Arlo Health is a technology-driven health plan built for small and mid-size employers who want the cost predictability of a fixed monthly premium with the upside of a self-funded arrangement. Arlo operates as a managing general underwriter (MGU) offering level funded plans with built-in stop-loss protection, AI-assisted underwriting, and a concierge member experience centered on $0 primary and virtual care. For Illinois businesses caught between rigid fully insured renewals and the complexity of traditional self-funding, Arlo is a modern middle path worth comparing.
How Arlo’s Level Funded Structure Works
Arlo plans are level funded, which means your business pays a single fixed monthly amount that bundles three things: expected claims, administrative costs, and stop-loss insurance. Stop-loss is included in every plan, so a handful of large claims will not blow up your budget mid-year. If your group’s actual claims come in below the funded amount, Arlo returns the unused claims dollars to you at the end of the plan year. That surplus potential is something fully insured plans never give back. Because the arrangement is self-funded underneath, the plan is governed by ERISA rather than filed as a fully insured policy, giving you more flexibility in plan design.
Arlo Plan Options
Arlo keeps its lineup deliberately simple with three level funded tiers, so employers and HR teams are not buried in dozens of near-identical plan designs. Exact benefits, networks, and minimum group sizes are confirmed at quote based on your census and ZIP code.
| Plan | Structure | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Arlo Basic | Level Funded | Lowest fixed monthly cost |
| Arlo Standard | Level Funded | Balanced coverage and cost |
| Arlo Premier | Level Funded | Richest benefit tier |
What’s Included in Every Arlo Plan
- $0 primary and virtual care: Members pay nothing for in-person primary care visits and 24/7 virtual urgent care, which encourages people to address issues early instead of waiting.
- Concierge member app: A 24/7 care team answers benefit questions, books cost-efficient care, and helps members navigate the system, taking pressure off your HR inbox.
- Built-in stop-loss: Individual and aggregate stop-loss protection is bundled into every plan, not sold separately.
- Claims transparency: Employers get visibility into how the plan is performing against the funded amount, so renewals are based on real experience rather than opaque pooling.
- Steadier renewals: Arlo’s investment in preventative care is designed to keep renewal increases more predictable than the double-digit jumps many small groups face.
AI-Assisted Underwriting
Arlo’s underwriting engine uses machine learning to quantify a group’s risk more precisely than the broad, one-size-fits-all rating many carriers apply to small groups. For a healthy Illinois workforce, that more granular assessment can translate into more competitive pricing than a legacy carrier’s community-rated or heavily loaded quote. The trade-off is that groups with older demographics or several high-cost chronic conditions may see less favorable pricing, which is exactly the kind of comparison an independent broker can run for you.
What Type of Companies Arlo Is Good For
Arlo tends to be the strongest fit for:
- Small and mid-size Illinois employers (roughly 10 to 150 employees) that are outgrowing fully insured pricing
- Growth-stage technology, SaaS, and professional services firms with a relatively young, healthy workforce that stands to earn a year-end surplus refund
- Employers who want cost predictability and stop-loss protection without the full administrative complexity of traditional self-funding
- HR teams that value a simple, app-first member experience and a single vendor relationship instead of a stack of disconnected point solutions
Arlo is generally a weaker fit for groups that need a broad national PPO network, employers that require a guaranteed-issue fully insured product, or very large groups that want a pure administrative-services-only (ASO) self-funded arrangement. Availability varies by state and is expanding, so contact Illinois Health Agents to confirm current Arlo availability for your group and to compare it head to head against other level funded carriers.
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