Group health insurance is bought by large corporations and other organizations and given to its employees or group members. It is usually offered to all group members as an advantage for joining the group. Group health policies cannot be purchased individually and require at least 70 percent membership by group participants.
Employee benefits in group health benefits include paid vacations, medical benefits, group health insurance premiums, group tax credit, group health benefits for participating in group activities, etc. It is the responsibility of an employer to provide his employees with group insurance. For employers to purchase group health insurance for their employees, they must first determine the eligibility of the group members. Eligibility depends on the group member’s age, gender, health status, compensation, group size, geographic location, and other group factors. Thus, before purchasing group insurance, employers must assess their group size and consider these factors.
Benefits of group health insurance plans
The next step is for the employer to decide the benefits of group health insurance plans. They can choose from short-term and long-term benefits. The employees use short-term benefits during a specific time frame, such as leave or the immediate completion of a program. Long-term benefits are usually permanent and provide for more extensive healthcare coverage. Both types of plans must provide benefit flexibility and cost-efficiency.
Deductible or coinsurance payment
Most group health insurance plans offer a choice of deductible or coinsurance payment options. It also has variable costs shared by the employers and employees. One of the most significant advantages of this type of group health insurance plan is that it has a lower premium than individual insurance plans. However, there are some disadvantages. The group, health insurance plan, may not cover specific medical issues like pre-existing conditions, maternity, primary medical or dental care, or prescription drugs.
Fixed premiums for employees
Group health care benefits plan typically has fixed premiums for employees. This premium is generally based on an economic factor like average wages, fringe benefits, and health care coverage provided by an employee’s family. The group, health care benefits plan must provide minimum employee benefits required by the state. To reduce costs, many employers choose to group their employees as small as possible. Thus, group health care benefits are usually offered only to the barest of payroll numbers.
Unlike group medical insurance benefits, group health maintenance insurance premiums are flexible and can be adjusted to suit changing financial circumstances of the company. The company may increase the premiums periodically based on a percentage increase in its gross revenues or adjust the rate per annum to an index reflecting the average premiums in the group. However, the employee pays nothing until they have enrolled in the plan.
Control premiums and deductible amounts
Most large employers now allow their employees to purchase a policy of their own. This will enable them to control premiums and deductible amounts. However, there are still certain restrictions that apply. If the employee joins a group policy within a year of joining the employer group policy, there is no waiting period for a new individual group policy. If employees terminate their employment with the company before enrolling in the new group policy, they must wait until a year after termination. If the employee joins another organization, the waiting period does not apply.
Small business firms have more opportunities
Small business health insurance provides significant advantages over employer group health plans. Employees in small business firms have more opportunities to select a better benefits package. Also, employees belong to an economically stable group and give them access to employer-sponsored group health plans. The employer pays for his employees’ health plans. Therefore, if the company is bankrupt, it is easier to pay employees’ health insurance premiums than smaller businesses.
