If you're here, you're likely struggling with providing your healthcare workers the quality health insurance they deserve at a price both you—and they!—can afford. Rates for coverage have risen so much in recent years that a staggering 49% of healthcare managers say they are likely to consider increasing the employee share of premium costs. Doing so would undoubtedly only further exacerbate the industry's severe staffing shortage.
One innovative solution healthcare companies are considering instead is the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). This alternative to traditional group health insurance allows companies to make pre-tax contributions toward their workers' premiums on the individual market. Employees are free to choose the plan that best meets their unique needs, and healthcare companies contain costs by eliminating the risk of high claims that can drive up prices.
This quiz is designed to help you determine whether an ICHRA is a good fit for your healthcare organization. Let's dive in.
Question 1: How much was your most recent renewal increase for your company's health insurance?
A: No increase
B: 1-5%
C: 6-10%
D: 11% or more
Question 2: How geographically diverse is your workforce?
A: All employees live in and around one city
B: Employees are dispersed across one state
C: Workforce is distributed across 2 or 3 states
D: You have employees in more than 3 states
Question 3: How satisfied are your employees with your current health coverage plan offerings?
A: Not very satisfied
B: Somewhat satisfied
C: Satisfied
D: Extremely satisfied
Question 4: How dynamic is your workforce in terms of turnover and hiring frequency?
A: Low turnover, infrequent hiring
B: Moderate turnover, periodic hiring
C: High turnover, frequent hiring, sometimes reliant on contract workers
D: Very high turnover, continuous hiring, often reliant on contract workers
Question 5: What is the size of your current workforce?
A: Small (1-50 employees)
B: Medium (51-500 employees)
C: Large (501-2,500 employees)
D: Very large (2,501+ employees)
Question 6: How receptive is your workforce to technology and digital solutions for managing healthcare benefits?
A: Very resistant
B: Somewhat resistant
C: Somewhat receptive
D: Very receptive
Scoring
Mostly As: Your company's health insurance costs are relatively stable. If you are looking to lock in predictable rates for the long term, an ICHRA may still be a good choice. Additionally, ICHRAs allow you to offer your employees significantly more plan options to better meet their individual health needs.
Mostly Bs: Overall, your health insurance benefits plan seems to be working for you. However, implementing an ICHRA could help you attract and retain more workers. ICHRAs often help companies raise employee satisfaction scores, reduce turnover, and bring in top talent.
Mostly Cs: Your organization demonstrates considerable diversity in workforce demographics and values employee flexibility. An ICHRA could be a good fit, reducing costs and offering a streamlined approach to healthcare benefits administration for your distributed workforce.
Mostly Ds: With a large and dynamic workforce, your organization could greatly benefit from the flexibility and scalability of ICHRA. While you may have made it work until now, there are only so many years in a row that you can absorb a double-digit rate increase. It would be best if you made a change to ensure long-term success. Adopting an ICHRA is a great way to reduce turnover and retain full-time workers at a lower rate than you're paying contract workers.
Understanding your healthcare organization's unique needs is paramount when considering the adoption of ICHRA. When tailored to fit your situation, ICHRA can be a game-changer for employee benefits.
To learn more about ICHRA and how it could benefit your workforce, read our guide: ICHRA for the Healthcare Industry.
