BAGI Programs

October 12, 2022

It’s October: Get Your Employee Health Insurance Straightened Out Now

If you want to renew or start an employee health insurance plan by January 1, now is the time to reach out to your broker. There is a lot that goes into the process – reviewing your renewal, collecting business and employee data, sending it to the underwriter for approval, and then implementing employee onboarding. While the idea can be daunting, you are not alone! The Wharton & Power Insurance Team has a proven process for timely approvals and personalized […]
September 21, 2022

Employee Health Insurance Options Rank #2 on Employee Benefit Expectations

For small business owners, the state of US employment is not a happy subject. A historically low employment rate means increased competition for quality team members. Whether or not your company offers benefits can make or break your ability to attract and hire new people – especially employee health insurance options. Over the past few years, businesses are increasing their benefit offerings to keep up with employee demand. If you are not doing the same, it may mean you may […]
September 5, 2022

Small Business Owners Need Health Insurance Too

Owning your own business comes with a lot of perks – and headaches. While it is gratifying to call your own shots, strategize growth and provide a living for your employees, often owners put themselves at the bottom of the priority list. The fact is that small business owners need health insurance too!  And their families. You may feel that finding a group health plan for just a few people is impossible or cost prohibitive. However, there are many options […]
August 18, 2022

Read This Before You Renew Your Employee Health Insurance

Summer vacations are complete, and the kids are back in school – all signs that group health plan renewal letters will soon arrive in your mailbox! According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the expected average rate increase for 2023 employee health insurance will be 5.6%. Even though the rising price tag is under the current 8.5% inflation rate, the home improvement industry has already been hit with higher business costs since the beginning of the pandemic. Rather than […]
August 10, 2022

BAGI Group Health Program Case Study: Mirror & Glass Concepts

BAGI Member, John Grecco, Co-Owner (along with his wife Debi) of Mirror & Glass Concepts in Carmel, Indiana, recently spoke to us about their experience replacing their previous group health plan to the BAGI option: “We had insurance for our employees but were looking for a change due to a couple of factors. When we purchased the business three years ago, only some employees had health coverage. We wanted to offer the option to everyone and worked with a local […]
July 12, 2022

Balancing Recession Potential with Employee Retention in the Home Improvement Industry

Talk to ten economists and you will get ten opinions about what the economy will do in the next 12-18 months. However, there seems to be some consensus around the idea that a recession is coming, but not the degree. As a small business owner, we know you care more about what’s happening on the ground rather than the halls of policy. The housing market may be set for a bit of a downturn, but the fact remains that there […]
June 28, 2022

Tips for Hiring in the Home Improvement Industry

Even though the latest job reports show that the US added jobs in May, the unemployment rate is still just above its lowest point since 1969. The competition for quality employees is fierce, so how can a small or medium-sized business compete with larger organizations? Indeed.com recently offered some tips for hiring in the home improvement industry that could help you hire your next team member: Make Your Job Descriptions Clear It may be time to revisit the tools are […]
May 17, 2022

How to Provide Health Insurance to Part-Time Employees

With the current low employment rate, it is no surprise that the home improvement industry is struggling to attract and retain employees. Often the talented people employers want to hire are looking for a more flexible work environment that includes benefits. Fortunately, there is a way for businesses with an under 50-person workforce to provide health insurance to part-time employees. Three years ago, the US Departments of Health & Human Services and the Treasury issued a rule allowing employers to […]
March 17, 2021

BAGI Member Carrington Homes on Offering Employee Health Insurance

Many BAGI members come to us when they feel they can begin offering employee health insurance. Carl McIntyre of Carrington Homes reached out in 2019 for two reasons: “To attract and retain good employees, you have to offer a competitive package that includes health insurance. And I wanted good health insurance for myself and my family.” Carrington Homes has been around since 1992 and now has 16 employees. We took him through the many options available through his BAGI membership, […]
February 8, 2021

BAGI Member Jason Gettum Talks About Offering Employee Health Insurance

The Wharton & Power Insurance Team has been partnered with BAGI for over 10 years to help provide members with access to employee health insurance options. With three programs available to small businesses, we work with BAGI members to choose the plan that best suits their situation. Jason Gettum of Gettum Associate Inc offered a reflection on his decision to offer health benefits to his employees and the Wharton process. “We wanted to provide a health insurance plan to our […]
August 8, 2019

BAGI Member Benefits: Affordable Group Health Insurance

Group health insurance policy renewal rates are being released by insurance companies right now. On average, Indiana employers are seeing a 10-11% increase this year. As a business owner, you want to provide a good work environment that attracts and retains employees, but not at the cost of a healthy balance sheet. Fortunately, as a member in good standing of BAGI, you have a unique opportunity to help you manage these seemingly competing goals. BAGI Group Health Insurance Program This […]
October 11, 2018

Health Insurance Options for Small Business Owners

It seems like the largest worry that small business owners have is findng good employees. Health benefits are a large factor for workers when they are choosing employment opportunites. Small businesses may be at risk of losing their employees to competitors that offer group health plans or not attracting additional personnel. As a small employer, you may feel there are just too many barriers to offering an affordable employee health insurance plan yourself. Too few employees, high costs and poor […]
March 11, 2018

Did Your Employee Group Health Insurance Rates Skyrocket? You Have Options.

Our clients who renewed their employee group health insurance plans for December 1, 2018 saw an average of a 10-12% rate increase. We expect the same for 2019. With the drastic changes in health insurance over the past few years, no one knows when this upward trend will level off. Fortunately, Wharton & Power Insurance has access to unique options for employers of at least two employees to reduce their benefit costs sooner rather than later. 1) PEO Program Professional […]
August 30, 2017

Don’t Lose Good Employees Because They’ve Lost Their Individual Health Coverage

Let’s face it—the Indiana individual health insurance market is a mess. With two of the largest health insurance providers in our state, United and Anthem, no longer participating in the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges, people are left with no good options for personal coverage. Coupled with a tight labor market, employers are facing losing their best employees to firms that offer group health insurance. Fortunately, as a contractor member in good standing with BAGI, you have options available to help […]
July 29, 2015

BAGI Member Sessions: The Affordable Care Act and Your Business

The Affordable Care Act has changed the health insurance and human resources landscape. As a business owner, what can you do to stay ahead of it? Join your fellow BAGI members as Scott Wharton of Wharton Insurance & Financial Services presents valuable information on the changes your business faces within group health insurance. Thursday, August 6th 9-10:30am or 2-3:30pm BAGI Offices 1011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 Topics Will Include: Expected changes to the 2016 BAGI/IBA […]
July 7, 2015

What the U.S. Supreme Court’s ACA Decision Means for Your Business

The highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act created certainty around the law. The issue under question was one of financing, regarding the 36 states that have opted to forgo setting up their own state health insurance exchanges and using the federal exchanges. The ruling clarifies that the residents of those states are entitled to take advantage of the available premium tax credit if they qualify. The subsidy structure already in place was affirmed, therefore the […]
April 8, 2015

Non-Builder BAGI Members Have Group Health Insurance Options Too

Wharton Insurance & Financial Services works closely with the Builder’s Association of Greater Indianapolis to provide valuable services to their members. We facilitate the BAGI Group Health Insurance Program for builder members. WIFS also has options for non-builder members of BAGI who are not eligible to participate in the BAGI Group Health Program. WIFS can offer businesses that have 2-50 employees access to a private health insurance exchange called GRAVIE. A technology platform, GRAVIE serves business owners who wish to […]
October 22, 2014

Facing a Large Rate Increase on Your Employee Health Insurance Plan?

The WIFS Team has been preparing for the release of group health insurance policy renewals rates over the past year. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, we have gained a lot of experience guiding our clients through the changing employee benefits landscape. Our clients look to us for expertise in managing the challenges presented by large rate increases. It is during these times of upheaval that they are fortunate to have an experienced insurance broker on their side. […]
September 10, 2014

BAGI’s Group Health Insurance Program Could Solve Your Double Digit Rate Increase Issue

Group health insurance policy renewal rates are being released by insurance companies right now. On average, Indiana employers are seeing a 14% increase this year – quite a jump from last year’s rate jump of 5-7%. As a business owner, you want to provide a good work environment that attracts and retains employees, but not at the cost of a healthy balance sheet. Fortunately as a member in good standing of BAGI, you have options available to help you manage […]