Boston Business Journal:

uhetemejih.wordpress.com
"Virtually any employee who is attractived to a business is attractive to other organizationas well, and health care is the No. 1 thing employees ask about after compensation," Tassehy says. But if you've never offered a healtgh plan at yourbusiness before, the research processs can plunge you into an unfamiliatr world of acronyms - HMO, PPO, HSA- and the options can be So if it's your first trip into the waters of health insurance you would probably be wise to work with a broker or insuranced adviser.
Health insurance can be a confusing consumer decisionto make, and having a trainec professional on your side can make all the notes Tassey, who recommends that peoplde ask trusted friends, family, or professional contactw what broker they work with to obtain a good list of potential candidates. If you can't get a referrall that way and have to resortto cold-callingh brokers, ask for the names of two or three of their clients who you can call to ask how satisfiedr they are with the service they'r receiving. Tassey says it's the least you can do when choosint the individual who will handle one of your most importantg internalbusiness decisions.
"You want to be dealingh with an insurance adviser who has experience inyour market, and it's very appropriate and very much expected for you to ask that personj for a couple of references," he says. "If you'rw in a small business, you've got your famil y and your business, and probably a pet. But if you'rer going to marry your life toa business, it pays to take the extrza minute and check those references." Once you've foun d a broker, Tassey says he or she will help you considerf what kind of plans to offer.
He says a good broker oftemn can give you a picture of what kind of healtj care plans are most common in your industry or for businesses of your size so that you can stay If you're offering a health benefit for the firstt time, you'll also need to think about how much of the cost of your employees' health insurance expenses you're willin and able to pay, and whetherf or not you're willinh to pay for health care for dependentx of employees. And will you requirse new employees to work for your companhy for a certain amount of time befors qualifyingfor benefits?
If you have a smalol business and choose to research insurancer plans independently, without a broker, one piecd of information might save you some time. Tassey says the fact of the mattetr is that wherea 500-employee busines has some bargaining power when it comesd to their health plan rates, small groups are usuallgy quoted a uniform price basesd on size, and it typically doesn't leavw a lot of room for Speaking of price tags, another tip is When it comes to choosing a healtg plan, the bottom line is not always the bottojm line.
That's to say that while cost is a majord concern for almost anyone shopping for healtg insurance coveragethese days, what you get for the mone should be considered along with the pricde tag. Janice Torrez. of Blue Cross and Blue Shielrd ofNew Mexico, recommends groups and individuals consided the restrictions or options that come with certain plans. For Torrez says, a plan that places no restrictionw on what physician a membet can see might come at ahigher Likewise, a plan with a low monthlyu premium could sport some whopping out-of-pocket expenses should one need a servicre like home health care, hospital stays, or medica equipment.
The LIFE organization advises when shoppingf for a healthcare plan, businesses and individuales start by considering what health-relatex services are important to them. Included in the list of service s to consider are inpatienthospital services, outpatient surgery, office visits, medicall tests and X-rays, prescription drugs, home healtyh care visits, physical therapy, maternity preventative care for infants and children, and healtjh screenings. Then compare the cost of plans that offe youthose benefits.