Triangle Business Journal:

http://www.alaki.net/index.php?s=D&c=489
"Virtually any employee who is attractive to a businesx is attractive to other organizationsas well, and healthb care is the No. 1 thing employeews ask about after compensation," Tassey says. But if you've neverf offered a health plan at your business the research process can plunge you into an unfamiliarr world ofacronyms - HMO, PPO, HSA- and the options can be overwhelming. So if it's your firsty trip into the waters of healthinsurance shopping, you woulf probably be wise to work with a broker or insurance Health insurance can be a confusing consumer decision to and having a trained professional on your side can make all the notes Tassey, who recommends that people ask trustefd friends, family, or professional contacts what broker they work with to obtainb a good list of potential candidates.
If you can'tr get a referral that way and have to resortgto cold-calling brokers, ask for the names of two or threde of their clients who you can call to ask how satisfiecd they are with the service they're receiving. Tasseh says it's the least you can do when choosiny the individual who will handle one of your most importantt internalbusiness decisions. "You want to be dealing with an insurancwe adviser who has experience inyour market, and it's very, very appropriatwe and very much expected for you to ask that personn for a couple of references," he "If you're in a small business, you've got your familyt and your business, and probably a pet.
But if you're goingh to marry your life to a it pays to take the extra minutre and checkthose references." Once you'vwe found a broker, Tassey says he or she will help you consideer what kind of plans to He says a good broker often can give you a picture of what kind of healthu care plans are most common in your industryg or for businesses of your size so that you can stay If you're offering a health benefit for the firsrt time, you'll also need to thinkj about how much of the cost of your employees' health insurance expenses you're willing and able to pay, and whethet or not you're willing to pay for health care for dependents of employees.
And will you require new employeesx to work for your company for a certain amount of time befores qualifyingfor benefits? If you have a smalol business and choose to research insurance plans without a broker, one piece of informatioh might save you some time. Tassey says the fact of the matter is that wherea 500-employe business has some bargaining power when it comesd to their health plan rates, smalpl groups are usually quoted a uniforn price based on and it typically doesn't leave a lot of room for Speaking of price tags, anothed tip is this: When it comes to choosingy a health plan, the bottom line is not alwaysz the bottom line.
That's to say that whilde cost is a major concern for almostf anyone shopping for health insurance coveragethese days, what you get for the moneu should be considered along with the price tag. Janicr Torrez. of Blue Croszs and Blue Shield ofNew Mexico, recommends groupa and individuals consider the restrictions or options that come with certain plans. For Torrez says, a plan that places no restriction s on what physician a memberf can see might come at ahigher Likewise, a plan with a low monthl premium could sport some whopping out-of-pockety expenses should one need a servic like home health care, hospital stays, or medical equipment.
The LIFE organization advises when shopping for a healthncare plan, businesses and individualw start by considering what health-related services are importanf to them. Included in the list of servicesx to consider are inpatienthospital services, outpatient office visits, medical tests and X-rays, prescriptionh drugs, home health care visits, physical therapy, maternity preventative care for infants and children, and healty screenings. Then compare the cost of planws that offer youthose benefits.