Human Resource Management

I attended a Clark County Chamber of Commerce event this morning and had a rare opportunity to hear from six insurance professionals about health care for small businesses. I came away with many thoughts about health care and reform but here are some to pass on to you:

* Group plans are available to business owners with an average of at least two "permanent" employees who are employed at the beginning of the health benefit year.
* Business owners who want to provide health plans have many choices--probably too many to sort out cost-effectively alone. Take advantage of expert insurance brokers who can help you meet your needs.
* One of the best ways to keep health care costs down is individual accountability. Help employees educate themselves about best health care practices and encourage them to be accountable for their behavior. This includes letting them know they can ask about health care costs and choose cost-effective treatments.
* Employers can choose from two funding options to help employees pay for and manage their health care expenses: a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). Both of which shift some of the employer's cost burden.

When you want to attract and retain the best employees, benefits is a big topic of discussion. If you shop around and know the options, you may be able to offer more than you think.