Glossary of Human Resources Management and Employee Benefit Terms
Employee health insurance is a crucial benefit provided by employers to their employees, aiming to ensure their well-being and mitigate financial risks associated with healthcare expenses. This insurance coverage typically includes medical, dental, and sometimes vision benefits, depending on the specific plan offered by the employer.
Eligibility for employer-sponsored health insurance typically depends on factors such as employment status (full-time, part-time), length of employment, and sometimes other criteria set by the employer. Generally, full-time employees are more likely to be eligible for health insurance benefits, although part-time employees may also qualify under certain circumstances.
The different types of health insurance plans include:
Health insurance plans typically require cost-sharing between the insurer and the insured, including:
Understanding these cost-sharing components is essential for employees to make informed healthcare utilization and budgeting decisions. Employers can offer resources and support to help employees navigate these costs effectively.
Employee health insurance plans vary in coverage, but they typically include essential medical services such as doctor visits, hospital stays, emergency care, prescription drugs, and preventive care. Dental and vision coverage may also be included or offered as optional add-ons.
The best health insurance for employees depends on individual needs, preferences, and budget constraints. Employers often offer a selection of health insurance plans for employees to choose from, ranging from traditional fee-for-service plans to managed care options like Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) or Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs). The best plan for an employee may be determined by factors such as cost, coverage network, quality of care, and additional benefits offered.
To benchmark and evaluate the employee health insurance plans, you need to:
These are short surveys that can be sent frequently to check what your employees think about an issue quickly. The survey comprises fewer questions (not more than 10) to get the information quickly. These can be administered at regular intervals (monthly/weekly/quarterly).
Having periodic, hour-long meetings for an informal chat with every team member is an excellent way to get a true sense of what’s happening with them. Since it is a safe and private conversation, it helps you get better details about an issue.
eNPS (employee Net Promoter score) is one of the simplest yet effective ways to assess your employee's opinion of your company. It includes one intriguing question that gauges loyalty. An example of eNPS questions include: How likely are you to recommend our company to others? Employees respond to the eNPS survey on a scale of 1-10, where 10 denotes they are ‘highly likely’ to recommend the company and 1 signifies they are ‘highly unlikely’ to recommend it.
Follow the steps below to manage the costs for employee health insurance:
The cost of health insurance per employee can vary significantly based on various factors such as the size of the company, the level of coverage provided, the location of the company, the age and health status of employees, and the chosen insurance provider. On average, employers contribute a substantial portion of the premium costs, with employees also typically sharing in the expense through payroll deductions.
Yes, generally, employee health insurance premiums are tax-deductible for employers as a business expense. This means that the money spent on providing health insurance coverage to employees can be deducted from the employer's taxable income, thus reducing their tax liability.
Health insurance premiums paid by employees are often tax-deductible, but this depends on the specific tax laws of the country or region and the employee's individual circumstances. In many cases, employees can deduct their health insurance premiums if they itemize deductions on their tax returns, subject to certain limitations and thresholds.
In many jurisdictions, employers are not legally required to provide health insurance to their employees, unless mandated by specific laws or regulations. However, in some countries, such as the United States, there may be requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for certain employers to offer health insurance coverage to their full-time employees or face penalties.