Employee health insurance

Ken C.

I hate to paint with a broad brush, but in my area, plumbing and heating companies generally seem to offer skimpy health care benefits, especially if you need coverage for your wife and/or children. Many companies will pay all or most of the premium for a single plan, but if you want coverage for your wife/children, you have to pay the entire difference, which is substantial (for example, $325 a month for individual coverage, versus $800 for family coverage). So, in this example, many companies would require that the employee pay the $475 a month difference. I realize health care costs are out of control. I don't want this thread to start a debate on the reasons/solutions for the health care crisis. Rather, this is simply an informal poll of what other companies in the industry offer their employees for health benefits (how much of the premium do you pay; single only, or family coverage; number of months before new hires are eligible for coverage; what's common in your area; what you think is fair; why you offer full coverage or don't). I think it would be fair if a company would at least split the difference 50-50 with the employee for the cost of a family plan. If a company is looking for stable, reliable employees, then many of those employees are married or have children (I don't mean to imply that all younger guys are unstable) . Also, another trend I've noticed in my area is that more and more employers are making new hires wait six months before becoming eligible for health insurance, versus the usual three months.

Rich_3

Dear Ken C. ;

We pay for our employees health insurance costs. I do not know of any other company in our area that pays the total cost for a family plan. I except/require the absolute best from our technicians. I have even told a technician to go home and shave before going to the first call.

We also charge for our services, which is why we can afford (at least for now) to pay for health insurance. I remember going without in my own situation and my wife got sick. We as employers should provide benefits to attract excellent employees.

I hear the rhetoric about how the industry needs to become more professional. Well, let us all put our money where our mouths are and attract; moreover; retain excellent folks. This is one part of the overall equation. Thanks for listening, and best of luck and success.


Respectfully,

Richard Fox

Mad Dog

We ante up for the whole clan, but most in our area don't cover

the full nut if any at all. The large oil companies usually have a nice package, but many are union too. Employees need to prove their worth and their intentions to stick around in order to get bennies. They must also be told that it is not a given that they get them partial or full. If you want top-notch people - you have no choice. Mad Dog

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joel_9

insurance

We pay 100% but it is out of controll over 800 per month something must be done, liability going outta sight too. Big problem near me as more and more companies that used to offer it are getting awayfrom it or making guys pay at least 50%. I wish they'd just do the right thing and raise thier rates to cover it. Another huge problem that goes along with this is that most people in other industries are paid a salary not hourly. So these people have for the most part absolutely NO IDEA what they get per hr and what all those nice bennies they are getting at the high tech company cost. I think this makes it hard for people to justify what a typical heating company charges per hr or flat rate. They can't equate it to anything in their world.They may get insurance but most have NO idea what it costs.

S Ebels

Look into

A Medical Savings Account plan. W switched to an MSA type plan this year and cut our costs by 40%.

Briefly, you or your employee fund the savings account which is used for deductibles, co-pays, etc. This "deposit" earns interest just like a savings account, hence the name. The rest of the policy is pretty much standard. What it does for the insurance company is eliminate a lot of payouts from their own pocket for minor events. What it does for you is covers your butt when a major event happens. So far, it's worked well for us.

The savings account can also be used for vision and dental expenses.

Mad Dog

exactly Joel

we pay 950.00 per month for a married man and a kid. Mad Dog

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Paul Mitchell_2

Here is our deal

We pay for them 100%...950.00 per mo. for family 400 or so single. Problem is most guys no matter how good start to forget the bennies...Must admit we have a real good crew but still gotta remind them once in a while. Standard bull...we get a good rate at first then we gotta look again because after a year the rates go up...The insurance companies gotta cut that out...problem is we all pay..gotta