Voices of Self Funding

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Nov 2026

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About the show

Join in on the conversation with host Ramesh Kumar, CEO and Co-Founder of zakipoint Health, as he interviews key self-funding experts and dives deep into impactful topics and perspectives surrounding the self-funding industry. Make sure you continue to tune in to hear unparalleled perspectives in each upcoming episode! We will cover a diverse mix of topics ranging from the challenges that TPAs face, price transparency, competitive implications, and more.

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57 recent

November 6, 2026Episode 5828 min

Episode 50 The Price is Public. Now What?

Healthcare price transparency has made an enormous amount of pricing data publicly available but having the data and knowing what to do with it are two very different things. Payerset CEO and Co-Founder Jerry DiMaso joins Voices of Self-Funding to explain what hospital and payer transparency data can reveal about healthcare costs and negotiated rates. He shares how self-funded employers, TPAs and brokers can turn massive machine-readable files into actionable intelligence, evaluate whether they're really getting a good deal, identify potential overpayments and bring better information into renewals and network decisions. For more information on price transparency and other self-funding topics, visit www.hcaa.org. This episode is sponsored by zakipoint Health .

September 17, 2026Episode 5741 min

Episode 49 Beyond the Rate: A Smarter Approach to Level Funding

Tom Stein, CEO of American Trust Administrators and author of The Noble Agent’s Guide to Level Funding, joins Voices of Self-Funding to discuss how brokers and TPAs can help smaller employers make the move to level funding. He explores cost-containment strategies, plan design and why a more consultative approach can help brokers move beyond simply selling a lower rate to deliver greater long-term value. For more information on level-funded health plans and other self-funding topics, visit www.hcaa.org . This episode is sponsored by zakipoint Health .

August 6, 2026Episode 5621 min

Episode 48 Stop-Loss Beyond the Policy: Why Partnership Matters More Than Price

What separates a great stop-loss partner from an average one? According to Joe Dore, President and CEO of USBenefits , it's not just pricing; it's proactive collaboration. In this episode of Voices of Self-Funding, Joe joins host Tom Testa to share how early intervention, strategic partnerships, and a consultative approach can help employers avoid costly surprises, reduce high-dollar claims, and make smarter decisions in an increasingly challenging healthcare environment. For more information on stop-loss coverage and other self-funding topics, visit www.hcaa.org. This episode is sponsored by zakipoint Health .

July 24, 2026Episode 553 min

Voices of TPA Summit: Matthew McCormick, TALON

Tom sits down with Matthew to tease his upcoming TPA Summit session: Building Health Plans that Consumers Understand and Love. The complexities of Consumer Simplification for TPAs and Administrators.

July 20, 2026Episode 542 min

Voices of TPA Summit: Nick Glimcher Primebody & Blue Genes Labs

Tom sits down with Nick to tease his upcoming TPA Summit session: Ending Rx Guesswork -- And Yes This Impacts GLP-1s

July 20, 2026Episode 532 min

Voices of TPA Summit: David Keisner, Stephens Rx

Tom sits down with David to tease his upcoming panel participation in a TPA Summit session: Rewiring PBM Contracts for True Alignment

June 15, 2026Episode 5129 min

Episode 47 How AI Agents are Transforming Payment Integrity

In this episode of Voices of Self-Funding, host Tom Testa sits down with Angel Onuoha, co-founder and CEO of Avelis Health, for a deep dive into how AI agents are reshaping payment integrity, claims auditing, and healthcare cost management. Inspired by his own experience navigating inflated medical bills after multiple knee surgeries, Angel set out to tackle one of healthcare’s biggest hidden problems: payment errors and billing complexity. The conversation explores how Avelis is using AI agents to transform summary plan documents into auditable claim rules, identify overpayments in real time, and even deploy voice AI to communicate directly with providers about denied or recouped claims. Angel also unpacks why generic large language models can be dangerous in healthcare workflows, the importance of explainability and auditability in AI systems, and how organizations must rethink PHI security, access controls, and trust when deploying AI at scale. Angel shares his perspective on why today’s payment integrity ecosystem suffers from misaligned incentives — and why AI may finally give TPAs and self-funded employers the tools to proactively reduce waste without adding administrative burden. If you want to understand where AI in healthcare is moving beyond hype and into real operational impact, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. This episode is sponsored by zakipoint Health .

April 29, 2026Episode 5042 min

Episode 46 Secrets of saving and delivering a good healthcare experience on a self-funded plan

Are you tired of the "lazy way" to cut healthcare costs—just increasing deductibles and co-pays? In this episode, we’re talking to someone who calls that approach what it is: the definition of insanity. Host Ramesh Kumar welcomes Adam V. Russo, Esq.—co-founder and visionary of The Phia Group, LLC, an innovative cost containment leader and attorney who represents employers and plan fiduciaries across the U.S. Adam is here to break down the secrets of delivering a great healthcare experience on a self-funded plan. You'll learn: Why Direct Primary Care (DPC) is being called the "best" plan design choice for both employee retention and health, with studies showing a 13% reduction in overall claim spend in the first year. How Adam's company, a successful self-funded employer, leveraged DPC to personally circumvent a $6,000 to $10,000 ER bill for just $80 a month. The critical need for a complete employee mindset shift and a five-year education plan to truly win at cost management. Don’t miss this powerful conversation on why increasing cost-sharing measures has failed, and how DPC offers a path to long-term success. Tune in now! This episode is sponsored by zakipoint Health .

April 21, 2026Episode 4931 min

Episode 45 How do you really motivate a broker to work with the TPA?

In this episode of "Voices of Self-Funding," host Ramesh Kumar sits down with Trey Hinson, Founder of Goliath Sales Strategies and a seasoned marketing and sales leader with over 24 years in the healthcare benefits space. Trey unpacks what authentic, research-driven sales and marketing look like in today’s self-funded ecosystem. You’ll learn: Why modern brokers are demanding measurable outcomes, value-aligned proof, and a disciplined ICP strategy—and how carriers and TPAs can better meet those expectations. The shift from feature-centric pitching to case-study-backed storytelling. The importance of rep enablement for building a sales system that scales sustainably. This is a must-listen conversation for anyone looking to strengthen broker relationships, improve retention, and build sales systems that last. Tune in now! This episode is sponsored by zakipoint Health .

March 27, 2026Episode 4832 min

Episode 44 How stop loss carriers are looking at small group funding, and how has this changed

In this episode of "Voices of Self-Funding," host Ramesh Kumar welcomes Jonathan Socko, President of East Coast Underwriters, LLC, a Managing General Underwriter (MGU) specializing in Stop Loss insurance. Jonathan shares his perspective on stop-loss underwriting for small groups and unveils the blueprint for a remarkable success story: a 30-life employer group that has been successfully self-funded for 10 years with their PMPM costs increasing only 10% over that decade. You'll learn: - The crucial role of partner cohesion between the broker, TPA, and stop-loss carrier to manage claims proactively. - Why data transparency and a specific data flow are non-negotiable for effective claim prediction and management. - The essential mindset shift—and commitment to aggressively attacking costs—that ensures a small group’s self-funded plan remains successful and sustainable. Don't miss this conversation for an insider's view on stop-loss and the strategy that delivers long-term savings. This podcast is sponosred by zakipoint Health .