California takes the lead when it comes to the number of retailers, according to the educational geography website World Atlas. With a staggering 418,840 establishments and over 4.7 million employees, that’s nearly 20% of total employment in the Golden State. Impressive, right?
If you’re in the retail industry in California and looking to provide health insurance to your employees, CaliforniaChoice offers an affordable solution. Since 1996, CaliforniaChoice has been offering “big business benefits” without the hefty price tag. Read on to explore your options.
At CaliforniaChoice, we take a unique approach to employee benefits that sets us apart from our competitors. We understand that you and your employees are individuals with diverse health care needs. Our “California Different” approach to employee benefits caters to your specific needs. Whether you have one employee, five employees, 35, or 100, our program offers you and your employees greater access to doctors, specialists, and hospitals than any other in California.
Health Insurance for Retail Business
1: Something for Everyone
CaliforniaChoice offers its members more options than any other single program. You and your employees can choose from eight health plans and 130+ coverage options.
Here’s how it works. One of you might choose a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) because of a particular doctor or hospital in its network. Another employee who rarely visits the doctor might choose a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). A third employee might choose an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO), which combines features of a PPO and HMO. A fourth employee might select an HSA-compatible HMO because of cost and tax considerations. Whatever your employees’ needs may be, it’s their choice.
The eight health plans participating in CaliforniaChoice are:
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Cigna + Oscar
- Health Net
- Kaiser Permanente
- Sharp Health Plan
- Sutter Health Care
- UnitedHealthcare
- Western Health Advantage
The available options for your group will be determined by the locations of you and your employees.. Some plans are available statewide, others are regional.
2: You Control Your Costs
In addition to offering you more plan choices, CaliforniaChoice lets you decide how much you want to contribute to your employees’ premiums. You can select a Fixed Percentage (50% to 100%) of a specific benefit. Or you can contribute a Fixed Dollar Amount for each employee.
Employees then apply your contribution to the health plan and benefits they like best. If their selected plan costs more than your contribution, the employee pays the difference. It’s that simple.
As you approach your renewal, you have the option to change your premium contribution for your next plan year. You can adjust it up or down. That puts you in control over what you spend on employee benefits for another 12 months. Your employees have the flexibility to change their health plan and still stay with CaliforniaChoice.
You get just one monthly bill for all employees’ coverage. And you can manage employees’ benefits using one website: calchoice.com.
3: It’s Not Just Medical
CaliforniaChoice doesn’t stop there. You can add Ancillary coverage for your employees, too:
- Dental: Two Dental plans are available – a SmileSaverSM Dental HMO or an Ameritas PPO.
- Vision: The Voluntary Vision program from Vision One Eyecare offers discounts on vision care services and prescription eyewear.
- Chiropractic: Landmark Healthplan benefits include exams, adjustments, and optional acupuncture.
- Life and AD&D: Assurity Life offers $5,000 to $100,000 coverage with Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefits and a living benefits provision.
4: Value-Added Extras
Through our Business Solutions Suite and Member Value Suite, you and your employees have access to other benefits, too, including:
- A no-cost Premium Only Plan (POP)
- A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) (Available to groups with 15 or more employees.)
- State or federal COBRA participant invoicing, premium collection, and remittance (Cal-COBRA or COBRA billing services depend on your company’s group size.)
- Reduced fees for Dental Care services through Dentegra® Smile Club providers
- Savings on hearing tests, hearing aids, batteries, and more from EPIC Hearing Service Plan
- Prescription savings when using the California Rx Card; you may be able to reduce your Rx out-of-pocket costs to less than your health plan copay
- A free Cal Perks membership offering savings on theme and water parks, sporting events, museums, movies, travel, and more
- Discounts on fitness center memberships and wellness
With CaliforniaChoice, you and your employees get more than health care.
5: A Great Recruitment Tool
Keeping employees can be a challenge. But CaliforniaChoice can help you attract and retain workers. It can also help you reduce employee absenteeism, encourage employee loyalty, and boost job satisfaction.
Last year’s MetLife Employee Benefit Trends Study found medical/health insurance is a must-have benefit. It ranked higher than paid leave, a 401(k) or other retirement plan, and other benefits like dental or vision.
Talk to Your Broker to Learn More
Ask your broker how CaliforniaChoice can help you offer more to employees. If you don’t already have a broker, it’s easy to search for one at MyCalChoice.com.
