a January 1 benefits renewal? +
Starting your review 3-4 months ahead of time gives the employer time to understand the current plan, prepare for the renewal, and compare options. Having renewal information early leaves more room to review the price and plan before year-end decisions have to be made.