For decades, companies large and small have offered group health insurance to their employees. Not only does a good health plan help a company attract and retain quality employees, it can create a healthier, more productive workforce.

The amount an employer spends on group health insurance is, of course, tax deductible as a business expense. Additionally, any amount an employee pays for health insurance and other benefits through a section 125 Premium Only Plan lowers the employee’s taxable income and, thus, lowers the employer’s payroll taxes.

Employees do appreciate the benefits their companies offer, especially the group health plan, and benefit not only from the employer contribution to premium but also from the company’s buying power—employees and their family members often end up with a better plan for a lower price than they could obtain in the individual market.

For all these reasons, most employers have tried to hang on to their group health plans even as premiums increase on an annual basis. The Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law back in 2010, has certainly had an impact on those premiums, but it affects employer plans in many other ways. Large employers, for instance, are now required to offer coverage to full-time employees or face a big tax penalty. With the employer mandate requirement, the definition of “full-time employee” has changed as well to include all employees working 30 hours per week or more. There are also new compliance and reporting requirements that are confusing and frustrating to employers.

In short, there are a lot of great reasons for a company to offer health insurance to its employees, but it’s also a lot more costly and time-consuming than it used to be. That’s why employers need a great benefits advisor that can help them find the right plan or plans for their employees while making sure they’re complying with all of the new laws.

At JME Insurance Agency, we’re employee benefits experts. Our experiences agents can help your company not only with your group health plan but with all of your employee benefits needs. Contact us today to learn more.

Next to health insurance, dental insurance is probably the most popular employee benefit, and for that reason it’s something every employee should at least consider.

While many employees are healthy and may rarely use their health coverage, almost all employees—along with their family members—take advantage of the dental benefit. At about a tenth of the price of health insurance, group dental coverage is a great way for a company to spend its benefits dollars.

There are a number of great dental insurance companies to choose from, and the plan designs range from preventive only to comprehensive DHMO (dental health maintenance organizations) with contracted provider networks to passive PPOs and indemnity plans. The covered benefits, waiting periods, and annual maximums also differ from plan to plan, which can make it confusing for a company to compare all its options.

JME Insurance Agency can help simplify this process. Our licensed agents will explain how dental insurance works, shop the market and present you with a number of options, and help you select a plan that’s right for your employees.

One of the best ways a company can use its group buying power is to purchase life and disability insurance for its employees. A lot of people don’t have any life insurance, even though everyone needs it, and those that do have it usually don’t have enough. Even fewer people have disability coverage, even though a short- or long-term disability can be financially devastating for a family.

The good news is that group life and disability insurance is very budget-friendly. It’s a great way for a company to round out its benefit package and make sure that its employees are taken care of.

JME Insurance Agency works with several leading life and disability insurance companies, and we would be happy to talk with you about your options.

There are three types of tax-advantaged accounts employers can set up to help their employees with their eligible medical expenses. Each of these accounts has certain advantages, but there are also rules about how to set up and administer the accounts. That’s why JME Insurance works with some great third party administrators (TPAs) to make sure your plan is set up correctly and beneficial for your employees.