ACEC Life/Health Trust

What ACEC Life/Health Trust does

ACEC Life/Health Trust is a non-profit Association Health Plan established in 1965 and headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, governed by a board of Trustees elected by its member firms. It exists exclusively to deliver group health and specialty insurance benefits to consulting engineering firms that are members of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the industry's principal trade association representing more than 5,500 firms employing over 600,000 engineers and design professionals. As of recent disclosure, the Trust serves over 1,300 ACEC member firms across the United States.

The Trust's product portfolio centers on four offerings: a fully insured health plan administered by UnitedHealthcare in 36 states with 50-plus options and access to the UHC Choice Plus network; a Level Funded Select Plan administered by Aetna (and alternatively Meritain Health) in 33 states with 90-plus options and a 50% surplus-return feature; stop loss reinsurance administered by Summit Re for self-funded member firms; and specialty coverage (dental, vision, life, disability) bundled through UnitedHealthcare. Layered on top are wellness programs with incentives up to $300, telemedicine through Teladoc and CVS Virtual Care, fitness device discounts via Invite Fitness, gym access through One Pass Select and Active&Fit Direct, and the Calm Health mental wellness application.

The Trust operates a sales-led, broker-and-advisor-driven distribution model that funnels exclusively through ACEC membership. Firms must be active ACEC members to participate, and the Trust provides dedicated support staff for broker training, qualification, and rapid quoting. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Underlying technology is provided entirely by carrier and partner integrations; the Trust itself is a small organization (11-50 employees) functioning as a benefit-aggregating and governance entity rather than a technology or insurance carrier.

Name

ACEC Life/Health Trust

Legal name

ACEC Life/Health Trust

Website

https://aceclifehealthtrust.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACEC Life/Health Trust is a non-profit Association Health Plan established in 1965 that delivers group medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and wellness benefits exclusively to consulting engineering firms that are members of the American Council of Engineering Companies, serving over 1,300 firms across 33 to 36 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Group Health Insurance

NAICS

Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Direct Life Insurance Carriers (524113), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Life Insurance (6311)

akta.pro primary industry

Self-Funded (ASO) Group Health Plans & Stop-Loss (FSAIAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Whole Life / UL Policy Riders & Add-ons (e.g., Waiver of Premium, Accidental Death, Child Term, LTC/Chronic Illness) (FSAIABAK)

Keywords

• Association health plans
• Group health insurance
• Level funded insurance
• Stop loss reinsurance
• Employee benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Frisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Fully Insured Health Plans: Traditional fully insured health insurance plans where the Trust bears risk for eligible healthcare costs after member cost-sharing. Plans offered in 36 states with over 50 options.
2. Level Funded Plans: Level funded solution allowing firms to enjoy self-funding benefits while reducing risk. Firms pay preset amounts covering claims, administration, and stop-loss. Potential surplus returns of 50% of remaining funds.
3. Stop Loss Reinsurance: Stop loss reinsurance product for large firms that self-fund but need catastrophic claims coverage. Administered by Summit Re.
4. Specialty Insurance: Dental, vision, life, and disability insurance bundled with medical coverage, administered by UnitedHealthcare.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ACEC Life/Health Trust is a non-profit Association Health Plan that provides group medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance to ACEC Member engineering and design consulting firms. It offers Fully Insured Health Plans administered by UnitedHealthcare (50+ options across 36 states), Level Funded Select Plans administered by Aetna/Meritain Health (90+ options across 33 states), Stop Loss Reinsurance administered by Summit Re, and supporting wellness programs including fitness device discounts, telemedicine, and gym memberships.

Product overview

ACEC Life/Health Trust is an Association Health Plan offering a portfolio of health insurance products to ACEC Member firms. The core offerings include: (1) Fully Insured Health Plans administered by UnitedHealthcare with over 130 HSA and PPO options; (2) Select Plan (Level Funded) plans administered by Aetna or Meritain Health offering 90+ options with potential surplus returns; (3) Stop Loss Reinsurance for self-funded firms; and (4) Specialty Services including dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Supporting wellness programs provide additional value through UHC Rewards incentives, fitness device discounts, telemedicine services, gym memberships, and mental health support via Calm Health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fully Insured Health Plan

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving over 1,300 ACEC Member firms nationwide
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UnitedHealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnitedHealthcare administers the Trust's fully insured health plans in 36 states. Provides access to the Choice Plus national PPO network with over one million providers and pharmacy benefits through OptumRx. Dedicated microsite and customer advocate team support Trust members.
• AetnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAetna administers the Level Funded Select Plan (available in 33 states) with access to the Aetna Choice POS II preferred provider organization network. Pharmacy benefits managed by CVS Caremark.
• Meritain Health (Aetna company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeritain Health (an Aetna company) administers alternative Level Funded Select Plan with 100% potential premium rebate. Provides employer portal for enrollment, eligibility, and billing management.
• Summit RecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummit Re administers the Trust's stop loss reinsurance product for large firms that self-fund their insurance but need coverage for catastrophic claims. Also conducts underwriting review and approval on behalf of the Trust.
• Invite FitnessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInvite Fitness provides the Trust's exclusive fitness device storefront. Members access discounted Garmin and Fitbit tracking devices (up to $200 off) using coupon code 'acec26'.
• CVS CaremarkcoreTechnology or IntegrationCVS Caremark manages pharmacy benefits for Level Funded Select Plan members. Provides broad access to nationwide pharmacy network and wide selection of brand name and generic drugs.
• OptumRxcoreTechnology or IntegrationOptumRx provides pharmacy network services for UnitedHealthcare fully insured plan members.
• One Pass Select (Active&Fit Direct)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOne Pass Select provides gym membership access for UHC members. Standard facilities available for $34/person/month with premium facilities at 20-70% discount. Includes streaming fitness content.
• Active&Fit DirectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActive&Fit Direct provides fitness facility and streaming workout access for Select Plan (Level Funded) members at $28/person/month for standard facilities.
• American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACEC is the parent organization with 100+ years representing over 5,500 consulting engineering firms. The Trust is one of the biggest benefits of ACEC membership. Firm-based membership means all employees enjoy Trust benefits.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Unum Group: Unum is a major U.S. group disability and life insurer serving employer groups of all sizes. Comparable in product line overlap (group life, LTD/STD, and voluntary benefits) and broker distribution model.
• Mutual of Omaha: Mutual of Omaha sells group health, life, and disability benefits, including association-style products, through brokers. Comparable as a multi-product group benefits carrier with broker-led distribution and association channel exposure.
• Voya Financial: Voya offers group stop-loss, life, disability, and voluntary benefits to U.S. employers, often via brokers. Comparable in stop-loss and group benefits product mix and distribution approach.
• Sun Life Financial: Sun Life offers group benefits including life, disability, dental, and stop-loss coverage for U.S. employers. Comparable as a multi-product group benefits carrier serving association and mid-market segments.
• Lincoln Financial Group: Lincoln Financial delivers group life, disability, dental, and voluntary benefits to U.S. employer groups, often distributed through brokers. Comparable product breadth and broker-led GTM model to ACEC Life/Health Trust.
• New York Life Group Benefit Solutions: New York Life's group benefits division sells group life, disability, and supplemental products through brokers. Comparable as a multi-line group benefits carrier with broker distribution similar to ACEC Life/Health Trust's.
• OneAmerica: OneAmerica provides group life, disability, and retirement products to associations and employer groups. Comparable as a broad group-benefits incumbent that sells into association and mid-market employer channels similar to ACEC Life/Health Trust.
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield: Anthem sells group health, dental, vision, life, and disability plans to employer and association groups across multiple states. Comparable as a multi-state group benefits carrier that competes for association and mid-market group health business.
• Guardian Life Insurance: Guardian offers group dental, life, disability, and vision benefits distributed through brokers and employer relationships. Comparable as a multi-line group benefits provider with a similar broker-driven distribution motion.
• Cigna Group Health: Cigna offers fully insured and level-funded group health plans to mid-market employers through brokers. Comparable as a carrier providing fully insured and level-funded group health options sold through the broker channel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acecwellness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ACEC Life/Health Trust