It has been reported that over 60% of the U.S. population that has health insurance receives their health care coverage through an employer-sponsored group health insurance plan. Although the health insurance regulations may vary considerably from state to state, there are definite advantages to obtaining your health insurance coverage through an employer using large or small business health insurance plans. In fact, many employees will report that the most important benefit offered to them through their job is health insurance.
At GetMyMedical.com we know it can be confusing and frustrating trying to find the right
group health insurance plan for your business. Many people may not understand exactly how health insurance works and may not be familiar with health insurance terminology.
Group health insurance plans are categorized as either indemnity plans (also known as "traditional indemnity," "fee-for-service," or "FFS" plans) or managed care plans. Indemnity and managed care plans differ in their basic approach. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of providers, out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid.
Your company will probably be eligible for a small business plan if it meets the following criteria:
- Your company consists of at least two full-time owners, officers, partners and/or employees, as verified by officially-filed state quarterly wage and tax statements (DE-6 in California) or annual federal tax return documents;
- Your company is a legitimate business entity (i.e., your company was formed for a purpose other than to obtain insurance), as verified by one of the following documents:
Significant tax advantages may be available to employers who offer group health insurance coverage to their employees. Employers can generally deduct 100% of the health insurance premiums they pay on qualifying group health plans. Providing health insurance coverage to employees as part of a total compensation package may also result in reduced payroll taxes for employers. Additionally, when the employer offers group health coverage, it's possible for an employee's share of the premium to be paid with pre-tax dollars, resulting in tax savings for the employee.
Typically, an employer is required to cover 50% of the employee's monthly premium. In these cases, the employee covers the remainder of his or her own premium and then covers the full premium for any of his or her dependants. Minimum employer contribution levels may differ from state to state and from one insurance company to the next. Also, some employers opt to cover a higher percentage of the employee's monthly premium and sometimes a portion of the premium costs for an employee's dependants.
It's no secret that employees value health insurance benefits. Surveys have shown that workers value health insurance coverage second only to monetary compensation. By offering group health insurance benefits to your employees, you may find it easier to hire and retain the best workers for your company.
