Finding the right health insurance for your employees can be a challenge, especially when you’re trying to balance your budget with the varying needs of your team. This is where CaliforniaChoice comes into play.
What is California Choice?
For over 30 years, CaliforniaChoice has helped California small businesses provide employee health benefits: More choice, flexibility and cost control. Rather than enrolling everyone in a health plan, CaliforniaChoice gives employees access to 7 leading health plans and more than 100 coverage options through a program.
Why Small Businesses with 1-20 Employees Choose CaliforniaChoice
Here are five reasons why small businesses with 1-20 employees should choose CaliforniaChoice employee health insurance
1. 7 health plans to choose from: HMO, PPO, and HSA options
Your employees are not all alike. They have different doctors, families, budgets, and health care needs. With CaliforniaChoice, employees can choose from a variety of options HMO, PPO and HSA Compatible High Deductible Health Plansdepending on availability in their area.
For example, an employee may need a PPO because the preferred doctor is in the network. Others may prefer an HMO with lower premiums. Others may want an HSA-compatible plan to pair with a health savings account.
CaliforniaChoice includes the following plans:
- anthem blue cross
- health network
- Kaiser Permanente
- Sharp Health Plan
- Sutter Health Plan
- United Healthcare
- Western Health Advantages
Program availability varies by location, but the goal is simple. Give employees more ways to find coverage that’s right for them.
2. Defined Contributions to a Predictable Benefit Budget
One of the biggest challenges in providing employee health insurance is understanding how much it will cost your business. Provided by CaliforniaChoice fixed contribution Models give you more control over your employer’s contributions.
You can choose to contribute a fixed amount or a percentage as per the various options available under the plan. You can structure your contributions around specific plans, coverage levels, benefit levels, all eligible plans, or the lowest-cost plan. Employees then apply your donation toward the coverage of their choice. If the option they choose costs more than your contribution, they will pay the difference through payroll deductions. Your contributions can also be reviewed and adjusted at renewal time, helping you plan your employee benefits budget each year.
3. Optional dental, vision and life insurance
Health insurance is important, but employees often want more than health insurance. CaliforniaChoice provides employers with optional benefits to help complete employee benefit plans, including:
- dental insurance
- vision coverage
- Chiropractic and Acupuncture Treatment Scope
- Life insurance and accidental death insurance
Adding voluntary benefits can give employees more ways to personalize their coverage while helping you build a more competitive benefits package.
4. Prescription, fitness and pre-tax savings plans
CaliforniaChoice also offers value-added plans that provide savings beyond traditional health insurance. Depending on your plan, you and your employees can receive benefits and discounts, such as:
- Save on prescription drugs Save up to 80% with California Rx Card
- pet insurance discounts via MetLife and Spot
- fitness savingsincludes a $28 monthly gym membership and discounts on select fitness products
- Hearing health savings About services and products
- california benefits Savings on entertainment, travel, theme parks, sporting events and more
- Premium plan only (POP) Allow eligible employees to pay certain insurance premiums before taxes
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Available to qualifying groups with 15+ employees
These extras can add value to your benefits package without requiring your business to pay for each benefit.
5. Voluntary benefits paid by employees at no cost to you
Some employees may need additional protection beyond health care. Through the CaliforniaChoice membership marketplace, employees can also choose from voluntary benefits such as accident insurance, critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity and legal plans.
These benefits are paid for by employees, so there are no additional premium costs for your business. This is another way to give employees more flexibility to tailor benefits packages to their individual needs.
One bill, one website, one benefits management plan
Giving employees more options doesn’t necessarily mean you need to take on more work. CaliforniaChoice combines health and optional benefits in one plan with just one bill, one website and one place to manage your group coverage. And you don’t have to figure it all out yourself.
Your broker can help you compare your options, develop a contribution strategy, and find the right coverage for your business and employees. If you don’t have an agent yet, we make it easy to connect with one here.
