EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Group Health Insurance
A competitive group health plan is the benefit employees value most and the one that helps you hire and keep good people. We help businesses across more than 40 states compare carriers, plan designs, and funding options to build coverage your team relies on at a cost your business can sustain.
Get a Benefits Quote Call 833-776-4671- Business Insurance
- Group Health Insurance
Quick Answer: Group health insurance is a medical plan an employer offers to eligible employees, with the cost of premiums typically shared between the business and the worker. Group plans usually cost less per person than individual coverage, and employee contributions are made pre-tax, lowering taxable income. Employers can deduct their contributions and often pay lower payroll taxes. Most carriers require a minimum level of employee participation and an employer contribution toward the premium.
For most small and midsize businesses, health insurance is the single most important benefit you can offer, and the one job candidates ask about first. The challenge is balancing a plan your employees value against a cost your business can carry year after year as premiums rise. As an independent brokerage, Pro Insurance Group is not tied to one carrier. We compare the market across plan types and funding strategies, explain the tradeoffs in plain language, and help you build a benefits package that works for your team and your budget.
Common Group Health Plan Types
The right plan design depends on how your employees use care and how much premium versus out-of-pocket cost they prefer:
PPO
Preferred Provider Organization plans offer the widest provider choice and out-of-network flexibility, usually at a higher premium. Popular when employees want freedom to choose doctors.
HMO
Health Maintenance Organization plans use a defined network and a primary care referral model, typically at a lower premium. A strong fit for cost-conscious groups.
HDHP with HSA
A High Deductible Health Plan paired with a Health Savings Account lowers premium and lets employees set aside pre-tax dollars for care. Ideal for healthier groups that want lower monthly cost.
Level-Funded
A hybrid of fully insured and self-funded that can return surplus to the employer in low-claim years. Increasingly popular with healthy small groups seeking cost control.
High-Premium vs Low-Premium Plans
Within any plan type, the core tradeoff is between what employees pay each month and what they pay when they use care:
Higher Premium, Lower Deductible
Employees pay more each month but less at the point of care, sometimes with no deductible. Best for teams with frequent doctor visits or regular prescriptions.
Lower Premium, Higher Deductible
Employees pay less each month but more for visits and prescriptions until the deductible is met. Best for healthier teams that rarely need care.
Many employers offer more than one option so employees can pick the plan that fits their needs. We help you model the cost of each design before you commit.
Why Offer a Group Health Plan
For Your Business
Group premiums are generally lower per person than individual plans, employer contributions are tax-deductible, and you often pay lower payroll taxes. Most important, a strong plan helps you attract and retain the talent your business depends on.
For Your Employees
Coverage usually costs less than buying an individual policy, premiums are paid pre-tax to lower taxable income, and the employer shares the cost. It is the benefit employees consistently rank as the most valuable.
What Employers Should Know
A few rules shape every group health decision. Most carriers require a minimum percentage of eligible employees to enroll (participation) and a minimum employer contribution toward the premium. Small businesses can often shop coverage through the SHOP Marketplace and may qualify for the small business health care tax credit. Businesses with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees are generally subject to the Affordable Care Act employer mandate to offer coverage.
Because these rules interact with plan design and budget, the value of a broker is matching the right plan and funding approach to your headcount, your team's needs, and your obligations, then managing it at renewal so your costs do not drift.
Built for Businesses Like Yours
We build group health and employee benefits programs for employers across industries. Group health pairs naturally with the rest of your commercial program. Explore related coverage:
What Drives Group Health Costs
Group health pricing is too individual to quote with a simple number. Premiums are driven by the ages and locations of your employees, the plan designs you offer, your employer contribution level, the carrier and network, and the funding approach you choose. Two businesses with the same headcount can pay very different rates.
The most reliable way to control cost is to shop the market every year and match plan design to how your team actually uses care. That is the work we do for you, comparing carriers and funding options so you are not renewing on autopilot into a rate increase.
What Our Clients Say
Why Businesses Choose Pro Insurance Group
We Shop the Market
Independent means we compare carriers and plan designs to find the right balance of coverage and cost for your team.
Plain-Language Guidance
We explain PPO, HMO, HDHP, and funding options clearly so you can make a confident decision.
Renewal Management
We re-shop your plan at renewal so you do not drift into an automatic rate increase year after year.
A Complete Program
We coordinate benefits with the rest of your commercial coverage so your whole business is protected.
Group Health Insurance FAQ
What is group health insurance?
Group health insurance is a medical plan an employer offers to eligible employees, with the cost of premiums typically shared between the business and the worker. Because the risk is spread across a group, it usually costs less per person than an individual plan, and employee contributions are made pre-tax.
How many employees do I need to offer a group health plan?
Many carriers offer small group plans starting at one or two enrolled employees, though most require a minimum participation percentage and an employer contribution toward premium. Requirements vary by carrier and state, which is one reason working with a broker helps.
Is an employer required to offer health insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act, businesses with 50 or more full-time-equivalent employees are generally required to offer coverage or face a penalty. Smaller businesses are not required to offer it but often do to compete for talent, and may qualify for a small business tax credit.
What is the difference between a PPO, HMO, and HDHP?
A PPO offers the widest provider choice and out-of-network flexibility at a higher premium. An HMO uses a defined network and referral model at a lower premium. An HDHP has a higher deductible and lower premium and can be paired with a Health Savings Account for pre-tax savings. The best fit depends on how your employees use care.
Are group health premiums tax-advantaged?
Yes. Employer contributions are generally tax-deductible, employee contributions are typically made pre-tax to lower taxable income, and employers often pay lower payroll taxes. These advantages are part of why group coverage is more cost-effective than individual plans.
How much does group health insurance cost?
Cost varies widely based on employee ages and locations, the plan designs offered, your employer contribution, the carrier and network, and the funding approach. There is no single price. The most reliable way to control cost is to compare the market every year and match plan design to how your team uses care, which is what we do for you.
Offer a Plan Your Team Values
Tell us your headcount and what matters most to your team, and we will compare carriers and plan designs to build a group health program that fits your business and your budget.
Get a Benefits Quote Call 833-776-4671Pair group health with employee benefits liability and workers compensation, or explore our full range of business insurance solutions.
Reviewed by Neal Fusco, VP Commercial Lines
Neal leads commercial and employee benefits coverage at Pro Insurance Group, helping businesses across Illinois and 40-plus states build the right programs at competitive rates.