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For small-to-midsize nonprofits, choosing an insurance plan might seem daunting. With so many options available, it can be hard to distinguish between them all and to identify what is the best fit for your organization. The advice of a broker or consultant can be beneficial, but they shouldn't be the only one you consult when it comes to choosing a plan. 

In today's competitive job market companies can find it hard to afford to retain quality candidates. For nonprofits specifically, this is even more challenging. How can an organization that isn't self-funded offer benefits that will attract and retain highly skilled individuals? The answer to this lies in more substantial employee healthcare. 

Today we welcome John Chiang, former CFO for Asian Health Services (AHS) in Oakland, California. AHS, founded in 1974, is a community health center that provides primary, dental and behavioral health services to more than 27,000 underserved patients.  As a nationally recognized community health center model, AHS stands at the forefront of quality and innovation.  

John was instrumental in moving AHS over to the Nonstop Wellness program in 2014, which has saved the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars in premium costs and out-of-pocket expenses.

Healthcare brokers are the eyes and ears into the ever-changing healthcare market, and what potential new options might be on the table for an organization. As such, nonprofits must have a broker relationship that meets the unique needs of the organization. Even if you’re happy with your existing representation, it’s worth taking a step back and at least talking with other brokers to see if they have a different approach that may be a better fit for your group.

Image: Reader's Digest

Anthony Lopez writes for The Business Journals about the business owner's daunting task of navigating health insurance options, and how different options will affect their business.

This article by Randy Stram for Employee Benefit News discusses the drop in the percentage of employees who say they feel in control of their finances, and how employers can help through healthcare benefits education.

This article by Leslie Small for Fierce Healthcare discusses what employers are doing to counter the predicted 5% increase in heathcare benefits costs over the next year.

Nick Otto writes for Employee Benefit News about engaging employees to better ensure peak participation rates in open enrollment and to increase understanding of the process.

This article by Robert Bull for Benefit News discusses how technology has removed the barriers to self-funding that used to exist for small- to mid-size employers.

As one of the biggest line items in any organization’s budget, employee healthcare should be a central conversational point for all nonprofit leaders, especially in the months leading up to renewal. Understanding the details of the current plan, as well as creative alternatives that might provide better benefits for less money, are critical to ensuring the financial health of the organization and the physical (and financial) wellbeing of employees. Leaving these discussions to the last minute – or not having them at all – can leave everyone vulnerable to the rising costs of healthcare.