YOUR BENEFITS JOURNEY
Re-Imagining Employee Benefits
You were a completely different company when you set up your benefits program. You’ve experienced dramatic growth and change since then. Given how much you’re investing, you’re wondering if it’s time to re-imagine your approach to benefits.
Download our eBook to help you prepare.
Where Are You In Your Benefits Journey?
Your First Benefits Program
You’ve grown your business to where you’re considering an employee benefits plan. You know employee benefits are an important tool for retaining and attracting talent, but you’re not sure if you’re ready.
Refining Your Benefits Program
You’ve had an employee benefits program for several years. You’ve gone through two or three renewals, making minor changes, but you’re not sure if you’re missing out or if you’re getting full value from your investment.
Re-Imagining Employee Benefits
You were a completely different company when you set up your benefits program. You’ve experienced dramatic growth and change since then. Given how much you’re investing, you’re wondering if it’s time to re-imagine your approach to benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many employees do need before we set up a benefits plan?
We’ve helped single individuals set up health benefit plans. However, we generally work with companies with three or more employees. That said, if you’re on your own and you need help with benefits planning, we’ll be happy to help.
How long does it take to set up an employee benefits plan?
A normal timeline to set up a new employee benefits plan is 3-4 weeks.
What does it cost to speak with a benefits consultant?
There are generally no fees to pay when working with a benefits broker. Normally services are paid for by your benefits plan provider. There are some exceptions, but there are never any surprise invoices.
Do I have to offer the same benefits to all my employees?
No, you can establish different classes of employees, where each employee class receives a different level of coverage.
May we split the costs with our employees?
Yes, it is very common to cost-share premium dues with your employees. Employer contributions must equate to a minimum of 50% of the extended health and dental premiums and it is recommended employees cover the insured benefits. There are all kinds of different scenarios to consider.
How often do health benefit plans renew? Should we expect our rates to increase at each renewal?
Renewal periods are generally 12 to 18 months. And yes, your rates are likely to change each time you renew to reflect your actual claims and premium funding history, pooling and inflationary factors.
What about special needs employees, will they be eligible and insurable?
There is no universal answer to this question. Each situation is unique, so your best option is to speak with a benefits expert directly. Please call with special needs questions, and we'll outline the best possible solutions to help you.
What financial risks are we taking on if a plan member needs extremely costly treatment?
The short answer is there is some risk to your business. However, you can control your risk with stop/loss insurance, which is standard on most programs to limit your potential liability. Risk management is an important consideration and one best discussed with your broker directly. There are many different scenarios to consider. Please contact us with questions.
Once our benefits plan has been implemented, can we make any changes to the level of coverage?
Yes, changes to plan design can be made with 30-day notice. It's noteworthy to mention, depending on whether the change is an enhancement or reduction to the current level of coverage, these changes will impact pricing.
How quickly can we set up a benefits plan?
Minimal time. Your broker can do the majority of the "heavy lifting". With that said, collaboration is required to ensure the benefits plan being implemented is the "right fit" for your organization, in addition to some "paperwork" (master group application, etc.) for review and signature for the selected insurer.
