Providing a high quality Indiana health plan for your employees is essential to the success of your small business. With the right options, your employees will be happy and you’ll save money on health care costs in the long run.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires companies with more than 50 full-time employees to offer healthcare coverage or face a large penalty. Fortunately, the ACA offers small businesses a way to provide an affordable health insurance option for their employees while saving on premiums and taxes.
Cost
Regardless of your business size, you should provide your employees with comprehensive health insurance. Not only is this beneficial to your business, but it’s also a key factor in retaining high-quality workers.
There are a number of ways to provide your employees with coverage, including group and individual insurance plans. These types of policies allow you to customize benefits based on employee needs and budgets.
Another way to provide coverage is through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). An HRA allows you to reimburse your employees for health insurance premiums tax-free.
To find the best plan for your company, survey your employees about their health insurance needs and budgets. This will help you find the right balance between monthly premiums and deductibles. It also helps you determine if a group plan is the best option for your business.
Coverage
Small business owners must provide their employees with a variety of benefits, including workers’ compensation and health insurance. These policies cover medical expenses and lost wages for those who are injured or become sick while working at the business.
These policies are required by law in Indiana.
Some small businesses also choose to purchase business insurance, which can include errors and omissions (E&O) coverage for professional services and a BOP (business owner’s policy) that bundles general liability and property coverage in one plan.
The type of business insurance you choose depends on your business model. Some companies offer only health insurance and may not need to buy other types of coverage. Others buy a mix of commercial insurance policies, which can protect your business against risks like data breaches.
Incentives
Many small businesses have a difficult time providing their employees with the health benefits they need and want. There are a number of incentives available to help make this possible.
For example, the Affordable Care Act allows small business owners to receive a tax credit for offering health insurance to their employees. This can be worth up to half of the amount you contribute for your employees’ coverage.
Similarly, a medical bill-sharing program can be an effective way to provide your employees with health insurance at a much lower cost than traditional insurance. These programs are designed to pool funds from a group of members who meet certain risk profiles and pay a high percentage of the costs of a member’s medical expenses if they incur them.
Using a PEO can also help you optimize your employee benefits strategy, so that you’re providing the best coverage at the lowest cost to your employees. Download our free e-book, HR Outsourcing: A Step-by-Step Guide to Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs), to learn more about how you can benefit from this cost-saving solution.
Taxes
Aside from payroll, health benefits are one of the largest expenses for small business owners. But it can be difficult to find affordable, high-quality coverage that meets the needs of your employees and fits your budget.
Fortunately, there are several ways to provide your employees with the health insurance they need without breaking the bank. For example, you may qualify for a tax credit worth as much as half of the costs of your employee health insurance premiums under the ACA.
You can also reduce your overall taxable income by withholding employee health insurance premiums as pre-tax deductions.
In addition, you can make use of tax credits and other incentives to attract talented employees and improve your bottom line. But you’ll need to understand the different types of insurance available and what’s most appropriate for your company. Ultimately, it’s your job to choose the right plan for your business and its workers. Then, communicate the details to your team and make sure they understand how it will benefit them.