If you own a business, offering U.S. group insurance coverage to employees is a good idea. Providing group insurance in the United States can have tax benefits — contributions to employee health benefits may be 100% tax deductible — and providing group insurance coverage is often key in employee recruitment and retention.

Group insurance in the United States has many options for small and even micro-sized businesses. Know your employees and how healthy they are to select the US group insurance provider and plan that is right for your business.

When comparing United States group insurance providers consider:

1. Premium costs

2. Deductibles

3. Co-pays

4. Prescription benefits

5. Maximum annual out of pocket expense

6. Hospital and doctor choice

7. Lifetime maximum coverage

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get quotes online to find the best price on group insurance in the U.S.

Securing comparative quotes from United States group insurance providers before you buy will save you money. When seeking a quote, be prepared to answer the following: name, gender and age of each employee; whether each employee plans to include a spouse on children on his or her plan; how important are additional benefits such as maternity, dental or vision; as well as how much of the premium will the business pay.

I recommend: eHealthInsurance where you can compare an array of U.S. group insurance plans at one-time. VendorSeek offers five quotes from group insurance companies. United States group insurance companies like BlueCross and providers like Kaiser Permanente also provide plan quotes.

Talk to a broker or agent to avoid unnecessary US group insurance costs

To purchase a U.S. group insurance policy, you will have to speak with a broker or agent. Independent agents can write policies for a number of US insurance companies while contract agents write for only one US insurance provider. The broker or agent can help you avoid costly extras your business does not need. However, know what you want in a US group insurance plan before contacting an insurance professional. After interviewing the professional, ask for references and follow up on them. Make sure the professional you choose to work with to select your United States insurance group provider is licensed in your state.

I recommend: Provide an email address and TheMostDependable will send you a free selection guide to help you evaluate U.S. group insurance brokers. BuyerZone provides a list of licensed U.S. group insurance agents in your local area when you request a plan quote.

Research United States group insurance companies

Once you know what you want in a U.S. group insurance plan and you have at least five quotes in hand, research the financial stability and overall reputation for the U.S. group insurance companies you have in mind.

I recommend: A.M. Best or FitchRatings are great options to evaluate the U.S. group insurance providers’ financial stability.