Business News Daily provides resources, advice and product reviews to drive business growth. Our mission is to equip business owners with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions. As part of that, we recommend products and services for their success.
We collaborate with business-to-business vendors, connecting them with potential buyers. In some cases, we earn commissions when sales are made through our referrals. These financial relationships support our content but do not dictate our recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates products based on thousands of hours of research. We are committed to providing trustworthy advice for businesses. Learn more about our full process and see who our partners are here.
Looking for a way to provide your employees with health insurance? Learn how a PEO can help.
Offering health insurance to your employees can improve employee retention, help your business attract more applicants and keep your workforce healthier and happier. However, finding and administering health insurance benefits can be costly and time-consuming for small businesses.
A professional employer organization (PEO) is an excellent resource for businesses that want to save time and money on health insurance and other human resources (HR) functions. We’ll explore what’s involved with providing health insurance to your employees and how PEOs can help.
The cost of providing health insurance can vary widely. Employers typically get better rates when they have more employees to insure. This means that Fortune 500 companies typically will have access to lower rates, more plan options and better coverage for employees while small businesses can end up paying hundreds of dollars per employee for limited offerings.
The Kaiser Family Foundation reported in its Employer Health Benefits Survey that the average cost for employer-sponsored health premiums in 2023 was $8,435 for individuals and $23,968 for families. The way this premium is split between employers and employees varies. Employers typically cover most of the premium for employees and around half of the premium for dependents.
The cost of providing healthcare can add up, particularly if you are a smaller business unable to access the most competitive rates.
Partnering with a PEO is an excellent option for small businesses looking to reduce costs while providing better health insurance to their employees.
A PEO shares employer responsibilities with a business. It acts as the employer of record and provides payroll, HR, benefits and administrative support. However, the business retains managerial responsibilities and makes all hiring, promotion and firing decisions. Using a PEO is a way to offload some of the paperwork and responsibilities while still maintaining control over your workforce.
PEOs can often offer small businesses better benefits and rates. The PEO negotiates on behalf of all of the employees and clients it serves, so it can access offerings and rates typically reserved for very large companies.
While a business can research and obtain health insurance for its employees, getting insurance on your own can be tedious. You’ll need to research your options and build a relationship with an insurance broker or provider. Working with PEO can be an easier path, providing an organization with insight, detailed knowledge and better pricing.
Here are a few crucial factors to consider when obtaining health insurance for your business and how PEOs can help.
You need to consider some critical federal and state regulations when implementing health insurance for your employees:
You could manage these requirements and benefits administration tasks on your own, but if you use a PEO, you pass on those responsibilities to experienced professionals with detailed knowledge of regulations and state requirements.
It’s critical to understand the different types of health insurance and plan options available so you can provide employees with what they need.
Common health insurance plan options include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and high-deductible health plans (HDHPs).
Cost, flexibility, provider and health savings account (HSA) options vary. Here’s a breakdown of how they compare:
| HMO | PPO | HDHP |
---|---|---|---|
Cost | Somewhat high costs; different premiums, copays and deductibles depending on plan (bronze, silver or platinum) | Higher costs; different premiums, copays and deductibles depending on plan (bronze, silver or platinum) | Lower monthly premiums but high deductibles |
Flexibility | Restrictive | Flexible | Flexible |
Providers covered | In-network care only, sometimes limited to particular hospital systems (possible exceptions for emergency care) | Large number of in-network providers; access to out-of-network care at higher rates | Large number of in-network providers; access to out-of-network care at higher rates |
HSA eligibility | Yes, but only for certain high-deductible health plans | Yes, but only for certain high-deductible health plans | Yes, those enrolled in HDHP plan also eligible to enroll in HSA where pretax dollars can be designated for health expenses |
Employees’ plan preferences will depend on their needs:
Ideally, you’ll be able to offer your employees the best plans for their needs. While this can be challenging for businesses acting alone, PEOs make it easier. PEOs can negotiate rates with different providers and are more likely to have the bandwidth to manage benefits across various plans and provider options.
You’ll experience two main benefits when partnering with a PEO to handle your organization’s health insurance needs:
If you’re interested in partnering with a PEO to offer health insurance to your employees, evaluate your options carefully. Weigh the following factors before choosing a PEO.
Not all PEOs are accredited, but working with an accredited PEO can minimize your risk.
Three agencies provide accreditation or certification for PEOs: the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), IRS and Certification Institute.
Working with a PEO recognized by one of these three organizations ensures you’re choosing a reliable partner and minimizing the risks associated with co-employment arrangements.
Your PEO should fit your budget as well as your support needs. The cost of working with a PEO varies. PEOs typically use one of two pricing structures: per-employee or percentage basis:
Many PEOs only use one pricing model, but some let you choose the structure that works best for your business. Inquire about your options while shopping around.
Costs also depend on the services your business needs. Most PEOs offer bundled plans with core HR support services such as benefits, payroll and compliance. PEOs may also offer add-on services or customizable options to better suit the business’s unique needs.
Additionally, many PEOs have employee minimums. If you only have a few full-time employees and want to find health insurance for them, check with prospective PEOs to see if they require a certain number of employees.
There are many PEOs, each with slightly different insurance and benefits options. Read our in-depth PEO reviews to find the best PEO service provider for your needs:
While they specialize in health insurance, PEOs can also handle various aspects of employee management and administrative tasks. As you aim to better support your employees and optimize operations, a PEO service provider helps streamline your processes, ensure regulatory compliance and provide expert HR guidance. By partnering with the right PEO, you can focus on growing your business while knowing that your workforce management needs are in capable hands.
Shayna Waltower contributed to this article.