| Many small to mid-sized business owners in Dallas | | | | needs and ask the questions that are needed to |
| Fort Worth turn over duties like shopping for | | | | provide the type of plan designs and programs |
| more affordable group health insurance quotes to | | | | that will meet the business needs. |
| their administrative assistants. This is an | | | | A company does not pay any more or any less |
| acceptable and perfectly normal practice. | | | | for going through a group health insurance broker; |
| Yet, an administrative assistant is often left with | | | | the rates are the same whether a company |
| little guidance other from their boss other than | | | | works directly with an insurance company or |
| "find a group health plan in Texas that is more | | | | through a broker. And since a broker will be much |
| affordable than what we have," or to "shop | | | | more attentive to the company needs than a big |
| around to find the best rates." This article is | | | | group health insurance company, the company will |
| designed to give the administrative assistance | | | | get service and expertise at no extra cost. |
| some basic information that can help the overall | | | | Actually, every group health insurance company in |
| process and the results of shopping around for | | | | Texas reserves the right to modify the initial |
| group health insurance. | | | | rates quoted to a company based on the |
| First of all, businesses should know that group | | | | underwriting of the individual employee health |
| health insurance is a highly regulated and very | | | | insurance applications, and a knowledgeable broker |
| competitive business. Four health insurance | | | | will make certain that their client knows this and |
| carriers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, United | | | | may ask questions regarding the number of |
| Healthcare, Aetna and Unicare represent about 80 | | | | major health claims that the company incurred |
| % of the small group health insurance market in | | | | during the past year, or the number of known |
| Texas. Each of these four group health insurance | | | | employees or dependents with health issues, so |
| companies are financially "A rated, and have their | | | | that the broker can give the company a better |
| own extensive PPO health care provider | | | | estimate of what the final rates may be before |
| networks throughout the state. | | | | the applications are submitted to the group health |
| Many of the other group health insurance | | | | insurance carrier for underwriting approval. |
| companies that offer health plans "rent" another | | | | A knowledgeable group health insurance agent |
| company's PPO healthcare provider network. | | | | should also have a good general understanding of |
| Some of these other health insurance companies | | | | which insurance companies are likely to be the |
| are not as financially strong, with an AM Best | | | | most competitive based on the type of company, |
| rating of less than "A." While many of these other | | | | the size of the business, and overall age makeup |
| group health insurance companies are good | | | | of the company's workforce even before the |
| companies, a company should be sure to review | | | | underwriting process is completed. |
| plans from the top four companies first and | | | | A good to great group health insurance agent is |
| should have a good reason why to consider | | | | truly a trusted advisor to the firm, and can |
| another company's plans. | | | | recommend plan designs and programs that over |
| If a business owner or administrative assistant | | | | the long term will save the company hundreds of |
| picks up the phone and contacts each insurance | | | | thousands of dollars, such as Consumer Driven |
| company individually, they will waste considerable | | | | Health Plans like health savings accounts or health |
| time and effort, and will not get any better rates | | | | reimbursement arrangements, and |
| than if they contacted a competent group health | | | | complementary programs like employee wellness |
| insurance broker who represents all or several | | | | plans that can work in tandem to reduce future |
| companies. | | | | health insurance rate increases. |
| Likewise, if a business owner or administrative | | | | A company should beware if a group health |
| assistant surfs the net and fills out a form with | | | | insurance agent promises to "save the company |
| their company's contact information and | | | | money" with competitive rates, without knowing |
| employee census information in order to get a | | | | anything about the company. Chances are the |
| quote, they can be assured of getting several | | | | agent is trying to tell the company what they |
| calls a day for months, as that online form that | | | | want to hear in order to win their business. |
| they filled out was likely from a lead generation | | | | Likewise, the group health insurance agent who |
| company that turns around and sells that | | | | "pushes" one company's plans without presenting |
| information to dozens or hundreds of agents who | | | | alternatives may have a hidden agenda. And the |
| will in turn contact the company and ask for an | | | | group health insurance agent who offers a round |
| appointment. | | | | of golf, a free lunch, or ticket to sporting events |
| The best place for a business owner or | | | | to win a company's business may also not have |
| administrative assistant to start is to select a | | | | knowledge and expertise or have the company's |
| knowledgeable group health insurance broker or | | | | best interests at heart. |
| multi-line insurance agency who will listen to their | | | | |