Is your small business group health plan keeping you ahead of the competition, or are you falling behind?
The best group health insurance for small business owners ultimately depends on your existing employee pool, but there are a few trends you should be aware of.
Come along with us as we examine those trends, explore how they affect you, and recommend features to include in your group health insurance plan.
4 Trends in Group Health Insurance To Pay Attention To
Health Systems Are Facing AI Disruptions
AI is here to stay, and it will affect the definition of the best group health insurance for small businesses. Employer-sponsored healthcare offers opportunities to address these changes by warmly accepting these changes in the digital healthcare arena.
Insurers are preparing for these changes. Some 70% of insurers expect AI to transform the healthcare industry over the next five years. Don’t get left behind. Now is the time to learn how to implement AI into your healthcare insurance strategy.
Inflation Is Leading to Higher Insurance Costs
Group health insurance is not immune to inflation. As cancer cases continue to arise, so do claim costs. Employers should prioritize and focus on preventative measures. Insurers back up this claim, with 86% of them believing medical inflation has a severe impact on the coming years.
There Are Gaps In Mental Health & Coverage for Women
Gaps around mental health and women’s health are another trend in health insurance for small businesses. Employers can make meaningful changes for employees by providing benefits that target coverage gaps.
Some 59% of insurers do not currently cover mental health, socialization, and learning issues for families. It’s important to bridge this gap by integrating these benefits into your health insurance plan.
More Employers are Negotiating with Insurers
Some 42% of insurers have not made changes to their deductible or co-payments and have no plans to do so. That’s a problem for employers and their teams. It’s critical to upgrade these aspects of your plan to enhance cost containment and keep your plan competitive.
Don’t be the only employer on the block who hasn’t upgraded their health insurance plan. Work with an advisor like Primary Care Insurance Solutions to negotiate your deductible and co-payments.
Best Group Health Insurance for Small Businesses
Now that you’re familiar with the up-and-coming trends in group health insurance, you might wonder what the best plan would offer. Understanding what the best features to include are more important than ever. Here’s a brief table comparing essential features. We’ll look at them in more detail below.
| Feature | Why It Matters | What to Look For | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customizable Plan Options | Allows businesses to cater to diverse employee needs. | Look for HSAs, high-deductible options, and tiered coverage plans. | Offer employees flexible plans to meet varying needs and preferences. |
| Preventive Care | Reduces long-term costs by keeping employees healthier. | Ensure the plan covers 100% of preventive services and wellness checks. | Helps reduce expenses by promoting early detection and overall wellness. |
| Telemedicine | Provides remote access to healthcare, improving convenience and productivity. | Ensure 24/7 access to virtual care and consultations. | Increases employee satisfaction and reduces time away from work. |
| Flexible Plan Options | Helps businesses control costs and provide tailored plans to employees. | Look for HDHPs paired with HSAs to offset premium costs. | Combines high-deductible plans with savings accounts for greater flexibility. |
Personalized Health Insurance Plans Are The Path Forward
Customized health plans allow businesses to cater to diverse employee needs. As employees demand more flexible and customized healthcare options, it’s up to employers to meet those demands. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that these types of healthcare plans will rise in popularity by 255% by 2025. Make sure your business is prepared.
Preventative Care is Non-Negotiable
As chronic illnesses are rising, it’s extremely important to include preventative wellness checks in your small-group health insurance plans. Keep your group healthy with high-quality, preventative care.
Telemedicine and Virtual Care Options
In 2024 alone, over 116 million users took advantage of telemedicine appointments with their doctors. That’s an increase from 2019’s 57 million users. By allowing your employees a chance to have virtual visits, your productivity increases, as does your employee’s satisfaction with your plan options.
Flexible Plan Options
Small businesses should look for plans that provide flexibility. Some options include high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) paired with Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to help offset premium costs. However, for the best rates, you should contact our team. We provide our clients with industry-leading cost savings for their group health plans.
It’s Time to Future-Proof Your Small Business with the Best Health Plans
Use our suggestions above to create your company’s irresistible group health insurance plan. For more assistance with identifying the best features and seamlessly integrating them into your health insurance plan, give us a call. We would be happy to help you with your group plan.
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