95% of healthcare is non-emergent. Even cancer care, chemotherapy, radiation and surgical procedures are typically planned days, weeks or even months in advance. From a financing standpoint, that means the cost of much of our healthcare can be negotiated BEFORE it happens. Employers leveraging self-funding and direct pay can actually influence what they pay for care. Something you largely surrender when relying exclusively on a traditional insurance network. If you’re an employer, you need to be exploring BOTH self-funding and direct/cash pay. P.S. Even true emergency care can often be negotiated after the service occurs.