Wholesale Discount Healthcare Programs for Human Resources Professionals
Friday, April 10th, 2009Discount Healthcare Programs: Why Purchasing Discount Healthcare Benefits Plans For Your Employees or Organization Members At Wholesale Prices Is A Reasonable Solution.
Everyone is aware of the crisis in health care today. The ever-escalating expenses, plus other rising costs faced by Companies, Associations, and Non-Profit Organizations all across America make it difficult to meet budget requirements. Businesses, as well as Non-Profits, are reducing or eliminating health care benefits for employees, staff, and/or members daily. Reducing, or in many cases, eliminating employee health and insurance benefits is anything but a morale booster.
However, there is a reasonable solution available which allows any organization the opportunity to provide bundled discount health care benefits packages (including: dental, vision, prescription, medical, hearing, long term care, plus much more) to employees, associates, staff, members, etc., at a substantially reduced monthly rate while still allowing the individual employee or member control over their own plan use, provider selection, services and costs.
One can no longer ignore the value of a bona-fide discount healthcare plan as a sensible cost cutting solution, especially for those with high annual out-of-pocket health care expenses. Discount plans offer a wide variety of benefits to individuals, members or employees. Because discount benefits plans are not insurance, they are inexpensive to own and have no restrictions as to age or conditions.
Discount benefits plans work especially well for temporary workers who may not qualify for normal benefits. The real, as well as perceived, value of discount benefits plans is high and will significantly add to your retention rates. This is especially true for membership organizations.
There is no free lunch, but paying less for it certainly makes economic sense.
A Few Points to Consider:
- What kind of discount and customer satisfaction guarantee is offered?
- Is the plan available in all 50 states, if required?
- What is the track record of customer service after the sale?
- Will the plan private label and custom design fulfillment kits?
Voluntary vs. Non-Voluntary Plans
The Secret Key - How to know the difference and what to expect
1. Voluntary plans allow each individual member or employee the option to participate and pay for their own plan. The advantage is that there is virtually no cost to the company. The drawback is that plans set up in this manner typically draw rather low participation rates. Because of this, even if you have a very large group, discounts to normal plan costs tend to be minimal.
2. Non-voluntary plans are paid for monthly by the sponsoring organization, or company, for the benefit of the member or employee. This is when a company pays for a part or all of the cost of the benefit. As you would expect, the more the company pays, the larger the participation rate by the members / employees. In this type situation, generous discounts to normal plan pricing can be negotiated. The bigger the number of employees / members that can be guaranteed to participate on a monthly basis, the bigger the discount. Don’t overlook the tax deductions of a non-voluntary plan.
Best Discount Benefits will help you achieve significant savings on a wide variety of health, wellness, and other employee benefits. Let us help you enhance the value of being an employee or member of your organization.