PHOENIX, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2019 open
enrollment deadline in Arizona is
quickly approaching on Dec. 15,
meaning it's crunch time for employers to finalize how they'll
ideally save money for their businesses while also providing better
health benefits for employees. The cumbersome process and rising
costs have left many employers strained and unsatisfied with their
options or recent selections. Gravie (www.gravie.com), a company
that's been reinventing health benefits since 2013, recently
released an eBook, "Better Employee Health Benefits in 2019:
Understanding Your Options as a Small- to Medium-Sized Employer,"
that provides tools and information employers can use to make an
informed decision about their benefits offerings either this year
or next, including some new and innovative options that may be more
affordable than traditional options. Whether they're assessing ways
they can improve health benefits and their bottom line this open
enrollment season or are already thinking ahead to next year's open
enrollment, businesses can take advantage of the surprising number
of options they have available to them, following these four
tips:
- Don't be afraid to change course: While it may be
tempting to simply re-up a plan from last year, evaluating your
options may save you money, time and hassle. Many employers
have been taking a "grin and bear it" approach each year,
continuing to accept the annual rate increases because they are
unaware or don't have time to evaluate other options. For some,
researching anything beyond their traditional approach is
intimidating and overwhelming. But as the status quo becomes
increasingly unfavorable, savvy business owners are investing the
time to evaluate new options.
- Consider contributing to an individual market
solution: For employers who have opted out of a
one-size-fits-all group plan, there are still ways to contribute to
employees' health insurance in a valuable and affordable way. They
may want to consider partnering with a vendor in the industry who
can facilitate defined pre-tax contributions to a plan that
employees choose from an individual and family marketplace.
- Partner with a benefits expert: Choosing and
administering a plan can be cumbersome, but that's only step one.
"Beyond the obvious costs of healthcare, the time spent managing
benefits or helping employees navigate their plan can be a drain on
company resources – especially when those responsibilities fall to
an executive whose main role is not benefits management," says
Gravie CEO, Abir Sen. Employers may
want to partner with an expert in the industry who can answer
questions, provide guidance, keep you compliant throughout the
year.
- Do the homework for next year: "Most people think
about health insurance one week out of the year. It's not something
people enjoy, so they take what their broker shares with them at
face value," Sen says. Instead, Sen recommends employers get a
handle on what resources, plans and models are available to their
businesses, and what costs – direct or indirect – they face
throughout the year, so that they can have a meaningful discussion
with advisors and weigh each option carefully when the time comes
to re-up or change course before 2020. Some upfront research and
measurement can save significant time and money down the road, and
sharing the business' goals for health benefits with an insurance
advisor allows them to provide all of the options available.
Whether businesses or individuals have made their selections for
2019 or not, now is the ideal time to become better educated and
aware of all the resources available for decisions makers for the
coming year.
Gravie's new eBook condenses complex industry language in an
easy-to-read format and helps employers navigate the options they
may not have considered, identifying areas where companies can
reduce and control costs, increase plan options and value for
employees and reduce administrative headaches along the way. The
eBook is available at:
https://blog.gravie.com/employee-health-benefits-gravie-ebook.
About Gravie
Gravie's approach to health benefits is
disrupting traditional models, putting individuals and their health
back at the center in a way that's beneficial to employees
and employers' bottom lines and overall satisfaction. Gravie
was founded on a legacy of innovation with leaders from some of the
most industry-changing healthcare companies who continue to
reinvent and push the status quo to better meet the needs of
individuals and teams today. With expert advisors, smart technology
and a streamlined model, Gravie alleviates much of the headache
associated with choosing and managing a healthcare plan, providing
better options for employees with controlled and reduced costs for
employers. Gravie has served over 900 employers and over 62,000
individuals across the U.S. To learn more visit
www.gravie.com.
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SOURCE Gravie