What is Small Group Health Insurance?
Group Health insurance is provided by employers to pay for acute health care. Health insurance protects employees and their families from paying the full cost of medical services when injured or sick.
- It protects an individual’s exposure from catastrophic illnesses likes cancer treatments, transplants, and serious medical conditions
- It provides coverage in the hospital; for diagnostic testing; for second opinions; and for surgeries both in and out of the hospital
- It provides for speech, occupational, physical, chiropractic and mental health therapy treatments
- It provides for hospice care
- It provides for prescription benefits
How We Help
- We will help employers select appropriate group plans, decide levels of employer contributions, and educate employees on their plan benefits
- We will review plans annually to make sure the employer has the best company and product for their employees
- We will be there to advise with billing and claims
FAQ
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What is Small Group Health Insurance?
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Group Health insurance is provided by employers to pay for acute health care. Health insurance protects employees and their families from paying the full cost of medical services when injured or sick.
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What are the Options for a Small Employer?
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There are multiple insurance companies offering health insurance for the small employer. Employers will want to discuss these questions when obtaining group insurance:
- Which insurance company has the best network to meet your needs?
- Are out-of-network benefits important?
- Do you have employees living in multiple states?
- Would you like to offer a variety of plans?
- What percentage contribution will you pay?
- Will you cover just the employees or dependent coverage as well?
Health insurance is complicated. It is important to work with a specialist who can help answer these questions.
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Do I Need to Contribute the Same Percentage for Each Employee?
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No, an employer may choose to separate their employees into different classes to provide different levels of contribution.
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What is the Employer’s Responsibility When an Employee is Terminated?
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Upon termination, an employer has the obligation to offer either Cobra or their state’s continuation of coverage option. If an employee elects to continue health coverage, it is that employee’s obligation to pay 100% of the cost of health insurance. There will be no lapse in coverage and therefore, no pre-existing conditions.
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When Can an Employee go onto Their Employer’s Plan?
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Group Policies have an open enrollment period at the policy anniversary allowing new and previously waived employees to join the plan without any medical questions. Newly hired employees can join the employers’ plan after satisfying the elimination period set by the employer.
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What are the Qualifying Life Events That Allow Employees to Change Their Group Coverage With Their Employer Without Pre-Existing Conditions?
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Changes in family status including the following:
- Getting married
- Getting divorced
- Having a baby
- Child turning 26
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What if the Company has Employees in Multiple States?
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There are many carriers who have national networks and can accommodate employees around the country.
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Can a Married Couple who Work Together get a Group Policy?
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A small group policy must be at least 2 employees working full-time but they cannot be a husband and wife. It can be a parent and child working full time.