If a small business offers health insurance, should it be offered equally to all employees?

Question

I work for a small business (less than 20 employees). I was offered health insurance when I started but was on my husbands plan. He is going back to school and going down to part-time at his job and therefore losing his benefits. I inquired about being added to the benefit plan at my job (I am a full-time doctor of audiology at an ENT practice for 3 yrs). My office manager said that I would have to either pay the full amount ($800 a month) or have it deducted from my pay. I know that there are people in my exact position that pay less than $100 a month for health insurance and others that pay less than that. If an employer offers health benefits, shouldn't they be offered the same to all employees? I appreciate any feedback. I don't know whether to fight this or get an individual plan on my own.

Answer 1

Yes. All employees in the same class (management VS grunt) must be offered the same benefits, however with an individual plan you own it, not your employer. As long as you continue to pay the premiums, the policy is yours. Individual insurance is also less expensive than group health insurance. This is contrary to what most people believe. The reason is  group plans must accept everyone in the group, regardless of their health.

I would fight it any way, just for fun.

Don

http://mtnhealthinsurance.com  

Answer 2

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Answer 3

No, they don't have to offer the same exact thing to all employees.  They DO have to offer the same thing, to each CLASS of employee.  So Class A employees, get XYZ plan with this much contribution.  

If you're asking to get added with a FAMILY plan, it's highly possible that your employer pays, say, $200 a month towards each employee's coverage.  Which would leave a single employee paying about $100 a month, and a family plan employee, about $800 or so a month.  Or, an employee could be "one employee plus one child".  

So, it's not that each employee gets to pay the same amount.  And you haven't said anything that makes me think that different plans are being offered to different employees.  

But if you QUALIFY for an individual plan, it's probably going to be cheaper.  Because most likely, it won't offer maternity coverage, or cover any preexisting conditions.

Answer 4

It could be that the business changed their requirements and the others are grandfathered in.

In my company - they changed how they calculate retirement benefits- so new hires are under the new plan - the ones that were there when the change was made, were grandfathered in so we are still under the old plan. Now, if I quit and then get re-hired, I would be under the new plan.   Granted, it's rare to see something like that with health insurance - but I suppose it could happen.

Your best bet is to not jump to conclusions and just ask your office manager about it (in a nice, nonthreatening, just wondering kind of way) There may be a reason for it.

Answer 5

This sounds like a little discrimination to me.  Check it out with a lawyer, it could save you 600-700 a month if it is discrimination, as they would have to take you into the plan at the $100 or so level if that is what the others are paying.  Good luck.