As an employer, you know benefits such as health insurance can attract the best and brightest to your company. The problem with providing health insurance for your workforce is the cost. Healthcare costs are rising all for everyone — for physicians, insurance companies, and consumers. But that doesn't mean there aren’t any affordable options available. It's actually easier to find affordable group health coverage than you might think.

Businesses of all sizes have a variety of group health insurance plans to choose from. These plans range from comprehensive group health coverage to consumer-directed savings plans.

Let's take a look at your group health insurance options.

Consumer-Directed Group Health Plans

Consumer-directed health insurance plans are becoming a popular choice among small and large businesses. They're called “consumer-directed” because the policyholders take control of their healthcare dollars. These plans feature low monthly costs and tax-advantaged savings.

What are some consumer-directed group health plans?

• Health Savings Account (HSA) Plans. An HSA is a bank account where you and your employees can contribute tax-free income to be used for almost any health-related cost. If savings aren’t used, the funds roll over to the next year — and they build interest. Alongside an HSA, your employees will have catastrophic coverage with a high-deductible health plan — which features low monthly premiums to fit your budget.
• Cafeteria Plans. This is a healthcare plan in which your employees decide where their benefit dollars go. They'll choose from a "menu" of coverage options, such as medical, dental, vision, disability, accident, and term life insurance. You and your employees share the cost of benefits with tax-free dollars — making insurance coverage more affordable for everyone. One major difference from an HSA: in a cafeteria plan, the money contributed toward benefits does not roll over — it has to be spent the same year it’s deposited.

Comprehensive Group Health Plans

If you're looking for comprehensive group coverage, what are your most affordable options? Managed care health plans.

Managed care plans create networks of doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals who provide discounted medical care. For you and your workers, that means lower monthly premiums, copayments, and coinsurance.  

Here are the most common managed care group health plans:

• A PPO or Preferred Provider Organization provides comprehensive health benefits from an extensive network of care providers. When your employees receive care from in-network doctors, they'll save money. But they also will have coverage with any physicians or specialists — even if they're not in the preferred network.
• An HMO or Health Maintenance Organization is one of the most affordable group health insurance options available. Your employees must go to doctors within the network and choose a primary care physician, but HMO networks typically include thousands of healthcare professionals in your state.
• A POS or Point of Service group plan is a combination of the HMO and PPO. You'll choose a primary care physician, as you would in an HMO. But you won't have to get a referral for specialist care. Your employees will have coverage with both in and out-of-network doctors and hospitals, just like a PPO.

To learn more and find out which kind of plans are best for your business, get connected with a professional agent.

A Healthier Workforce

When your employees are healthy, your business is healthy. That's why it's important to promote healthy lifestyles for your workforce.

How can you help keep your employees active in staying healthy?

• Look for discounts to gyms and fitness centers.
• Provide programs for quitting smoking, managing weight, and managing chronic illness such as asthma or diabetes.
• Choose healthier snack and beverage options for your vending machines.
• Lead by example — practice healthier habits yourself.

Another key to keeping a healthier workforce is preventive care. Encourage your team to go in for routine doctor's check-ups and physicals. Preventive care can detect and treat illnesses before they turn into serious — and expensive — health conditions. Providing coverage for preventive care now can save your business big bucks down the road.

Exploring Your Group Health Plan Options

By exploring different group plans from multiple leading health insurance companies, you'll be able to compare rates and benefits to find the right coverage for your business.

You can view plans from the top names in group health insurance right here. You can also see which plans are available in your state.

Where can you find most valuable resource for health insurance information? With a professional agent. They can help assess your business' situation to figure out which group plan will be best for your employees — and your budget.

When you use our service at HealthCoverageQuotes.com, licensed agents representing leading carriers will provide you with free quotes.

Just tell us a bit about your business, and we’ll match you with agents who can help. Getting connected is absolutely free. There’s no risk and you have no obligation to buy anything.