As a small group insurance broker, you’re probably more aware than the average person that coverage can be expensive, especially depending on the plans your clients buy. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation 2021 Report, the median annual premium was $7,739 for an individual and $22,221 for a family plan. Employers helped cover 83% of the costs for a single person and 63% of a family plan.
That’s why it’s crucial to help your clients get the most out of the plans they have and help their employees stay engaged.
Here are five top ways you can help your business book maximize health insurance coverage so employees use the plan often, become healthier, and help reduce overall business costs.
#1 Emphasize health plans customer service programs and tools.
Some health plans offer dedicated customer support, online tools, and even concierge-type services that can help employees understand and use their plan. For example, Cigna + Oscar is unique in that it offers Care Guides, a team of professionals who help members find doctors and answer their questions about specific benefits and requests. Care guides can also help coordinate care and prepare members for their upcoming procedures.
The more employees understand how their plan works, the more likely they are to use in-network providers, buy generic drugs, and rely on other cost-saving methods. In turn, this can help the company reduce overall costs as well. As a broker, having your clients leverage existing tools can also free you up to focus on the more complicated issues you face on a daily basis.
#2Encourage your clients’ employees to manage their plan digitally.
Many insurance plans have mobile apps, which are great resources when it comes to accessing telehealth services and prescription refill requests, as well as finding doctors and providers who are in the network. And your small business customers may even be able to pay their premiums online. Encourage them to make the most of these convenient digital services. After all, this is a service business. If employees find their health plans are easy to use, their satisfaction may increase. Carriers often incentivize member retention; keeping your customers happy is not only a great motivator, but it can also help you financially.
As you’re reviewing which health plans to offer to your small groups of clients, prioritize those that offer digital services. You should be ready to answer:
- What telehealth services are available to my employees, if any?
- Is there virtual urgent care available?
- What are the costs and benefits of choosing virtual assistance?
- Can employees request prescription refills online?
- What other digital services are available with this health plan?
The bottom line: today’s employees Want to manage their health care at the click of a button. An affordable and easy-to-use mobile app and website can help them do that.
#3 Communicate to employees about mental health offers.
It’s no secret that the last few years have taken a toll on the mental health and well-being of Americans. In fact, more than one in four Americans (27%) reported feeling anxious or depressed in the past two weeks, according to a recent Domestic pulse survey conducted by the US Census Bureau.
Make sure your clients are aware of and using their mental health service plans, which may be available through telehealth or in-person, depending on your company’s health plan. Seek to remove the stigma of counseling and encourage employees to get the support they need.
#4Introduce your customers to a variety of health plan offerings that meet their needs
Almost 75% of small business owners in the Goldman Sachs Small Business Coaching Program report that today’s higher costs hurt their business financially. That’s why most small business owners are looking for ways to reduce costs and get the most out of their health plans.
One way to do this is to be creative with the type of plans you present to your business owners. In addition to highlighting plans that offer a tax-advantageous health savings account (HSA), you can even talk to your clients about contributing their employees HSA or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) as an incentive for choice of a higher deductible plan.
#5Highlight preventive health offers.
When you encourage your clients to be proactive about their health, you can help them reduce the cost of care and increase productivity in the workplace, which can also increase employee retention.
Consider emphasizing regular preventive health screenings and checkups and incentives for tracking steps. Additionally, it is important to ensure that employees understand:
- What is and isn’t covered when travelling.
- How to find online suppliers near you.
- The value of choosing generic medicines over branded ones.
- How to order a 90 day supply of prescriptions.
These are all ways you can encourage your clients and their employees to make the most of their health plan, save on the cost of care, and in turn help their company save money too.
Cigna + Oscar offers access to great doctors along with a new model of supportive care and innovative technology, all at an affordable price.
Visit https://www.hioscar.com/brokers/cignato get commissioned to sell Cigna + Oscar today.
Cigna + Oscar coverage is provided by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company. CA: Benefits administered by Oscar Health Administrators. Other States: Benefits administered by Oscar Management Corporation. Pharmacy benefits provided by Express Scripts, Inc. Cigna + Oscar health insurance contains exclusions and limitations. For complete details on product availability and coverage, refer to your plan documents or contact a representative.
Cigna + Oscar is designed to work for small businesses like yours. We are combining the power of Cignas’ national and local provider networks, and the member-centric expertise of Oscar, to provide small group health insurance that understands the unique needs of small businesses and their employees.
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