Why Smart Businesses Are Choosing NARFA Over Traditional Approaches Right Now

The Numbers Don’t Lie: Healthcare Costs Are Exploding

A new KFF report confirms what NARFA members already suspected: healthcare premiums are spiking 15% in 2026—the largest increase since 2018. Worse yet, 27% of insurers are requesting increases of 20% or more.

For small businesses in automotive, roads, fuel, construction, transportation, and fleet industries, this isn’t just a statistic—it’s a direct hit to your bottom line.

But here’s what most business owners don’t realize: You don’t have to take these increases lying down.

The NARFA Difference: Why We’re Not Just Another Benefits Provider

We Own Our Own Trust

Unlike brokers who sell you someone else’s insurance, NARFA operates our own healthcare trust. This means:

• Your premiums stay within our member community
• Surplus funds benefit members, not outside shareholders
• Claims experience is pooled across businesses just like yours
• No insurance company middleman taking profits

95+ Years of Industry-Specific Expertise

Your typical benefits broker sells to everyone from dentist offices to tech startups. NARFA has served automotive, roads, fuel, and businesses with fleets of 5 or more vehicles since 1929.

Why this matters: We understand your specific risks. When a construction company has different injury patterns than a software firm, or when auto dealers face unique liability exposures, we price accordingly. Traditional strategies lump you in with everyone else.

The NARFA Benefit Center: Your Secret Weapon

While other providers hand you a policy and walk away, the NARFA Benefit Center becomes part of your team:

• Complete administrative support – we handle enrollment, COBRA, compliance
• Direct claim advocacy – we fight for your employees instead of your HR team being burdened with long wait times
• Year-round HR support – not just during renewal season
• Regulatory compliance assistance – keep up with changing laws without hiring experts

Group Buying Power That Actually Works

Most “group buying” programs are marketing gimmicks. NARFA’s collective purchasing represents real leverage:

• Hundreds of similar businesses pooling risk together
• Enterprise-level rates typically reserved for Fortune 500 companies
• Negotiated provider networks with rates your individual business could never secure

Real Solutions While Others Just Sell Policies

Exclusive Fully Insured Group Rates

Not ready for level funding? No problem. NARFA’s fully insured plans offer something your broker can’t match:

• Negotiated group rates available only to NARFA members
• Enterprise-level pricing typically reserved for large employers
• Industry-specific underwriting that recognizes your business type’s actual risks
• Stable rate structures backed by our relationship with top carriers
• No broker markup – you get the direct negotiated rate

The advantage: While individual businesses face 15-20% increases, NARFA members access group rates negotiated across hundreds of similar businesses.

Level Funding: For Businesses Ready to Take More Control

When fully insured premiums spike, level funding becomes an attractive alternative:

• Fund your own claims up to a predetermined amount
• Surplus funds can be used to offset future premium increases when your team stays healthy
• Predictable monthly budgets instead of renewal surprises
• Full transparency into where every healthcare dollar goes
• Stop-loss protection through our integrated solution

The difference: Your broker uses outside level funding providers. NARFA’s level funding runs through our own member trust, keeping more money in our community.

Industry-Tailored Plan Designs (Both Fully Insured and Level Funded)/h3>
Whether you choose fully insured or level funding, NARFA plans are designed for:

• Blue-collar workforces with different healthcare needs than office workers
• Multi-location businesses common in automotive and transportation
• Seasonal employment patterns in construction and landscaping
• Safety-conscious cultures that invest in prevention

The Broker Problem: Why Traditional Approaches Fail

Typical brokers have a fundamental conflict: They make more money when your premiums go up. Their commission is a percentage of your premium—so 15% rate increases actually benefit them.

NARFA’s approach is different: We succeed when our members succeed. Lower costs for you mean a stronger, more sustainable trust for everyone.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Switch

With healthcare costs exploding, this is when NARFA’s advantages matter most:

1. Exclusive group rates – Our fully insured programs offer enterprise pricing when individual market rates are spiking 15-20%
2. Multiple funding options – Choose fully insured group rates or level funding based on what fits your business
3. Industry expertise – Uncertain markets reward experience and specialization
4. Member support – You need partners, not vendors, when costs are volatile
5. No broker conflicts – We succeed when you save money, not when your premiums increase

Your Decision Point

Every business faces a choice: Accept whatever rate increases insurance companies impose, or take control of your healthcare spending.

NARFA offers what traditional brokers can’t:

• Structure that benefits members
• Exclusive fully insured group rates AND level funding options
• Industry expertise built over 95+ years
• Complete support beyond just insurance
• Real alternatives when traditional options fail

Ready to See the Difference?

Don’t just get another quote—get a complete analysis of what NARFA membership could mean for your business.

We’ll review your current program, analyze your claims patterns, and show you exactly how NARFA’s approach could protect your business from rising healthcare costs.

The question isn’t whether costs will rise—it’s whether you’ll have the tools to manage them.