Arizona Group Health
UPDATE: Here is an online calculator to help small employers see how much they may save with an Arizona group health tax credit. A maximum of 35% tax credit for small Arizona group health plans is available.
Welcome to Michael Higgins Insurance. For more than 30 years we have been offering Arizona small businesses individual, family, and Arizona group health insurance policies to fit every need.
Arizona Group Health
As an Arizona business owner you know that offering Arizona group health to your employees is a definite plus when trying to attract top employees. At Higgins Companies, we understand that certain benefits, such as attractive Arizona group health insurance, enlarge the pool of qualified applicants for positions at your business.
At the same time, for the owner of a small business, affordable Arizona group health premiums may represent a sizable portion of their monthly business expenses. By offering affordable, reputable Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona group health, your company will gain an invaluable edge over competitors.
Arizona small business owners, defined as an employer who has at least two employees, but not more than 50 eligible employees, are not required to offer group health insurance. In 2014 large employers will be required to offer Arizona group health. However, offering Arizona group health is important if you want to attract and retain qualified employees. There are also state and federal tax rebates available for qualified individuals and companies. When small businesses offer group health insurance, both state and federal rules and regulations apply, (also known as mandates,) as well as any requirements imposed by the individual insurance companies offering Arizona group health.
Arizona Group Health
There was a time when purchasing a small Arizona group health insurance policy was less expensive than purchasing individual policies for each of the employees. Those days are gone unfortunately, and have been for quite a few years. Yet, the belief still holds today that group health insurance is less expensive than individual insurance policies. In fact, individual policies are half the cost of Arizona group health rates, maybe more depending on specific demographics. This is primarily due to all the federal and state mandates, those things that must be covered by the insurance company such as free birth control. The only real difference in coverage between individual plans and Arizona group health is that maternity must be included on group plans. Maternity coverage is rarely available on individual policies, except of course in cases involving complications. That is not to say that those wishing to lower their monthly premium by purchasing an individual plan instead of an Arizona group health plan cannot still have a child affordably. There is much more on this topic of Arizona group health when considering have a child, simply click the highlighted link.
Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona (BCBSAZ) provides employer groups with three flexible Arizona group health insurance plans: PPO, HMO, and HSA. Dual option (PPO and HMO or HSA), is also available. Blue Cross AZ. dental insurance, and Arizona dental insurance plans from TDAHP, (Total Dental Administrators Health Plan, Inc.,) may be found by clicking the highlighted link. With so many choices Michael Higgins Insurance believes you will find an Arizona group health plan that can accommodate your budget.
One of the main reasons why an employer with a small company would buy Arizona group health insurance is if there are serious pre-existing conditions with a number of employees within the group that must be covered. Individual plans offer many of the same benefits as the larger Arizona group health insurance plans, are considerably less expensive, and use the same network of doctors. With individual plans Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona may charge more for certain pre-existing conditions, or deny coverage outright. Not so on Arizona group health insurance plans, the insurance company must accept all group applicants. They may limit benefits for a period of time if the group is not currently insured, and also expect to pay more depending upon the seriousness of the pre-existing conditions.
Arizona Group Health
Individual health insurance plans are certainly worth looking into though, with monthly premiums being more than half the cost of group plans. Read more about Arizona individual health plans.
Larger groups with four or more employees should consider group health insurance in my opinion. Better yet, get a group quote and compare the rates to the individual/family rates posted on this website, (Free Online Quote link located on the upper right.) Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona offers group health insurance to groups of two or more. When considering a higher deductible PPO plan that still covers office visits, maternity, medications, urgent care, and annual physicals, the monthly premium can be very reasonable. Also consider an HSA, (Health Savings Account,) qualified plan. An HSA plan would be my first choice actually. Read more about Arizona HSA health insurance.
Prescott, Flagstaff or Tucson small businesses with two or more employees may also consider coverage on a group health insurance plan, all towns and cities within the state qualify. The number of employees you are looking to cover will usually determine the type of group health insurance plan to purchase.
Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona (BCBSAZ) provides businesses operating within the Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff areas the same flexible group health insurance plans for any small business within Arizona.
For instance: The BluePreferred HSA/PPO lets employers offer plans with all the advantages of an HSA such as free annual physicals: extensive provider networks and the freedom to choose providers within or outside of the network. There are several HSA Arizona group health plans to choose from. For further information on the BluePreferred HSA plans
Also available for small group health insurance employers are the BluePreferred PPO plans and the BlueSelect Plus HMO plan. The BluePreferred PPO plan has several options to choose from, and the HMO has one option. To view more information on these plans please click on the free online quote link on the upper left of this page.
The premiums for almost all insurance policies, group or individual, include a commission to pay agents for selling and servicing these policies. You do not pay an extra fee to a medical health insurance agent above your group policy amount. You will pay this included commission charge regardless of whether you buy directly from the insurance company or from an independent insurance agent. By having a Broker of Record, your business has a specific individual who represents your company, helps solve problems that may develop, keeps you apprised of current group insurance pricing, benefit changes, and answers any questions regarding other issues that might affect your group policy. If you purchase directly from the insurance company, you will likely not have any of these extra services.
If you’re shopping for group health insurance or are considering changing plans, please contact Michael Higgins Insurance. As your Broker of Record Michael Higgins will strive to give you the best coverage and the most options, at the most affordable rate.
To obtain a free quote please call Mike Higgins, days or evenings, seven days a week, at 602.405.8769, or email your company’s information and census to Mike Higgins and a quote will be generated usually within two business days. E-Mail: info@higginscompanies.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.