Before you send in the first payment or sign a final release, review the invoice from your health insurance and employee benefits company and ensure that you and your employees are getting all services, coverages and items promised in your original agreement.

Now is the time to address questions and concerns, and to make sure that you are getting what you were promised and that the services and packages arranged for meet your needs.

The invoice you receive should include the following for your protection.

• The health insurance and employee benefits providers’ name, physical address and state license number.
• A complete list of all services and packages provided.
• The total cost for the health insurance, employee benefits, and other services or packages.
• A written explanation of any warranties or guarantees.
• A detailed document addressing cancellation or changes to the employee benefit packages if any can or need to be made by you, the broker or the insuring company.

You can often find any type of employee benefit or health insurance coverage you want from local health insurance and employee benefit providers in Napa County, including Yountville, Angwin, Deer Park, American Canyon, Oakville and other areas. The list below shows you which types of services and insurance coverages are most popular.

Life Insurance
Life insurance pays out after the death of an individual to that person’s designated beneficiaries.

You can often find any type of employee benefit or health insurance coverage you want from local health insurance and employee benefit providers in Napa County, including Yountville, Angwin, Deer Park, American Canyon, Oakville and other areas. The list below shows you which types of services and insurance coverages are most popular.

Life Insurance
Life insurance pays out after the death of an individual to that person’s designated beneficiaries.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
FSAs allow holders to set aside pre-tax money for common medical costs. These funds must be used by the end of the term-year. Allowed services may include copays for doctors’ visits, hospital fees, medical test costs, rehabilitation, physical therapy, dental care, orthodontic care, inpatient rehabilitation care for alcohol and drug addiction, vaccines and immunizations.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Health savings accounts allow holders to save for future medical costs. Money put in the account is not subject to federal income tax when deposited and can build up and be used in the future.

Individual Insurance Plans
These plans cover just the individual employee for health insurance matters and medical care. Their dependents and families are not eligible.

Family Health Insurance Plans in Napa County
Family health insurance plans cover the employee, their spouse and their dependent children. These plans may be fully covered by the  hiring company or a portion of the benefits may be paid by the employee themselves.

Dental Insurance Packages
Dental insurance is a popular coverage type, including care for the employee and their dependents. This may include preventative care, orthodontic care, oral surgery and other medically necessary dental care.

Vision Care Insurance Coverage Packages
Vision care, like dental insurance, isn’t covered under most medical employee benefit plans, but it can be added on to packages by employers. This will cover eye exams, glasses and contact lenses, eye surgeries and other vision care.

Unemployment Insurance
Unemployment insurance is a policy that guards against sudden or unexpected unemployment through no fault of the employee (meaning they cannot have been fired or let go for conduct, lack of work, etc.). These plans may be set up by employers to prevent employees from facing fiscal uncertainty due to downsizing or other factors that cannot be prevented by the employer or the employee.

Group Health Insurance for Businesses in Napa County
Group health insurance is the most popular type of health insurance available through employers. These plans are often set up through the employer at a discount to cover all employees and their dependents.

Supplemental Health Insurance
Supplemental health insurance plans are add-on insurance policies that take care of people who miss work due to accidental injury or unexpected illness. Some plans cover additional medical fees, while others pay out cash to help employees continue to pay for housing, food and other expenses they may have trouble covering if they are unable to work due to injury or illness.

You can often find any type of employee benefit or health insurance coverage you want from local health insurance and employee benefit providers in Napa County, including Yountville, Angwin, Deer Park, American Canyon, Oakville and other areas. The list below shows you which types of services and insurance coverages are most popular.

Life Insurance
Life insurance pays out after the death of an individual to that person’s designated beneficiaries.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
FSAs allow holders to set aside pre-tax money for common medical costs. These funds must be used by the end of the term-year. Allowed services may include copays for doctors’ visits, hospital fees, medical test costs, rehabilitation, physical therapy, dental care, orthodontic care, inpatient rehabilitation care for alcohol and drug addiction, vaccines and immunizations.

Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Health savings accounts allow holders to save for future medical costs. Money put in the account is not subject to federal income tax when deposited and can build up and be used in the future.

Individual Insurance Plans
These plans cover just the individual employee for health insurance matters and medical care. Their dependents and families are not eligible.

Family Health Insurance Plans in Napa County
Family health insurance plans cover the employee, their spouse and their dependent children. These plans may be fully covered by the  hiring company or a portion of the benefits may be paid by the employee themselves.

Dental Insurance Packages
Dental insurance is a popular coverage type, including care for the employee and their dependents. This may include preventative care, orthodontic care, oral surgery and other medically necessary dental care.

Vision Care Insurance Coverage Packages
Vision care, like dental insurance, isn’t covered under most medical employee benefit plans, but it can be added on to packages by employers. This will cover eye exams, glasses and contact lenses, eye surgeries and other vision care.

Unemployment Insurance
Unemployment insurance is a policy that guards against sudden or unexpected unemployment through no fault of the employee (meaning they cannot have been fired or let go for conduct, lack of work, etc.). These plans may be set up by employers to prevent employees from facing fiscal uncertainty due to downsizing or other factors that cannot be prevented by the employer or the employee.

Group Health Insurance for Businesses in Napa County
Group health insurance is the most popular type of health insurance available through employers. These plans are often set up through the employer at a discount to cover all employees and their dependents.

Supplemental Health Insurance
Supplemental health insurance plans are add-on insurance policies that take care of people who miss work due to accidental injury or unexpected illness. Some plans cover additional medical fees, while others pay out cash to help employees continue to pay for housing, food and other expenses they may have trouble covering if they are unable to work due to injury or illness.

accumulation period
The period of time during which the insurance policy holder’s eligible medical expenses  count toward their minimum deductible.

Also known as: deductible period, deductible accumulation period

age limit
Some insurance policies, especially life insurance policies, have age limits above which they won’t accept applications for or renew insurance policies.

Also known as: insurance age limit, age limit for insurance policies, age limit for insurance eligibility

alternative medicine
Medical practices or forms of medical treatment defined as alternative medicine may include those not generally recognized by the medical community. Alternative medicine may include acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, naturopathy, and other Eastern or non-traditional medicines. Many insurance companies do not provide insurance coverage for alternative medical treatment.

Also known as: Eastern medicine, non-traditional medicine, homeopathy, homeopthic medicine, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic care

ambulatory care
Medical care diagnosis, certain forms of treatment, surgery and rehabilitation that are provided as outpatient services. These may or may not be covered at different rates than other types of medical care.

Also known as: outpatient care, ambulatory medical treatment

annual coverage limit
The dollar limits insurers will pay over the course of a year. Most of these plans are being phased out and may not be permitted as of January 1, 2014.

Also known as: annual health insurance coverage limits, annual coverage limits, annual limits

approved health care facility or program
A medical facility, hospital, program or clinic approved by a holder’s health insurance plan. These approved health care providers, facilities and programs are authorized to provide specific services for specific medical conditions covered by insurance.

Also known as: approved health care program, approved health care provider

benefit
Any  medical service, treatment or supply (including prescription medications and equipment) covered by health insurance plans is known as a benefit.

Also known as: insurance benefit, benefit plan, insurance benefits

benefit level
The maximum amount the health insurance company will pay for a specific benefit.

Also known as: maximum health care benefit, maximum insurance benefit

benefit package
The package of medical and health-related services and supplies health insurance companies cover for holders of health insurance plans are benefit packages.

Also known as: insurance benefit packages, package of insurance coverages

cafeteria insurance plans
Cafeteria health insurance and benefit plans are those that allow employees to choose which benefits and insurance coverage they most want. Most insurance cafeteria plans available through employers show a list of prices and allow employees to choose whichever coverages they want as long as they fall under a certain total cost limit.

Also known as: cafeteria health insurance plans, a la carte insurance plans

COBRA
Federal legislation that allows employees and/or employees’ dependents to continue to receive group health insurance coverage through the employer’s health insurance plan, at the individual’s expense after termination of employment.

Also known as: Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, COBRA insurance coverage

certificate of coverage
A document given to insured individuals that describes the benefits, limitations and exclusions of coverage provided by the insurance company.

Also known as: certificate of insurance coverage

co-payment fees
Specific charges insurance holders pay for medical services or supplies before insurance kicks in to cover the rest of the fees.

Also known as: co-pay, copays, copay

deductible
A specific dollar amount health insurance companies require insurance plan holders to pay before the health insurance plan begins to make payments. Not all health insurance plans require a deductible, but most do.

Also known as: insurance deductible, deductible amount

dependent coverage
Health insurance coverage for spouses and unmarried children of insured individuals. Age and other restrictions may apply.

Also known as: dependent health insurance coverage, coverage for dependents

drug formulary
A list of prescription medications covered by health insurance plans.

Also known as: approved drug list, prescription formulary

flexible spending account
FSAs allow holders to set aside pre-tax money for common medical costs. These funds must be used by the end of the term-year. Allowed services may include copays for doctors’ visits, hospital fees, medical test costs, rehabilitation, physical therapy, dental care, orthodontic care, inpatient rehabilitation care for alcohol and drug addiction, vaccines and immunizations.

Also known as:  FSA

HMO plans
HMO plans require insured members to use providers from a certain list of primary care doctors. The primary care doctor will refer out to other HMO specialists if additional treatment or specialty care is needed.

Also known as:  Health Maintenance Organization

health reimbursement account
Health reimbursement accounts allow employers to set aside funds for health care costs accrued by their employees. These funds reimburse covered services paid for initially by employees.

Also known as: HRA, HRA accounts, reimbursement medical plans

health savings account
Health savings accounts allow holders to save for future medical costs. Money put in the account is not subject to federal income tax when deposited and can build up and be used in the future.

Also known as: HSA, high-deductible health savings accounts

health assessment
A health survey that measures your current health, health risks and quality of life. Some insurance plans require holders to undergo a health assessment before coverage begins to establish a baseline for expected health care needs and costs.

Also known as: health assessment tests, insurance health assessments

long-term insurance
Health insurance coverage set over a set amount of time is known as long-term insurance.

Also known as: term insurance

medically necessary health care
Services, supplies or prescription drugs needed to diagnose or treat medical conditions are known as medically-necessary health care.

Also known as: medical necessity, medically necessary care

non-network provider
A healthcare provider who is not part of an insurance plan’s authorized provider network. Costs for care provided by out-of-network providers may be higher than in-network providers, or  may not covered by insurance providers.

Also known as: out of network provider, NNP, OONP, non-authorized provider

short-term insurance
Insurance that covers certain services for a set short time period, usually six months or less.

Also known as: short term insurance coverage, short term medical insurance plans

Q: Why choose Diamond Certified health insurance and employee benefits providers?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a health insurance and employee benefits providers with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only health insurance and employee benefits providers rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified health insurance and employee benefits providers.

Q: How much will employee benefits cost my company?
A: That depends on the employee benefits and packages you choose to provide. Providing health insurance, retirement packages and other benefits is voluntary, but it can have both financial and non-financial results when it comes to recruiting and retaining top-quality employees. Talk with a local health insurance and employee benefit provider to find out which options are available to you and your employees and what these packages and menus cost. A good employee benefit and insurance provider will help you weigh the pros and cons of providing health insurance and employee benefits to your workers.

Q: What is COBRA?
A: COBRA coverage is a continuation of health insurance coverage after an employee leaves a job. It stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which became law in 1986. This program requires covered employees to be allowed to continue their health insurance, and those of their spouses and dependents, when they might otherwise be lost due to leaving a job or another circumstance.

Q: How can I save money on employee benefits and health insurance coverage?
A: Good employers can find better employee insurance rates by speaking with quality insurance providers about their needs and options. Cut-rate insurance companies will usually give you plans that are lacking in quality, so you may be happier and get a much better value by getting your employee benefits and health insurance coverage through a reputable company. Some ways employee health insurance and benefits companies can  help lower rates is by offering plans with increased deductibles, voluntary benefits that pay directly to employees, and tailoring plans to fit employee needs and wants.

Q: Am I required to provide health insurance for my employees?
A: No, small businesses with fewer than 50 employees are not required to offer employee health coverage. However, many do and it is possible to find affordable, quality employee health insurance plans that keep your workers happy and won’t break the budget.

Q: Do I have to cover the entire costs of my employees’ benefits?
A: No, and it may be a mistake to do so. Most employers choose plans that require employees to pay some deductibles and even contribute toward the cost of their insurance for dependents. This can help lower overall costs, as it encourages employees to use their benefits more wisely. Others ask employees to pay a co-pay or contribute toward the coverage of a spouse that makes more than a certain amount or who has insurance available through their own employer. You may well be able to afford better overall employee benefits and health insurance plans if you ask your employees to contribute sightly toward their rewards.

Q: Can I tailor my employees’ benefits packages to remove items they don’t want or value?
A: You may, in many cases. Talk with your insurance provider to see if there are plans you can choose among that offer only the services and benefits your employees want and use. Ask your employees which benefits they like and want, and see if you can stop paying for the less desirable benefits. It’s not worth paying for something no one wants. You may find that cafeteria plans, in which employees are allowed to choose their own benefits from a list with a fixed amount they may spend.