Group Health Insurance

October 12, 2023

Start an Employee Health Insurance Program January 1

Offering employee health insurance within a small business is not an easy decision. There are costs involved and not just monetary, but also staff (and your) time. Entrepreneurs often find themselves working in their business rather than on their business, making implementing employee benefits even more taxing. For over 15 years, the Wharton & Power Insurance Team has supported the BAGI community in taking the leap to providing group health insurance. Below we outline our steps that seamlessly lead you […]
September 14, 2023

It’s September: Crunch Time for Employee Health Coverage

If you want to renew or start employee health coverage 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 employee support […]
August 30, 2023

How to Prepare for a Retiring Workforce

10,000 Americans reach 65 every day. While the average age of retirement has increased over the past three decades, health, family, and financial considerations serve as the major triggers for leaving the workforce. Regardless of the reason, losing an employee with deep knowledge and experience can be a difficult blow. With the lack of qualified people available for hire in the home improvement industry, the impact on your business can be even greater. How do you prepare for a retiring […]
August 1, 2023

Thinking of Offering Employee Health Insurance? Read this.

With August’s arrival comes back to school, Indiana State Fair visits, and final weekends at the lake. And, if you are thinking of offering employee health insurance, it’s also time to start considering your options. For larger organizations, January 1 is a typical start date for group health insurance. However, small businesses can be more flexible with their timeframes, though it still takes a while to wade through the decisions underlying the process. To help begin your journey, we outline […]
July 19, 2023

A Health Insurance Option for All Kinds of Employees

With shrinking candidate pools being the top concern for the home improvement industry, employers are having to be flexible with their definition of “employee”. While part-time, varied hours, apprenticeship, etc. positions are becoming more common these days, the demand for benefits has not changed. Fortunately, the ICHRA program provides an employer health insurance option that offers many employee classifications the benefits they seek. ICHRA Overview This program launched in 2019 allows employers to contribute pre-tax dollars for employee health care. […]
June 12, 2023

Employee Benefits that Support a Positive Culture

Some of our most recent blogs have noted the importance of positive company culture in attracting and retaining employees. While you might initially think of ping pong tables and happy hours, it is actually structured employee benefits that play the largest role in sustaining a supportive work environment. Which ones are most important to employees? Take a look below. Recognize Good Work According to GreatPlaceToWork.com, having a measurable and consistent program for rewarding employee excellence demonstrates that your organization values […]
May 31, 2023

How Small Employers Can Compete with Large Employers for Workers

According to the Wall Street Journal, the current construction boom plays a large part in creating the lowest unemployment rates we have seen in the last 50 years. With both commercial and residential construction spending continuing to rise, it’s no wonder that the competition for employees is fierce. As a local business, it may seem impossible to attract and retain a workforce when you are up against larger or national competitors. Below we offer some tips on how small employers […]
May 16, 2023

3 Tips for Supporting Your Employees Through Difficult Times

As an entrepreneur, you know that quality employees are central to growing your business. Once you have attracted talent to your team, it is essential to retain them by investing in their personal success during both good and bad times. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we thought we would offer some tips on supporting your employees through difficult times. 1) Create a Culture of Communication, Support and Inclusivity Employees experiencing a personal crisis are not bringing their best […]
April 5, 2023

Employee Health Insurance Option You May Not Know About

As a business owner, you face many issues competing for your time, and employee health insurance may not get the attention it needs. However, it is always top of mind for us, so we thought we’d share an option you may not know about which eliminates barriers to offering benefits to your team. ICHRA: An Employee Health Insurance Option You May Not Know About The ICHRA program was launched in 2019 via a rule issued by the US Departments of […]
November 8, 2022

Tips for A Smooth Open Enrollment Season

With the arrival of November comes fall colors, cooler weather, rewinding clocks – and open enrollment! Since health benefits are important to employees, this time of year can be stressful for you and your team. Getting everyone on the same page with cost and coverage changes that are inherent to a new policy year, and then signed up for the right option, is not easy. Below we offer some tips to help you ensure a smooth open enrollment season. Start […]
October 26, 2022

Three Things to Consider When Choosing an Employee Health Plan

Fall is upon us, which means it’s employee health plan renewal season! As a small business owner, it can be difficult to find the bandwidth to consider all the factors that go into either keeping the same plan or finding a new one. This time of year could also be when you decide to begin offering benefits. Below we offer three things to consider as you move through the planning process. Employee Health Plan Costs The cost of an employee […]
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 […]
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 […]
November 6, 2021

Health Insurance Options for Small Business Owners

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 risk ratings are the top three worries. Fortunately, there are affordable options out there for businesses like yours. Too Few Employees to Qualify The ICHRA program makes offering health benefits to a small group of employees, including yourself, much easier than before. Launched in 2019, ICHRA allows a wider definition of […]
September 9, 2021

Mid-Sized Employers Uncover a New Post-Pandemic Hiring Trend

As we have been talking to Indy business owners over the past few months, they have been noting a new hiring trend in employee recruitment. Pre-pandemic, the gig economy was going strong with young workers looking for a big paycheck and flexibility. Post-pandemic, employers are now finding potential employees want more stability and health benefits – and they will not be hired without them. Businesses with over 20 employees who have relied on independent contractors to fill hiring gaps are […]
August 11, 2021

Small Employers Uncover a New Post-Pandemic Hiring Trend

As we have been talking to Indy small business owners over the past few months, they have been noting a new hiring trend in employee recruitment. Pre-pandemic, the gig economy was going strong with young workers looking for a big paycheck and flexibility. Post-pandemic, employers are now finding potential employees want more stability and health benefits – and they will not be hired without them. Businesses with under 20 employees who have relied on independent contractors to fill hiring gaps […]
July 28, 2021

Looking to Hire? You Need to Offer Employee Health Insurance

How can you grow your business without the workforce to support it? That very question has been plaguing many of our clients during the recent shortage in the labor force. According to the Harvard Business Review, offering flexibility for workers who have to commute and ensuring your salaries are on par with market rates are just two ways you can boost your chances of attracting employees. However, one of the most important things you can do is offer a rich […]
July 19, 2021

When a Level Premium Employee Health Insurance Plan Could Suit Your Business

These days if you have 20-49 employees, offering employee health insurance is expected and frankly, necessary to attract and retain a quality workforce. However, group health plans can be expensive and seem out of reach for small businesses. Here is where a level premium plan may be a good option. In the group health world, there are two ways to fund a plan – fully funded by the insurance company, or self-funded by the employer. In the fully-funded model, the […]
June 16, 2021

Why Small Employers Need to Offer Employee Health Insurance

When we talk with our small business clients about their largest challenges, finding good employees is at the top of the list. Small employers need to offer employee health insurance in this challenging hiring market. Beyond being able to compete with other employers, there are more key advantages to providing benefits: 1) Employee Satisfaction – Company culture is an important factor in enhancing employee engagement, productivity and performance. Organizations that support both their employees’ professional and personal well-being contribute to […]
June 11, 2021

Don’t Lose Your Workforce Over Employee Health Insurance Benefits

A few years ago, companies that relied on their employees to find health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s individual marketplace found the landscape in complete disarray. While things have finally stabilized for the moment, the practice of grossing up wages to pay for those plans is still not always the best option for mid-sized employers. The onus is on the employee and affordability is out of the company’s hands. But perhaps most importantly, businesses with a 20+ person workforce […]
June 2, 2021

How Two Indianapolis Small Employers Offer Employee Health Benefits

Insurance brokers can say all they want about the many ways small businesses can offer quality health benefits, but “the proof in in the pudding” as they say. Two of our clients were gracious enough to tell their stories, offering solid examples of how and why small employers offer employee health benefits.  Gettum Associates, Inc According to Jason Gettum, owner of Gettum Associates design & remodeling contractors located in Greewood, offering health insurance to his 13+ employees is important for […]
May 18, 2021

Small Employers Have Options for Employee Health Benefits

If you employ under 20 people, you may have found that offering employee health benefits to be cumbersome both in implementation and in cost. This does not have to be the case. The Wharton & Power Insurance Team has been helping local small employers offer high-quality health benefits for over 30 years. The health insurance industry has been all over the place since the passage of the Affordable Care Act. We have been here through it all, advising our clients […]
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 […]
November 20, 2020

Managing Employee Open Enrollment During COVID

At Wharton & Power Insurance, open enrollment is usually a time when we meet with our clients’ employees as a group and one-on-one to review the group health plan. The remote nature of work these days is making that essential communication challenging. Our firm is recording the content so it can be delivered digitally by the employers. However, for employees who are new to the plan, have a new medical diagnosis or medication, or have claim questions, this one-size-fits-all communication […]
October 29, 2020

Small Businesses Have A New Affordable Option for Employee Health Insurance

A ruling by the US Departments of Health & Human Services and the Treasury in mid-2019 changed the game for small businesses looking to compete with large organizations when hiring high-quality employees. The ICHRA program allows employers to contribute pre-tax dollars for employee health insurance which employees can use to purchase a plan. This affordable avenue toward offering sought-after benefits gives small businesses a real chance at attracting and retaining a talented workforce. How We Helped a Local Business Offer […]