by Guest Author
When it’s time to talk about Health Insurance and Employee Benefits, do you run and hide, or do you get excited about the conversation? That second option may be a stretch, but insurance doesn’t have to be confusing or a painful conversation.
Originally, employers offered employee benefits years ago to stand out among job applicants. Employee benefits were used as a tool to attract and keep the best workforce, but things have changed. Today, Employee Benefits are an expectation, and due to increased cost and regulations, it’s becoming harder and harder to use Employee Benefits as a tool to distinguish your organization as the excellent employer that you are. Add in Georgia State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) to the mix, and you have a lot to evaluate.
If you want to make your Employee Benefits Package exceptional, just like your school, here are four things you should be doing:
Getting Options
A proper evaluation of plan options should be done on a consistent basis, and this means evaluating insurance options every year. With regulation changes, innovative solutions coming into the marketplace and integrated technologies, you may be surprised to see what is now available to you. Recent changes to the SHBP and required contributions should also be factored into your evaluation. You owe it to your school and your staff to ensure you have the best coverage possible, and you may find that your current insurance company is willing to lower their costs if you find competitive rates from another carrier.
Value Adds
More and more insurance companies are offering new services designed to bring additional value to your staff. Free webchat and telephone calls to physicians, weight loss services, gym discounts, fitness tracker discounts, free counseling, free preparation of Wills, and many other services are often added to your insurance plans. You may also find that Free Doctor Visits and Free Generic Medications can be included in some plans. These value-added services can make an enormous difference in someone’s life.
Communication
What good is a world class employee benefits package if no one knows about it? Having a proactive, consistent message to deliver to your staff is vital to success, not just for your benefit plan, but for your school. It’s important to prioritize this messaging about your employee benefits plan because the more people know about their plan, the more satisfied they are with it.
A Heart of Service
You’re in education because of the difference it makes in so many lives, and finding an employee benefit team that shares this heart of service is critical. From ordering ID cards to integrating technologies to auditing claims, you need to lean on your service team to do this. You and your staff have enough on your plate, and calling insurance companies isn’t where you want to spend your time. Find a partner who will take care of your staff the way you do.
Follow these steps and your employee benefit plan will benefit you and everyone at your school.
Joey Costa is proud to be endorsed by the GCSA and to have created the GCSA Specialty Benefits Plan. Contact Joey today to develop an employee benefit plan designed to help your school succeed. You can reach him at 770-725-6488 or joey@costainc.com.
Guest Author
