Summit

Summit Reinsurance Services, Inc., or Summit Re, acts as a reinsurance advisor and managing underwriter for health-related risk. The company supports health insurers and employers by helping them transfer large medical risk.

History of Summit Reinsurance

Summit Re started in 1999 as a focused reinsurance advisor and managing general underwriter. The firm built its name helping clients manage big healthcare risks.

Summit Reinsurance later became a trusted partner to health plans and employers. Many events also helped its growth:

• 2003: published insights on HMO needs and deductible selection strategies
• 2005: shared analysis on the state of managed care reinsurance
• 2006: kept ERC relationship after Swiss Re acquired Employers Reinsurance Corporation
• 2007: explored systemic challenges in the US healthcare system
• 2009: offered visual approaches to understanding reinsurance risk
• 2011: released a guide on quota share for capital relief
• 2012: published insights on shifting deductible strategies
• 2016: proposed combining managed care risk and captives for success
• 2018: discussed how captives support population health management
• 2020: introduced new financial models for captives and enterprise risk

In 2025, Summit Re shared new support for advanced gene therapy and diagnostics in care models. The company continues to handle risk for new healthcare treatments.

Reinsurance products and services

Summit Reinsurance helps clients manage large medical risks by offering tailored solutions from its toolbox:

• HMO/medical excess: protects health plans from high claims in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial risk
• provider excess: shields provider groups from costly patient claims under shared risk contracts
• NextGen ACOs: offers aggregate coverage support for accountable care organizations with downside risk
• employer stop loss: limits financial risk for self-funded employers facing unexpected healthcare costs
• medical management services: adds care review tools and cost control support to reduce large claims
• capital management solutions: improves capital efficiency using quota share and captive insurance models

These tools help Summit Re build smart strategies instead of pushing off-the-shelf products. The company stays focused on helping each client manage risk their own way.

Culture and core values

Summit Reinsurance builds lasting partnerships by working side by side with clients to manage risk. The company promotes strong relationships over sales, knowing shared success protects everyone’s resources. It also focuses on:

1. consistent underwriting: uses fair practices that protect both clients and reinsurers
2. efficient service: delivers strong service with low operating costs
3. managed care support: adds care programs that enhance client offerings
4. growth support: helps managed care partners expand their business

These values build trust and focus on lasting partnerships, not short-term targets.

Summit Reinsurance’s partners and producers

The firm expects every partner to follow its standards and act with fairness and care. Trust grows when business is done right. They also give importance to:

• clear communication: using honest, complete messages that meet compliance rules
• good faith actions: showing integrity, competence, and honesty in all dealings
• professional conduct: treating others with respect in every situation
• conflict avoidance: steering clear of bias or divided interests
• strong service: answering customer needs with speed and accuracy
• legal compliance: following all rules, both in spirit and law

Anyone representing Summit Reinsurance is expected to meet these standards at all times. These values apply to every producer, partner, and team working on its behalf.

Company affiliations

Summit Reinsurance stays active in healthcare risk by working with key industry groups and alliances:

• Health Plan Alliance (HPA)
• Self-Insurance Institute of America (SIIA)
• Society of Professional Benefit Administrators (SPBA)
• Health Care Administrators Association (HCAA)

These partnerships help shape standards and support smarter use of reinsurance tools in healthcare.

The Summit Re approach

Summit Reinsurance takes a hands-on approach built around goals and deep understanding. The team responds quickly, follows through on promises, and supports clients with practical solutions. Every move aims to strengthen partnerships and manage risk with care.

The future at Summit Reinsurance

SVP Brian Fehlhaber, one of Summit Re’s founders, retired in early 2025. He led reinsurance sales and shaped the company’s direction with a hands-on, consultative style. The company continues to move forward with a strong team and a clear direction in place.

Summit Reinsurance shared a 2025 report on gene therapy from a reinsurance and stop loss view. It covered trends in costly treatments like Zolgensma, Elevidys, and Lenmeldy. The company tracks these shifts to guide smarter risk planning for rare, high-cost claims.