This guide is intended to help you write a proposal for a health insurance plan for your business. It will walk you through the process of writing a proposal and help you avoid common mistakes.
## Introduction
Health insurance is a critical part of running a business. If you do not have health insurance for your employees, you could be fined by the IRS for not providing minimum essential coverage. You may also be subject to penalties if you fail to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate, which requires employers with 50 or more full-time employees to offer affordable health insurance to their employees or pay a penalty.
If your business is self-insured, you are responsible for paying the full cost of your employees’ health insurance. Self-insurance can be expensive and time-consuming, so it is important to make sure you are getting the best value for your money. This guide will help you decide which type of health insurance is right for you and your business, and how to write the best proposal for your insurance needs.
## Types of Health Insurance Plans
There are three main types of business health insurance plans:
1. Self-funded plans: This is the most common type of plan. In this plan, the employer pays the entire cost of the health insurance coverage for their employees.
2. Third-party administrator (TPA): This plan is similar to the self-funded plan, except that the employer has contracted with a TPA to administer the plan. The TPA is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the plan, such as paying claims and providing administrative services.
3. HSA: An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account that can be used to pay for health care expenses. You can contribute up to $3,400 per year to an HSA, and you can use the money in your HSA for any qualified medical expenses, including doctor visits, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. You are not required to use the HSA money for medical care, but if you do, it will be tax-deductible. You must be enrolled in a high deductible health plan (HDHP) or a health savings account (HSA) to take advantage of the tax benefits associated with HSAs. You cannot contribute to a Health Savings Account if you are enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan that does not meet the requirements of an HDHP or HSA.
4. Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs): HRAs are similar to HSAs in that you can contribute money to the HRA and use it for medical expenses. However, unlike HSAs, the money you contribute to your HRA cannot be used for non-medical expenses. The money in an HRA is not tax deductible, but you may be able to take a tax deduction for any medical expenses that you pay out of pocket.
5. Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): A PPO is a type of managed care plan that allows you to choose a network of doctors and hospitals that you want your employees to use. You pay a monthly premium for the PPO plan, and your employees pay a copay for each doctor or hospital visit.
6. Point-of-Service (POS) plan: A POS plan is an alternative to a PPO. In a POS plan, your employees can choose any doctor and hospital they want to use, but they pay a higher monthly premium.
7. Deductible: The deductible is the amount of money your employees must pay for their health care before their health insurance starts to pay.
8. Premium: Premium is the monthly cost of a health plan.
9. Co-pay: Co-pay is the portion of the medical bill that the employee must pay after the deductible has been met.
10. Out of Pocket Maximum (OOP): OOP is the maximum amount your employees will pay for medical services before their insurance begins to cover the bill.
11. Copay: Copay is the percentage of a medical bill you must pay before your insurance will cover the rest of the cost.
12. Medical Savings Account (MSA): An MSA is an account that your employees use to pay medical bills. Your employees can contribute to the MSA on a pre-tax basis.
13. High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs): HDHPs are health plans that have a higher deductible than traditional health plans, but have lower monthly premiums.
14. Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC): MEC is the minimum level of coverage required by the ACA.
15. Catastrophic Health Insurance (CHI): CHI is an insurance plan that is designed to protect your employees from catastrophic health care costs.