Small Business Health Insurance & Employee Benefits Consulting

At Benefit Packages, we do far more than obtain quotes. We work with employers to design employee benefit programs that balance cost, provider access, employee satisfaction, and long-term healthcare planning.

Whether you're offering benefits for the first time, renewing an existing plan, or looking for creative ways to control costs, we'll help you evaluate the options and develop a strategy that works for both your business and your employees.

Individual health insurance policy and stethoscope.

Finding the Right Network for Your Employees

One of the most important decisions when selecting a group health plan is choosing the right provider network. Most insurance carriers offer multiple network options. While the benefits are often very similar, the provider networks can vary significantly. Generally, narrower networks offer lower premiums, while broader networks provide access to more doctors, specialists, medical groups, and hospitals.

Before making recommendations, we often ask employers to survey their employees regarding important doctors, specialists, hospitals, and medical groups. This allows us to identify the networks that best fit your workforce while helping control costs.

In many cases, employers can contribute toward a lower-cost network while giving employees the option to upgrade to a broader network through payroll deduction. This approach helps employers manage expenses while preserving employee choice.

Hand arranging wood block with healthcare medical icon.

Evaluating Today's Health Plan Options

Every business is different. We help employers evaluate a wide range of strategies, including:

  • Traditional PPO and HMO plans
  • High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
  • Employer contributions to employee HSA accounts
  • Virtual-first health plans
  • Plans that combine virtual care with traditional brick-and-mortar providers
  • Multi-plan and multi-network offerings

Some newer virtual-first health plans offer employees ongoing access to primary care physicians and numerous specialists through virtual appointments while still maintaining access to in-person care when needed. Depending on the demographics of your workforce, these plans can provide excellent value while reducing costs.

Different Benefits for Different Employee Classes

Many employers are surprised to learn they may offer different health plans or contribution levels to different classes of employees.

As long as employee classifications are properly structured and comply with applicable regulations, employers may be able to provide different benefit options for owners, management, salaried employees, hourly employees, or other eligible employee classes.

For example, one class of employees may be offered a traditional PPO plan while another class is offered an HDHP with employer HSA contributions. We help employers understand the available options and develop benefit strategies that align with company goals and budgets.

Medicare Considerations for Employers with Fewer Than 20 Employees

For employers with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare coordination becomes extremely important when employees approach age 65.

Many employers are unaware that employees who delay Medicare Part B enrollment while covered under a small employer group health plan may not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period when they retire and could face permanent late enrollment penalties.

Employers cannot require an employee to leave the group health plan due to age. However, there are often more cost-effective alternatives available. In many situations, Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement plan can provide better coverage at a lower overall cost than remaining on the employer plan.

Some employers choose to provide a reimbursement arrangement to help offset Medicare-related expenses such as Part B premiums, Medicare Supplement premiums, or other qualified healthcare expenses. This can be a win-win for both the employer and employee.

We help employees transition smoothly by assisting with Medicare enrollment, Part B applications, Medicare Supplement plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and prescription drug coverage.

Helping Employees Make Better Decisions

Employee benefits can be confusing. That's why we provide personalized enrollment support and employee worksheets showing estimated payroll deductions under different plan options.

These worksheets allow employees to compare plans side-by-side and understand how their payroll deductions may vary based on the network, carrier, plan design, and dependent coverage they select.

By helping employees understand both the costs and benefits of each option, employers can improve participation, reduce confusion, and increase employee satisfaction.

Service After the Enrollment

Our relationship doesn't end once coverage becomes effective.

Whether it's a billing issue, eligibility problem, enrollment question, claim dispute, or carrier service issue, we advocate on behalf of our clients and their employees. When problems arise, we work directly with the insurance carrier to help resolve them quickly and efficiently.

Our service is unmatched. We pride ourselves on being responsive, accessible, and persistent when helping clients navigate complex insurance issues.

Why Work With a Benefits Specialist?

Many payroll companies, PEOs, and HR platforms can facilitate payroll deductions and assist with basic benefits administration. However, employee benefits often involve much more than simply processing enrollments.

Questions regarding provider networks, Medicare eligibility, HDHP and HSA strategies, employee classifications, employer contribution structures, COBRA, claims issues, and long-term benefits planning often require specialized expertise.

At Benefit Packages, employee benefits are our primary focus. We help employers evaluate plan options, educate employees, resolve carrier issues, and develop long-term strategies that balance cost, coverage, and employee satisfaction.

Many of our clients utilize payroll providers such as ADP, Paychex, Gusto, or Rippling. We work alongside those platforms while serving as the dedicated benefits consultant for both the employer and employees.

Let's Build the Right Benefits Package

The best employee benefits package is not always the one with the lowest premium or the broadest network. The right solution balances cost, provider access, employee satisfaction, and long-term planning.

Whether you're offering benefits for the first time, renewing an existing plan, or looking for creative ways to control costs, Benefit Packages can help. We'll review your workforce, evaluate available carriers and networks, educate your employees, and provide ongoing support long after enrollment is complete.

Contact us today for a complimentary employee benefits review and discover why employers throughout California trust Benefit Packages for their health insurance and employee benefits needs.

Carriers We Represent

  • Anthem Blue Cross (Elevance)

  • Aetna

  • Alignment Health Plan

  • Beam

  • Blue Shield of CA

  • Cigna

  • Delta Dental

  • Health Net

  • HealthSpring

  • Humana

  • Kaiser

  • Imperial Health Plan of California

  • LA Care

  • Medico/Wellabe

  • Molina

  • SCAN

  • Sutter Health

  • UCLA Health Medicare Advantage

  • United Concordia

  • UnitedHealthcare / AARP

  • VSP

  • WellCare / Centene

Speak With a Small Business Health Insurance Expert

We provide personalized guidance to help your small business design an employee benefits program tailored to your unique needs and situation.