Have a sense for how much you (vs. employees) will contribute.

Monthly premiums -- the amount paid to the insurance company for coverage -- are typically shared by employer and employees, and how that cost is divvied up is an employer-controlled component.

Consider that an employer’s contribution does not need be the same for single and family coverage. When it comes to national averages, employers typically cover about 82% of single employee premiums and 71% of family premiums.1

Understand what employees’ value most in a policy.

Employees’ preference for things like deductibles or copay levels can be influenced by their age, family size and financial situation. Also consider the doctors and hospitals they want in their network, and gauge interest in offerings like prescription drug plans or wellness programs.

Our sample health benefits survey , opens new window can help identify what’s important to your employees.

Look beyond the premium when comparing plans.

Group health insurance includes many moving parts, such as premiums, copayments, deductibles and coinsurance, that all work together to contribute to the bottom line. A higher premium generally means a lower deductible, or the amount an employee must pay toward medical costs before insurance kicks in.

And don’t forget the co-payments that go along with medical visits – they can add up if employees see a doctor frequently. For the true picture, estimate what you will pay and what your employees might pay with each plan choice.

Add vision and dental benefits to the mix – more choice, not more cost.

By offering dental and vision coverage employers can add choices to the benefits table without a corresponding increase in their expenses. How? Employees often pay the full cost of voluntary benefits, but enjoy the advantage of group rates for the benefits when offered through their workplace.

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Sources

  1. “2019 Employer Health Benefits Survey,” Kaiser Family Foundation, last accessed September 27, 2019, https://www.kff.org/health-costs/report/2019-employer-health-benefits-survey/, opens new window

This material provided is a general summary and does not address all your organization’s specific issues. This material is for informational purposes only. It is not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, as legal advice or a legal opinion. It should not be relied upon in lieu of consultation with your own legal advisors. Insurance and tax laws and interpretations of those laws are complex and subject to change. None of the information herein is intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding taxes or penalties that may be imposed.

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