Businesses with at least two full-time taxable employees or other associations such as labor unions qualify for Wisconsin group health insurance. The provider usually writes one master contract to cover the entire group.

WI group health insurance providers offer small businesses additional benefits other than medical care for its employees. WI group insurance also offers tax advantages because all of the employer contributions are usually tax deductible. Additionally, the financial risk for a group health plan is distributed between all of the members of the group, usually resulting in greater coverage and lower premiums.

There are three key points that affect the premiums of Wisconsin group health insurance plans:

1. The Preferred Provider Organization. A health provider generally must be a member of the plan's PPO before a Wisconsin group insurance company will pay for any treatments.

2. The amount that the employee pays before a Wisconsin group insurance company will cover the costs of treatment. A higher deductible usually means a lower premium.

3. The maximum amount that group health insurance in WI will pay. This is known as the benefit cap or coverage limit.

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

Contact a Wisconsin group health insurance company that specializes in small business insurance

Your employees needs may be best served by a company with experience in tailoring health insurance to the small business rather than one that normally caters to multi-national corporations.

I recommend: Spiris is licensed to sell group health insurance in Wisconsin and specializes in group health insurance for the small business. Spiris offers free quotes and 24/7 service with a live representative.

Find cost and coverage information for group health insurance in Wisconsin

WI group medical insurance has a much lower health requirement for its policy holders and the premiums are also lower than they are for individual health insurance plans.

I recommend: Use the plan finder at Wisconsin Health Insurance Network by entering your zip code. This tool is specifically intended for Wisconsin residents only and works with major insurance companies such as Humana, United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin.

Solicit a quote from a specific agent for Wisconsin group medical insurance

Seek to have a single broker through which you will obtain all of your insurance. This will eliminate the need to deal with multiple insurance providers.

I recommend: Complete one of the group enrollment forms at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin. This company has served Wisconsin since 1940 and is known for its stability in the insurance market.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Offer a consumer-driven group health insurance plan for employees who wish to be more engaged in their health care. This type of Wisconsin group medical insurance usually offsets a low-cost, high-deductible plan with Health Reimbursement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts that allow a member to manage expenditures more closely than with a traditional health care plan.