Marsh Introduces Protected Cell Option for Global Employee Benefits

Marsh has launched Marsh Nexus Captive Solution, a captive insurance offering designed to help multinational organizations manage risks and costs associated with international employee benefits programs. 

The announcement comes as employers face rising healthcare and benefits expenses globally. According to Marsh's Health Trends 2026 report, employer-provided health plans are experiencing significant pressure amid projected double-digit increases in health benefit costs across most markets. 

Marsh said some multinational organizations incorporate international health plan risk into broader risk management strategies, while others may lack the scale or resources needed to establish employee benefits captives or other risk-retention structures. 

The new offering operates through Marsh's Mangrove Protected Cell Company, which is domiciled in Washington, DC. The structure is designed for organizations with annual employee benefits spending outside the United States exceeding $3 million. Marsh said the cell captive model is intended to provide access to captive insurance arrangements while reducing administrative requirements associated with establishing a standalone captive. 

"With the continued trend of rising global healthcare costs, organizations are focused on how to balance cost management while still providing valued, personalized employee benefit programs across the world," Paul Lewis, multinational advisory growth leader at Mercer Marsh Benefits, said. "By reducing the administrative effort and costs associated with utilizing a single parent captive, Marsh Nexus is a cost-efficient vehicle that complements broader benefits strategies and supports multinational organizations in optimizing next-generation employee benefit programs." 

The launch reflects broader growth in the use of captives for international employee benefits. According to Marsh, the number of organizations using captives for such programs has more than doubled over the past 5 years, with more than 140 companies collectively accounting for more than $3 billion in premium. 

"The use of captives for international employee benefits has more than doubled in the last 5 years, and more than 140 companies now have in excess of $3 billion in premium," Donna Weber, global pooling and cell facilities leader at Marsh Captive Solutions, said. "Through the power of Marsh—the world's largest captive insurance manager—Marsh Nexus enables clients to take an off-the-shelf, low-cost approach to risk retention and break new ground in managing mounting international employee benefits costs."