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Category: Employee Benefits

  • 5 Trends Shaping the Benefits Landscape for Small & Mid-sized Businesses

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    Justin

    As the first half of 2025 comes to a close, the employer-sponsored benefits market faces complex challenges. Political shifts, market instability and stubborn inflation have all contributed to those challenges, making it ever more difficult for businesses to provide high-value benefits while managing costs. Small and midsize employers (those with fewer than 50 employees) have…

  • Government Shutdown and Why it Matters for Healthcare and Open Enrollment.

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    Justin

    What happened (and why it matters) Key Open Enrollment dates (unchanged as of today) Bottom line: Open Enrollment is still happening. Expect thinner call-center support and slower processing in some areas, but core functions are operating. What’s affected—and what isn’t Individuals & Families (Marketplace/ACA) What continues What may be slower or constrained Small Groups &…

  • Employee Benefits Trends for 2025: What Does the Future of Employee Benefits Look Like?

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    Justin

    The new year is an ideal time to evaluate how your business retains and engages employees. Emerging employee benefits trends offer insight into evolving priorities such as financial wellness, tailored benefit solutions, employee wellbeing, and support for remote and hybrid work models. These trending employee benefits may help shed light on workers’ needs and how…

  • Most Employers are Giving Employees $ For ICHRA: source

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    Justin

    A small, growing number of employers are putting health insurance decisions entirely in the hands of their workers. Instead of offering traditional insurance, they’re giving workers money to buy their own coverage in what’s known as Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or ICHRAs. Advocates say this approach provides small companies that couldn’t afford insurance a chance to offer…

  • Using an ICHRA for the First Time: A Complete Guide for Small Businesses and Employees

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    Justin

    An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) is a modern, flexible alternative to traditional group health insurance. It allows employers to reimburse employees tax-free for individual health insurance coverage and other qualifying medical expenses. Unlike group health insurance—where the employer chooses one plan for all—an ICHRA lets employees pick the plan that fits them best,…

  • Increasing Renewal Rate in the Standard Group Health Insurance Marketplace: What Small Businesses Need to Know

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    Justin

    Introduction For small businesses with 2 to 15 employees, group health insurance remains one of the biggest recurring expenses. While coverage is vital to attract and retain talent, many business owners face annual renewal rate increases that feel unpredictable and difficult to control. Understanding what drives these increases—and what can be done to mitigate them—is…

  • How Benefit Plans Became a Competitive Weapon (1980–Today)

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    Justin

    Introduction Across four decades, a consistent playbook emerges: when companies share upside and provide tangible, portable benefits, they reduce turnover, attract better talent, and unlock productivity that compounds into cost and service advantages. Large-scale studies of “shared capitalism” (broad-based profit sharing, stock ownership, and options) find higher engagement, lower shirking, and improved performance—especially when paired…

  • Level-Funded Group Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Businesses

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    Justin

    1. What is Level-Funded Group Health Insurance? Level-funded group health insurance is a hybrid between fully insured and self-funded health plans. This structure gives businesses predictable costs with potential refunds, making it attractive for cost-conscious small businesses. 2. How Level-Funded Plans Compare to Other Options Feature / Plan Type Level-Funded Group Health Insurance ICHRA Self-Funded…

  • What Is ICHRA Group Health Insurance?

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    Justin

    An Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) is not an insurance policy itself, but an employer-funded reimbursement mechanism that was established in 2020. Employers set a fixed amount of pre-tax dollars for employees to use toward individual health insurance premiums or qualified medical expenses. Employees must purchase their coverage on the individual market—through state or…

  • Best Retirement & Health Insurance Solutions for Small Businesses with 10–20 Employees

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    Justin

    When your business grows beyond the micro stage (2–5 employees) into the 10–20 employee range, your benefit strategy changes. You have more payroll, more diversity in employee income levels, and potentially higher turnover risks. This means you’ll want retirement and health benefits that balance tax efficiency, employee retention, and administrative complexity. Below is a comprehensive…

  • Best Retirement & Health Insurance Strategies for Small Businesses with 5–10 Employees

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    Justin

    Small businesses with 5–10 employees are at the size where benefit planning has a big impact on employee retention, tax savings, and long-term business growth. The right retirement plan and group health insurance structure can create thousands in annual savings for the owner while offering competitive benefits to staff. In this article, we’ll break down:…

  • The Best Retirement & Health Insurance Plans for Small Businesses with 2–5 Employees

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    Justin

    Comparing S-Corps vs C-Corps, Tax Implications, and Real-World Examples Introduction For small businesses with 2–5 employees, selecting the right retirement plan and group health insurance is a strategic decision that directly impacts: The “best” choice isn’t one-size-fits-all — it depends heavily on business structure (S-Corp vs C-Corp), profitability, and the age/compensation profile of the employees.…

  • How ICHRA Benefits Small Businesses- Payroll, FICA and Income Tax Breakdown

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    Justin

    WHAT IS AN ICHRA? ICHRAs (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements) allow employers to reimburse employees tax-free for health insurance premiums and qualified medical expenses, instead of offering a traditional group health insurance plan. 🔍 Key Features: 🆚 ICHRA VS. STANDARD GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE Feature ICHRA Group Health Insurance Employer Cost Control Fixed monthly reimbursements Premium…

  • Standard Group Health Insurance: What Small Business Owners Need to Know — Even with ZERO Employees

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    Justin

    Introduction:Health insurance is one of the most important decisions a small business owner can make—for themselves, their families, and potentially their employees. Even if you’re a solo entrepreneur or sole proprietor with no employees, understanding standard group health insurance and how it differs from individual coverage is key to making the most financially beneficial decision.…

  • What Is an ICHRA?

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    Justin

    A Complete Guide to Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements for Small Businesses In the evolving world of employee benefits, healthcare costs continue to pose a major challenge for small business owners. Many are seeking flexible, cost-effective ways to offer health benefits without the high expense and complexity of traditional group health insurance. That’s where the…