Florida Group Health Insurance Blog

Group health benefit administrators and managers can make their employees aware of some money saving tips when using their health insurance.

It may be a good idea to do a seminar or send out a refresher to employees so they remember how their plan can help their wallet, not hurt it.

Here are the biggest tips to save:

Use in-network doctors. Doctors, hospitals, outpatient testing, treatment, and surgery centers that are in-network will save a lot of money. Most insurers offer online and telephone directories to target in-network providers that will equal cost savings.

Ask your doctor about the best care for the best price. Doctors often have more than one drug to treat medical conditions and illnesses. When you chat with your doctor about benefits, see if there are generic options that will help you the same, but cost less. Many plans also offer mail order pharmacy options that have discounts on prescriptions. And with many drugs now available in similar formulas over the counter, see if your doctor recommends any of these more affordable medications.

Call before you run to the doctor. You can sometimes avoid the expense and hassle of going to the doctor if you need a medication or consultation on a lab follow up. Many doctors will fax a prescription refill to your pharmacy and they or their nurses will discuss the results of lab tests over the phone. Both can save patients money on copays and time.

Go to the most appropriate doctor for medical concerns. Retail clings in department, grocery, and drug stores have convenient, quick, and even weekend care in some stores. But patients should check their benefits coverage to see if the costs are on par with their primary doctor. Equally as important is deciding on whether or not to go to the emergency room. Patients should call their health plan’s nurse line or doctor’s office to see if a trip to the ER is going to worth the big cost and potential wait time. Many people go to the ER for back pain, fevers, and nausea that are slowing down the staff’s ability to address more serious illness and injuries. So if a hospital visit is necessary, be sure to check that the hospital is in-network. Just because your doctors works at that hospital or has admitting privileges does not mean that the hospital is covered under your plan. So check coverage and even estimate costs on many of the provider’s web calculators before you go if possible.

Read medical bills and invoices. Billing errors do happen, so review the cost when checking out at the doctor and when the invoice comes in the mail. Adjustments after you have visited the doctor will affect your wallet, so keep a file and call your insurer to double check that you are paying the correct amount.

Seek out the best provider when it comes to specialized exams. Services at labs can cost dramatically less than those done at hospital facilities. Same goes for pathology tests, MRIs and CT scans, as well as colonoscopy, endoscopy, and arthroscopy tests. An insurer will have online cost calculators and provider listings that will give greater value than a hospital visit.

Focus on preventive health, not just current problems. Regular physicals, screenings, and immunizations will help ward off problems before they start. Providers oftentimes list recommended tests and schedules for children and adults. Patients save a lot of money taking care of the health versus ending up with a chronic condition that can affect their lifestyle and wallet dramatically.

Reviewing your insurance provider and their benefits will help employers know that they have the best plan for their employees. This means a lot of savings for their workers and confidence in their benefits package.

Bradley Palmer is with Grouphealthflorida.com offering Florida Group Health Insurance. To learn more about group health insurance, visit http://www.grouphealthflorida.com.

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Every business might be wise to consider providing group health insurance to their employees. Group health insurance, of course, is a good incentive for attracting top-level workers.

Even the smallest small business may be able to offer this perk to its employees.

Florida’s Small Business Health Insurance Regulations

In the Sunshine State, health insurance regulations mandate that Florida health insurance policy providers make a group health insurance policy available to any small business. How is a small business defined? A small business in Florida must be legitimate and must have at least two employees, yet no more than 50.

State regulators like to make it a level playing field for small businesses. Florida health insurance laws require that the same small group health insurance policy sold to one business must be made available to other small businesses, too.

Other Requirements

However, Florida health insurance companies are able to set up minimum participation requirements for the group policy, meaning that if a certain percentage of the company does not opt in, the policy offer can be withdrawn.

Also, price can vary widely, depending on a number of factors related to the makeup of the group, including age and gender, but not health status. It is important to note that small businesses are protected in another way, too. Health insurance regulations state that policies cannot be canceled because one of the members falls ill.

Aside from the peace of mind that comes with providing medical care for you and your employees, a small business health insurance plan spreads the financial risk between all members. This results in lower premiums.

Of course, it is important for employers to make sure they have properly considered all options before selecting a final plan. If an employer is looking to provide insurance for its employees, it is necessary to seek quotations from more than one insurance company and compare the various health plans that are being shown.

If you are a small business considering purchasing group health insurance, it is important to speak at length with agents from various health insurance providers.

Bradley Palmer is with Grouphealthflorida.com offering Florida Group Health Insurance. To learn more about group health insurance, visit http://www.grouphealthflorida.com.

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Every small business should consider providing group health insurance. After all, it is a good incentive that will attract and retain high-quality workers. It can add peace of mind, while providing group purchasing power that can save individuals a large amount of money in the event of an unforeseen accident or illness.

But if you are a small church group, you are in a special situation. Typically, you employ no more than two-dozen people while enjoying non-profit status. Sometimes churches are able to buy into a plan under a national umbrella network set up by their specific denomination. This can make it easy and affordable for small church groups to reap the benefits of a larger group health-insurance purchasing pool, thereby reducing individual premiums.

What if you do not have that option of buying into a national affiliate, however? There are several group health insurance providers who can provide options for your particular situation. The provider can work with you and take into consideration such factors as your church’s aging workforce and its small number of employees.

They can help set up a plan with premiums that are to your liking.

“Although your church group may have a small number of people to cover, you will still be able to take advantage of group rates that reduce the price of health insurance coverage to each individual,” said Thomas Kaspar of Group Health Florida.

Sometimes, insurance providers have packages designed specifically for small church groups.

Churches do share some similarities with other small businesses seeking group health insurance. As with any situation, it is important for employers to make sure they have properly considered all options before selecting a final plan. If an employer is looking to provide insurance for its employees, it is necessary to seek quotations from more than one insurance company and compare the various health plans that are being shown.

“There are several ways, too, that employers – churches or otherwise – can help control the cost of providing group health insurance,” Kaspar said. “These include increasing the employee’s out-of-pocket costs through higher deductibles or co-payments. One can also consider the splitting of monthly premiums between employers and employees.”

If you are a church group considering purchasing group health insurance, it is important to speak at length with agents from various health insurance providers.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

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Do you work on a freelance basis? Do you feel like maybe you should take a 9 to 5 job just to have the security of knowing you are covered by health insurance?

With a little digging around, it may be possible to keep that freelance arrangement while finding a membership group in your industry or trade that allows you to purchase health care coverage as part of a group.

Some membership groups, such as those catering to freelance writers, have chapters in Florida and other states. By joining one, you can receive huge savings on your individual premiums. Sometimes the buying power even extends beyond health plans to include dental, vision, life and disability.

Many local chambers of commerce offer group purchasing power to those who work for themselves. Ditto for the National Association for the Self-Employed, a group that has offered support for micro-businesses and the self-employed since 1981. NASE works with more than half a dozen companies in Florida alone who can offer health insurance.

Check, also, with a national association that pertains to your particular career. There may be low-cost options for purchasing into a group health plan.

Finding a membership organization may allow you to keep your freelance lifestyle – where you may enjoy the benefits of working from home in your pajamas – and refrain from joining the 9 to 5 cubicle crowd solely for the sake of your health.

As with any important buying decision, it pays to shop around and ask lots of questions. How high will your deductible and co-payments be? Will you be covered for preventative visits?

Large employers offer group health insurance because it can add a peace of mind for its staff, while helping to attract and retain valuable employees. But if working for yourself is what you prefer, don’t fret. With a little research, you will likely find a way to stay covered via a group plan.

For more information about buying into a group health insurance plan as a freelancer, it may help to contact individual insurance providers for recommendations.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

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One of the most appreciated perks for staff is a Florida group health insurance option. As a formal benefit, this is quite popular.

If your business is large enough, you may get to the point where you want to bring in formal benefits for your workers. This could be any one of any number of things, ranging from a company life insurance option, income protection for employees or better yet, a staff group health insurance plan. This is usually something that gets their attention and appreciation. After all, who doesn’t have a need for health insurance?

Many of the health insurance policies you can get today offer a reward of some type for living a healthy lifestyle; something many Americans have to forego to put food on their tables. The diets these days have swung to pastas and other low priced, fatty meals. However, a Florida group health policy in place at work may give a worker a new lease on life, and perhaps points earned for exercising, healthier eating and an overall effort to improve their lifestyle to make it healthier. Accrued points may result in reduced premiums. There are a wide variety of options on the market today, and talking to an experienced group health insurance agent will help you choose what will work for your organization.

The first thing to work out before you get a group health insurance plan is a budget. Once that is done, stick to your guns and maximize it to your company’s benefit, as well. There are plans out there that offer the basics only (inpatient coverage for a stay in hospital) and mid-range plans that may cover inpatient care and some outpatient coverage. If you want a totally comprehensive plan, you can get those as well, and they would cover most medical processes from start to finish.

Once you know what kind of coverage you want to offer your employees, you will want to keep the premiums at a reasonable level, or offer a higher level of coverage. Here, you will also be dealing with an excess – meaning what part of the claim the worker has to pay for treatment per year. If the excess is fairly high, the premiums are lower. You will need to work out what would be in the best interests of your employees and yet not too pricey. No one said running a business and having to choose Florida group health insurance options was going to be easy. If you need help, just call an experienced group health insurance agent for hints, tips and free advice, and a policy of course.

Bradley Palmer is with Grouphealthflorida.com offering Florida Group Health Insurance. To learn more about group health insurance, visit http://www.grouphealthflorida.com.

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Providing group life insurance to employees is a good incentive that will attract and retain high quality candidates. With a small investment, employers can offer their employees peace of mind and make their company benefits package more appealing.

For many people, securing life insurance can be a long and complicated process. Those that apply for policies are often faced with mountains of paperwork and come to fear the prospect of failing the physical exam and having to pay exorbitant premiums. Because of the difficulties individuals often face when applying for life insurance policies, employer provided group life insurance can be an attractive offer for current and potential employees. The peace of mind of knowing that dependents will be provided for in the event of an early death is one of the simplest but most highly valued benefits available to employees.

Group life insurance premiums are generally considerably lower than premiums for individual life insurance policies. This is mainly due to the fact that group life insurance is much less of a risk for the insurance company, as insurance companies base group life premiums on the overall risk of the company or on the group of employees. With a group life insurance policy, the insurance company does not perform medical underwriting on an individual basis, as it usually does with individual policies. Instead, employers may be asked a series of simple medical questions about the characteristics of the group as a whole (e.g., size, stability, and group makeup) and this information will be used to determine the group’s eligibility.

For most companies, the risk factor of obtaining life insurance for employees is low because everyone in a company is not likely to die at once. In fact, due to employee turnover rates, the chance that anyone will die while working at the employer’s company is relatively small. Employers can give employees extra peace of mind with little cost. Because group life insurance is typically bundled with group health insurance, the insurance company’s sales and administrative costs are minimal. With such low administrative costs, the savings can be passed on to the consumer.

When an employer offers his or her employees group life insurance, it is very important that the employer makes his or her employees aware that group life insurance is not intended to replace their individual life insurance policies. Group plans should be considered as supplemental policies and typically provide coverage from $10,000 to one year of salary of the insured’s policy. A year’s salary will not be a sufficient amount to support the employee’s survivors or dependents on occasion of the employee’s death.

When searching for group health insurance policies, employers should consider adding group life insurance. Offering life insurance can be a cost-effective method of attracting and retaining quality employees.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

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Deciding on a health care plan for your company isn’t something that should be done lightly. Especially since, aside from paid vacation, health care coverage is the most important benefit for employees.

Managed care plans usually cover a wide range of health services such as preventive care and immunizations for adults and children, general checkups, diagnosis and treatment of illness (including any necessary tests, doctors’ visits, prescription medications, and hospital care) and complete prenatal and newborn care. In addition, some managed care plans offer some services for the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions and substance abuse problems.

Due to the rising costs of healthcare, small business owners are likely to choose from one of two types of managed care plans for their employees. These two types of managed health care plans are—health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs).

Usually, an HMO is the most affordable type of managed health care plan for employers and employees. An HMO will provide full reimbursement for most health care services, as long as employees visit approved, in-network doctors and hospitals for their medical needs. Employers who elect an HMO will have to choose a primary care physician (PCP). Health care providers within the HMO network are then encouraged to limit their fees in exchange for a guaranteed number of patients.

PPOs, on the other hand, are less restrictive in terms of choosing a doctor, but they are usually more costly for employees and employers. PPOs will generally cover network doctor visits with some type of copayment. With a PPO, employees are generally required to pay more costs upfront and are not fully reimbursed when they visit doctors and hospitals out of the network. PPOs control costs by balancing employees’ freedom of choice against their out-of-pocket expenses.

When reviewing these managed care options for employees, you should consider the following questions:

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Are the providers located conveniently for employees?
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What doctors, hospitals and other providers are part of the plan?
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Are there deductibles to pay before the insurance kicks in?
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Does the plan require referrals for specialists?
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Are there limits to how much will be covered by the plan?
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How much does it cost to see a provider outside the plan?

Considering these questions before choosing a health care plan can help you give employees the type of coverage they want. Choosing the right kind of plan for your employees will allow you to attract and hold a capable work force.

Bradley Palmer is with Grouphealthflorida.com offering Florida Group Health Insurance. To learn more about group health insurance, visit http://www.grouphealthflorida.com.

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The IRS has announced changes to health savings accounts contribution limits for 2011. Due to a cost of living, contribution limits will remain as they are in 2010.

According to a census of insurance firms that America’s Health Insurance Plans released last month, more than 10 million U.S. residents are covered by health savings accounts (HSAs). These plans allow individuals to contribute thousands of pre-tax dollars to HSAs, which participants may spend on health care needs or roll over indefinitely. HSA accounts were initially chosen by consumers who might otherwise go without insurance because of its high cost or their good health, but the recent rise has been fueled by more companies and their employees opting for the plans. Choosing these plans does shift the risk onto the patient but offers less-expensive premiums than traditional coverage.

Recently, the IRS released the 2011 cost-of -living adjusted HSA contribution limits. Individuals must have a high deductible plan in order to qualify to make an HSA contribution. HSA contribution limits, along with high-deductible health plan (HDHP) deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, will stay the same as they are in 2010. This decision is due to the cost-of-living remaining flat. After the application of the cost-of-living adjustment rules, the changes in the Consumer Price Index for the relevant period did not result in any changes to the HSA amounts for 2011.
Under Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 2010-22:

The annual HSA contribution limit for employee-only coverage will remain at $3,050 ($6,150 for family coverage).

The minimum deductible for employee-only HDHP coverage will remain at $1,200 ($2,400 for family coverage)

The limit on maximum out-of-pocket expenses (including deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance but not premiums) for employee-only coverage will remain at $5,950 ($11,900 for family coverage).
The catch-up contribution limit, for individuals who are 55 or older, will remain at $1,000.

While most of the HSA limits will stay the same, one significant change that will occur in 2011 is the penalty on taxable, non-medical distributions. The penalty for 2010 is 10% and this will increase to 20% starting in 2011.

Bradley Palmer is with Grouphealthflorida.com offering Florida Group Health Insurance. To learn more about group health insurance, visit http://www.grouphealthflorida.com.

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While many believe that employee paid group health insurance only has great benefits for employees, it can also have great benefits for employers. Employers can use this benefit as a means of attracting employees.

Having a group health policy available for employees is a great way for employees to build their reputation as an employer of choice. Potential job seekers will more likely be attracted to a company that offers health benefits than one that does not. Employers who choose to offer a benefit package will then be able to attract the top professionals in the field.

In addition, offering group health insurance will help with employee retention. Employees who have benefits are less likely to leave a job that offers good benefits. While some employees may be tempted to leave their job for one that offers higher pay, they would be more likely to stay at a job with lower pay and good benefits rather than taking a higher paying job with little or no benefits.

Another benefit of purchasing group health insurance for employees is that it will help to keep employees healthy. People who have medical insurance will be healthier than those who go without it. They will take the opportunity to engage in preventative health measures, as it will be covered by their benefits. Also, if employees do get sick, they will be able to see a doctor and recover faster than those who are not able to see a doctor for lack of benefits. This means that they will miss less time from work and can be more productive.

Finally, offering employers insurance through a group plan offers businesses opportunities for tax breaks. Under the new health care bill, small businesses are eligible for tax breaks for offering coverage to their employees.

While getting group coverage for employees can be expensive for employers, it will actually pay off in the long run. Contact a licensed insurance agent who can provide your small business with information about group health policies.

To learn more visit: http://www.grouphealthflorida.com

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If you own a business and are looking for an affordable group insurance plan that has versatile coverage, then a group point-of-service (POS) plan could be an option for you. POS plans are a form of managed care hybrid plans, and are similar to group HMO plans or group PPO plans.

A basic principle governs POS plans: employees get lower medical costs in exchange for restricting their health care choices. A group POS plan will give your employees the option to decide when, where, and how they receive benefits and will give them control over their out-of-pocket expenses.

Group POS plans operate using a “two-level” benefits system: in-plan and out-of-plan. In-plan refers to the care received from a list of doctors who are in the plan’s pre-approved network. Out-of-plan refers to care received from doctors who have not been pre-approved and are thus not in the network. In-plan care provides employees with savings, while out-of-plan care can provide flexibility and freedom in choosing the right healthcare provider.

Group POS plans are not the right choice for all employers and employees, so employers must carefully weigh the benefits and disadvantages of the plan before making a choice.

Some advantages of group POS plans are:

Employees will not be limited to network care providers.

For in-network care, co-payments will be low and the plan’s deductible will not be applied.

Out-of-pocket costs for employees will be limited.

Employees will have more freedom than members of other managed care plans.

Employees will not need a referral from their primary caregiver for any necessary, emergency services.

Some disadvantages of group POS plans are:

Co-payments for any out-of-network care employees receive will be high.

The plan deductible will be applied to employees’ out-of-network care.

Employees may experience problems getting a referral to a specialist.

If employees are traveling outside of the plan’s network-area or have a dependent living outside of it, benefits will cost more out-of-pocket.

Choosing a group POS plan may be the right choice for your employees. A licensed Florida insurance agent can help you decide if this type of plan is right for your employees.

Bradley Palmer is with Grouphealthflorida.com offering Florida Group Health Insurance. To learn more about group health insurance, visit http://www.grouphealthflorida.com.

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