Time to Offer Small Business Health Insurance?

Sponsored – When Wayne Leuning puts out an ad to hire an employee, the benefits package is prominent: health insurance 100 percent paid for by employer.

At any given time, Leuning employs 20 to 25 people at D&W Industries. The Sioux Falls-based company builds grain elevators and other agriculture structures. For more than 20 years, the company has not only offered health insurance but also paid 100 percent of the premium cost for its employees.

“Competition is high in the construction industry for good employees,” Leuning said. “Everybody has to offer health insurance. We have a much better plan, and that’s a real perk. I have guys that stay with me because of the insurance.”

If you have two or more employees you are eligible for small business health insurance. In a state with a roughly 3-3.5% unemployment rate, employers like Leuning need to think beyond salary as a recruitment tool.

Increasingly, employers are looking to other benefits to recruit and keep employees. As people continue to pay more for health care, health insurance is an important consideration when deciding to leave or take a new job.

In fact, 90 percent of employees said benefits were important to their job satisfaction, according to a report by the Society for Human Resource Management.

“When a company looks at the benefits that attract and retain employees, health insurance is the biggest driver next to actual take-home salary,” said Jordan Anderson, vice president of sales and account management at Avera Health Plans. “But it’s also not the only consideration. Depending on your industry, your employees may have other needs — dental vision, 401(k) and gym reimbursements, for example.”

Benefit trends include:

· Fitness incentives or discounts.

· Virtual care options for easier and faster access to providers.

· Plan options that include high-deductible health plans.

· Employee culture such as employee lunches, wellness challenges, flexible scheduling.

· Mental health coverage — Employee Assistance Programs.

Leuning offers a benefit-rich plan for small groups since he switched to a small-business plan with Avera Health Plans. His employees have a $2,000 deductible with perks that include no cost to use AveraNow virtual visits, fitness center membership discounts and other health care discounts.

For his employees, the more affordable cost and quality coverage is the greatest benefit.

“It’s important for me to give our guys insurance,” Leuning said. “We want to give our guys the best benefits for the buck. Our premium went down when we switched to Avera Health Plans, so I thought if I can offer better insurance and save money, that’s a win-win.”

Avera Health Plans could save you up to 30% on small business health insurance. Get a quote today.