Health insurance brokers always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Bay Area Health Insurance Marketing, Inc. separates itself by providing highly personalized service in every aspect of its operations–an approach that resonates with clients but is rarely seen in the insurance industry. “Our clients know we’ll be there to answer questions and help with their insurance issues whenever they need us,” says owner Bob Vinal. “They really appreciate the reliability of our services.”

Bay Area Health Insurance Marketing works with businesses and families throughout the Bay Area to find health care, life and disability insurance policies that fit their particular situations. In addition to providing insurance services, the company is an employee benefits specialist and helps small business owners, company employees and independent contractors with all types of benefit plans. It also provides advice and counsel on topics such as tax and legal regulations, plan designs and underwriting considerations.

Unlike insurance brokers that limit their interactions with clients once their insurance policies are in place, Bay Area Health Insurance Marketing takes a hands-on approach that includes helping with billing and claims discrepancies, resolving employee claims problems, and providing administrative assistance for issues such as insurance plan additions and COBRA compliance. “Often, employees are reluctant to broach claims issues with their employers, so we make sure to deal with these issues directly,” says Mr. Vinal. “It’s just another example of our dedication to customer satisfaction.”

Another distinguishing feature of Bay Area Health Insurance Marketing is the comprehensive approach it takes to each client’s insurance process. After an initial consultation to review current plans, establish objectives and develop a long-term strategy, the company conducts a market search to find the insurance plans that best suit the client’s needs. After that, it works directly with an administrative representative to communicate all the details to the client’s employees. “We also conduct an annual review to keep the client aware of the latest regulatory and tax implications,” adds Mr. Vinal. “If we assess the price and performance of a plan and discover it’s unsatisfactory, we’ll find a new one.”

Take simple steps to maximize employee benefits while controlling employer costs. Small business owners know the cost of employee benefit plans has risen dramatically in recent years. However, even though it has become more expensive to keep employees covered, an independent broker who specializes in employee benefit plans can often save a company thousands of dollars and create value-added service. To maximize your company’s employee benefit dollars, consider the following tips:

Determine your company’s needs. A qualified, independent group specialist can work with you and your employees to identify which benefits offer the best value for your organization. It’s important to gather the necessary information through past claims experience, employee surveys and seminars.

Understand the types of coverage. Group insurance contains many components—life insurance; disability insurance; health, dental and vision coverage—and many of these categories also have several sub-categories. It’s crucial that both you and your employees understand the value of the various options. This will help control costs while maximizing the perceived value of the plan to employees.

Know the insurance company. Many group carriers price their products aggressively in an attempt to earn new business, but when it comes time to renew coverage, they’re just as quick to increase premiums. Other insurance companies prefer to avoid certain types of businesses and price their plans accordingly. Work with your broker to determine which insurance companies are receptive to your type of business and which companies have a hassle-free claims process.

Work with an independent employee benefits specialist. An independent specialist gives you the advantage of comparing the costs and benefits of many group insurance carriers, as opposed to a sales agent who is generally limited to promoting a single insurance carrier’s products. Look for an experienced group specialist with proper credentials who comes recommended and is trusted within the business community. Ask for references or testimonials from existing clients.

Regularly review your plan with your broker. Your employee benefit needs can change with plan usage and your company’s business cycle, but your broker can offer recommendations to address these issues. “Plans change and carriers come up with new ideas all the time, but a good broker should keep on top of these changes for you,” says Bob Vinal, owner of Bay Area Health Insurance Marketing, Inc. in Menlo Park. There are many steps you can take to contain your costs, including increasing your deductible to keep in line with inflation, implementing annual maximums on certain components of the plan and setting a cap on plan dispensing fees.

Q: How can I lower my insurance premiums?

A: There are a variety of ways to lower insurance premiums. First, you should shop around and see what other carriers have to offer. You can also try moving to a high-deductible plan or adding a health reimbursement or savings account. We can negotiate with your insurance company to keep cost increases down. Since we handle a large number of clients, we have more negotiating clout than our clients do individually.

Q: Is my company required to offer employee health insurance?

A: Not at this time, but regulations regarding health insurance mandates are always changing. Part of our service is keeping our clients up-to-date on the latest changes.

Q: How many employees do I need to qualify for group insurance?

A: You only need a total of two employees to qualify for group insurance.

Q: How much does my company have to contribute to employee insurance plans?

A: There’s no mandatory level, but most insurance companies aren’t willing to offer a group plan unless the company pays at least 50 percent.

Q: Can you help my company manage its insurance plans?

A: Yes. We’ll work with your employees, explain the benefits to them and make sure they’re enrolled in the right plans. We do the same with new employees and additional family members (in the case of a marriage or birth). And if you have to terminate an employee, we’ll work with them to make sure everything is processed correctly.

Q: Can employee contributions be taken out pre-tax?

A: Yes, but it’s not a straightforward process. You need to implement a Section 125 premium conversion plan. We can help set that up for you.

Q: Do I need to provide COBRA coverage for my employees?

A: If your plan covers 20 or more employees, you need to be COBRA compliant. We’ll work with you to make sure you meet all the regulatory requirements.