Are you asking the right questions about the health insurance options you’re considering for employees? The answers can make a difference in whether employees stay or leave.

Attracting and retaining employees has never been more challenging. The quality of your benefits packages can set you apart from the competition. Here’s a checklist to ensure you’re considering the right health issues.

  • Competitive Cost
  • No ‘Shared Savings’ Fees
  • Adequate Providers
  • Robust Network
  • Reputation of Fairness

How confident are you that the contract you negotiate will remain unchanged?

If your insurance company has a track record for failing to honor fairly negotiated contracts, your employees could face skyrocketing out-of-pocket medical costs and, in some cases, less access to the healthcare they need.

Do you believe your insurance company will continue to keep providers in network?

In Florida, UnitedHealthcare has been reducing the size of its network, kicking trusted healthcare providers out-of-network while earning billions in profits.

Are there enough medical providers convenient to your employees?

By kicking providers out of network, insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare have a smaller network of healthcare providers. That may make it more difficult for UnitedHealthcare customers to deliver a baby, receive trauma care, or have heart surgery without needing an out-of-network provider.

Does your insurance carrier have the right priorities?

If UnitedHealthcare is on the short list for your Florida employees, beware. Your employees deserve a health insurance company that puts customer service over excessive profits. Look no further than UnitedHealthcare’s record-setting profits in 2023 — a $22.4 billion windfall — to understand its priorities.

What’s the risk of “Shared Savings” fees?

Here’s a hidden fee that can significantly increase your company’s insurance costs: “Shared Savings.” When insurance companies throw providers out-of-network, employers pay higher fees that are disingenuously referred to as “Shared Savings” fees. Research and seek out insurance companies that do not charges these fees.

Does your insurance carrier have a track record of fines and violations?

While all insurers have issues, one company stands out: UnitedHealthcare. It has racked up more than half a billion dollars in fines and penalties in recent years—most of them related to consumer protection issues: unfair health insurance reimbursement rates, failing to properly handle insurance claims, overcharging for health insurance policies, improperly denying claims, and overcharging patients for out-of-network services.

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