Health Insurance
November 8, 2022
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 12, 2022
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 […]
November 6, 2021
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 […]
August 11, 2021
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
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
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
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 […]
October 11, 2018
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
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 […]
December 11, 2017
Business owners who have not offered their employees health insurance benefits in the past may have good reason to do so now. The individual health insurance market in Indiana is in shambles, making it difficult for everyone seeking coverage to find an affordable quality plan. Group health insurance plans are not just for large organizations anymore. If you are a business owner looking for coverage for yourself and your family, you may want to consider implementing a group plan for your […]
December 1, 2017
Whether you receive health benefits from your job, the marketplace or an association, you have probably been hearing a lot of urgent messages about open enrollment. It is this time of year where individuals and businesses alike have to make important decisions about their health insurance coverage. It is also the only opportunity to make changes to your plans without a qualifying event. Below we offer some items to consider as you make your way through open enrollment for your […]
November 2, 2017
With the demise of the individual health insurance market in Indiana, many small business owners are losing their health insurance right along with their employees. If you were relying on the ACA Exchange to cover you and your employees, you are well aware that option is now questionable. With your employees scrambling, you risk losing your workers to competitors by not offering health benefits. Besides, you and your family need them too! BAGI Group Health Insurance Plan As a BAGI […]