Are You Leaving Health Insurance Money on the Table? . . Top 10 Money-wasters for Group Health Insurance Benefits

decrease their risk tolerance and policies. A renewal period is a great opportunity to make sure you have the right coverage for your circumstances.

9. Not Using the Right Tax Treatment for Your Company

Although we encounter this particular “money-waster” often, we are not an accounting firm and suggest that you speak with your tax advisor, accountant, or CPA before doing anything.

Pre-Tax or After-Tax Dollars:

Typically speaking, health insurance premiums are tax deductible with pre-tax dollars, while co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, and prescription co-pays are usually paid with after-tax dollars. It might be a good idea for your accountant to work with your broker to come up with a tax strategy that works well with your human resources and health benefits objectives.

Employee Tax Treatment

Are the employees paying for their portion of the health insurance premium through the use of a “Section 125” premium only plan? This will allow employees to pay the health insurance premium on a pre-tax basis thereby reducing the employer payroll taxes.

You may want to consider offering a Flexible Savings Account (FSA). An FSA allows employees to pay for a portion of their un-reimbursed medical expenses on a tax-free basis.

10. Losing Money Due to Poor Administration.

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