Business owners often ask me how to select the best broker for their company's group medical insurance plan.If you search online, you'll find hundreds of articles that recommend looking for a broker who can analyze claims, negotiate rates with insurance companies, develop a multi-year cost-management strategy, or reduce premiums through [...]
Some small California employers (1-100 employees) that offer medical insurance coverage through Sutter Health Plan have received 4th Quarter 2025 rate increases of 50%. I have been a health insurance agent/broker since 1993, and I have never seen a rate increase like the one that Sutter has delivered. Sutter [...]
Medical, dental and vision insurance paid for employees by the business are fully tax-deductible business expenses for Federal and California State income taxes. Is health insurance tax deductible? Business owners can also deduct the premiums they pay for medical, dental and vision insurance, but they take the deduction on [...]
Kaiser Permanente group medical insurance covers more people in California than any other insurance company. One challenge, however, is when members move out of California, such as when young adults go off to college, it is difficult to access care. Thankfully, Kaiser health insurance now offers their “care away [...]
NOTE: The answer to this question requires compliance with both the HIPAA Nondiscrimination Requirements and the IRS Section 125 Nondiscrimination Rules. IRS Nondiscrimination Rules apply when employees make pre-tax paycheck contributions for employee benefits using a Section 125 Premium Only Plan (POP). If you are a client of Benefits [...]
What is “Open Enrollment” and Why is it Important for Group Medical Insurance Plans Details on Open Enrollment and Group Medical Insurance Plans We often get asked when employees can enroll in a company’s health, dental or vision plan and why can’t they enroll at any time of [...]
We often get calls from disgruntled business owners and HR people who are upset with their current employee-benefits insurance broker and are looking for an alternative. There are many reasons you may want to change your company’s “Broker of Record” (the technical term for changing your agent) for group medical, [...]
Health Net of California just announced that they will include a doula coverage as part of their small business medical insurance plans (1-100 employees). The program will begin January 2025. Doula services are not normally covered by California small business health insurance plans. As this article from the University of [...]
Finding the best plans for your business California group medical insurance plans follow the rules set by Obama Care (Affordable Care Act.) Below are some things that you should know to help you select the right plans for your employee health benefits. Running a business is [...]
California DMHC Forces UHC’s ACEC Association Health Plan to stop offering coverage to Small Businesses Background on Association Health Plans Association Health Plans are a political hot potato Further Background on AHPs and PEOs Benefits Cafe is here to help California DMHC Forces UHC’s ACEC Association Health Plan [...]