The No-Stress Guide to Health Insurance for Small Teams
1. Yes,
Coverage Starts With Just One Employee
Many
owners believe the magic number is twenty or fifty before anything decent shows
up. Not true. The moment one non-spouse W-2 employee joins the payroll,
small-group plans become available. The sweet spot sits between two and fifty
people, where rates stay low, and carriers actually compete for the business.
2. The
Four Plans That Actually Matter
Only
four options appear again and again, and that simplicity helps:
·
HMO delivers the lowest monthly cost, but keeps everyone
inside a tight network with referrals required.
·
PPO costs more each month and gives complete freedom to see
any doctor without referrals, which is why most teams choose it.
·
EPO works like PPO but cuts out-of-network coverage except
for emergencies.
·
High-deductible plans paired with HSAs bring the cheapest
premiums and let everyone set aside pre-tax money for medical bills.
Teams
usually land on PPO for peace of mind or the high-deductible route for maximum
cash-flow relief and tax advantages. Either choice works beautifully.
3. How the
Cost Ends Up Far Lower Than Expected
Every
dollar contributed toward premiums is 100% tax-deductible. Companies with fewer
than twenty-five employees and reasonable average wages can claim a federal tax
credit that covers up to 50% of the employer contribution. Many businesses
literally cut the real cost in half with that credit alone.
Premium
financed life insurance fits perfectly into
the same conversation because both strategies are heavily tax-advantaged, yet
the health plan alone often pays for itself through lower turnover and higher
productivity within the first year or two.
4. The
Quiet Advantage That Keeps Great People For Years
Think
about the best person on the team. Now imagine that person getting a better
offer tomorrow that includes full family coverage. Without benefits, they walk.
With strong coverage already in place, that offer loses its power. People stay
longer, refer their friends, and give more effort when they know their health
is protected. Strong benefits quietly become the single best retention tool
available.
5. The
Fastest Way to Get It Done Without Drama
Work
with a broker who specializes only in small groups. Ask for recent examples of
businesses they placed; good ones answer immediately. Decide the contribution
level (most competitive companies cover 75-100% of the individual premium).
Choose the plan, sign the paperwork, and roll it out to the team. The entire
process usually wraps up in ten to fourteen days from first call to the start
date.
The
team makes the business run every single day. Giving them real health coverage
is not an extra expense or a nice-to-have. It is the foundation that makes
growth, loyalty, and peace of mind possible. Set it up once, set it right, and
everything else becomes easier.
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