Who is Covered by Group Health Plans??

When looking for employee benefits, one of the most important items to offer is group health insurance. Everyone needs health insurance, after all.  

Technically, offering group health insurance to your employees isn’t legally required. However, by offering coverage you can avoid tax penalties, and group health coverage is important for every business with employees. Medical bills can be incredibly expensive, so most employees look for a company that offers reliable and comprehensive health insurance coverage. But who qualifies for group health insurance? 

Families are Eligible for Group Health Benefits 

Group health insurance is typically available for all full-time employees (working over 30 hours a week) and their dependents. All full-time employees are eligible for group health insurance regardless of health or preexisting conditions. Some part-time employees may also be covered under group health insurance, depending on the employer’s policy.  

Group health insurance covers everything from the routine to the specialty medical care that you might need to remain health insurance. Generally, the cost of care with insurance is astronomically lower than it would be if you were to pay out of pocket. 

Since group health insurance costs are shared among the business, multiple employees and their families, the premiums and deductibles are typically affordable. Group health insurance is often more affordable for families than individual health insurance policies and can cover dependents up to 26 years old. 

Who Counts as a Dependent? 

Eligible dependents that can be covered under group health insurance include spouses, children and occasionally domestic partners. Dependents receive health insurance through the insured employee. If the employee leaves the company, they and their dependents may be left without coverage if they don’t carry individual health insurance policies. 

How Does a Business Qualify for Group Health Insurance? 

Your business may or may not qualify for group health insurance. However, small businesses with 2 to 50 full-time employees automatically qualify.  

Even sole proprietors with only one employee may qualify for group health insurance, as the proprietor or owner is also counted as an employee when it comes to group coverage. Keep in mind that, as an employer, if you offer health insurance coverage to any part-time employees, you must offer it to all part-time employees. 

If you’re an employer, it’s beneficial to review other companies’ plans and ask employees what they would like to see in their employee benefits. The job field is competitive, and when weighing a new job offer, employees primarily look for great benefits packages both for themselves and their families. Having an impressive employee benefits package can not only draw talent to your company but keep them there long-term. 

To get the group health benefits that are best for your company, just speak to one of our agents. We are committed to working with you to get the benefits that are best for your business’s budget, but that also won’t deny essential coverage to your employees.