Under the ACA Medical Loss Ratio rule, insurers must refund premiums if they exceed a certain percentage of reimbursed costs across a plan (there's a couple different tiers with different limits.)
In order to maximize profits, they need maximum utilization, which takes completing the signup, not just idle premium payment.
Eh, I've seen accounting rules of that sort worked around with relative ease. It's not difficult to find ways to spend money that send value back your way, and even when you're in that position it's always the right move to ask for more. Budgeting incentives 101.
In order to maximize profits, they need maximum utilization, which takes completing the signup, not just idle premium payment.