This page includes news and tips for small business owners who provide employee benefits as well as self-employed people for provide their own coverage. Freedom Benefits provides compensation and benefits planning advice to cut costs, save on employer and employee taxes, improve value received, increase employee satisfaction and speed up wealth building for plan participants.
Individual major medical insurance enrollment for 2018 is open from November 1 through December 15, 2017 at the federal government’s insurance web site. You can see plans and rates without creating an online account here. We offer limited free personal support with questions through OnlineNavigatorTM service.
Short term options, dental coverage, supplemental insurance and other health benefit plans are available through multiple sources. We suggest Smart Insurance Marketplace as the first place to look. Telephone and email support is available.
Freedom Benefits small business employee benefit plans now allow for inclusion of a wider range of options including: 1) Group or Individual Health Insurance, 2) Health Savings Account, 3) Preferred Provider Discount Pricing Service (including prescription drugs at over 45,000 pharmacies nationwide, Telehealth for facetime or call to a physician 24/7, Karis360 Suite of services including Healthcare Navigator, Surgery Saver and Bill Negotiator), 4) Health Reimbursement Arrangement, 5) Special Purpose Health Reimbursement Arrangement, 6) Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement, 7) Flexible Spending Account including Dependent Care Plan. 8) 401(k) Plan, 9) Pension Plan, 10) IRA or SEP Retirement Savings Plan, 11) Deferred Compensation Plan, 12) Thrift Savings Plan, 13) Employee Home Office Expense Reimbursement Plan, 14) Employee Travel Expenses Reimbursement Plan, 15) Employee Commuter Mass Transit and Parking Expense Reimbursement Plan, 16) Employee Work-Related Expense Reimbursement Plan, and 17) Other benefits specified by the employer.
11/11/2017 – North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey advises state residents that Obamacare is the best option for 2018 despite the state government’s and many resident’s political resistance to the program. Most applicants are eligible for premium subsidies. “If you do not have health insurance elsewhere, I recommend that you go to the ACA’s website at www.healthcare.gov to see if one of the plans offered on the federal exchange is right for you. Many people will find savings by enrolling in one of the ACA plans.” The state hopes to make more options available in the future.
For a 40 year old applicant who does not qualify for a premium subsidy the monthly premiums range from $443 to $740.