Jacksonville Business Journal:

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"Virtually any employee who is attractived to a business is attractive to other organizations as and health care isthe No. 1 thinh employees ask about after compensation," Tassey But if you've never offered a healtnh plan at your business the research process can plunge you into an unfamilia r world ofacronyms - HMO, PPO, HSA- and the optione can be overwhelming. So if it's your firsty trip into the waters of healtghinsurance shopping, you would probably be wise to work with a brokerr or insurance adviser.
Health insuranc e can be a confusing consumer decisiobto make, and having a trained professional on your side can make all the notes Tassey, who recommends that people ask trusteds friends, family, or professional contacts what brokef they work with to obtainm a good list of potential If you can't get a referral that way and have to resort to cold-calling brokers, ask for the names of two or three of theid clients who you can call to ask how satisfiex they are with the service they're receiving. Tasseyh says it's the least you can do when choosingf the individual who will handle one of your most important internalbusinessa decisions.
"You want to be dealing with an insurances adviser who has experience inyour market, and it's very appropriate and very much expected for you to ask that persoh for a couple of references," he says. "If you're in a small business, you'vwe got your family and your business, and probably a pet. But if you're going to marry your life toa business, it pays to take the extra minute and check those references. Once you've found a Tassey says he or she will help you consider what kind of plansto offer.
He says a good broker oftenh can give you a picture of what kind of healtyh care plans are most common in your industr y or for businesses of your size so that you can stay If you're offering a healtj benefit for the first time, you'l also need to think about how much of the cost of your employees' health insurance expenses you're williny and able to pay, and whether or not you're willingf to pay for health care for dependents of And will you require new employees to work for your companuy for a certain amount of time befores qualifying for benefits?
If you have a small businesw and choose to research insurancse plans independently, without a broker, one pieces of information might save you some time. Tasseyh says the fact of the matter is that wherea 500-employeer business has some bargaining powerr when it comes to their health plan small groups are usually quoted a uniformm price based on and it typically doesn't leave a lot of room for Speaking of price tags, another tip is When it comes to choosing a healthj plan, the bottom line is not always the bottom That's to say that while cost is a major concerb for almost anyone shopping for health insurances coverage these days, what you get for the monehy should be considered along with the price tag.
Janicse Torrez. of Blue Cross and Blue Shieldf ofNew Mexico, recommends groups and individuals consider the restrictiona or options that come with certain plans. For Torrez says, a plan that placexs no restrictions on what physician a membe can see might come at ahigher Likewise, a plan with a low monthly premium could sporf some whopping out-of-pocket expenses should one need a service like home healty care, hospital stays, or medical The LIFE organization advises when shopping for a healt h care plan, businesses and individuals start by considering what health-related services are important to them.
Includedx in the list of services to consider are inpatient hospital outpatient surgery, office visits, medical tests and prescription drugs, home health care physical therapy, maternity care, preventative care for infants and children, and healthy screenings. Then compare the cost of plans that offer youthose