How Nonprofits Can Get Health Care Secured in 2020 | hioscar Blog | Oscar
How Nonprofits Can Get Health Care Secured in 2020
There are plenty of options for providing employees of nonprofit groups with health care that works for them.
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Health insurance for nonprofit organizations: supporting employees with the care they deserve.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 12 million Americans work for nonprofit organizations. At advocacy organizations, charitable foundations, churches, and religious groups around the country, these hardworking changemakers put in tireless—and often thankless—hours to serve their communities. And as America faces a generational public health and economic crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofit organizations and their staffs must be cared for.
Almost by definition, nonprofit workers are dedicated to something bigger than themselves and their careers - and that often means they prioritize their well-being behind that of the organization. The mission matters most, but it can’t be successful if the people driving it don’t feel supported and lack the tools to thrive. Part of showing that support is reliable, affordable health coverage so that employees can keep driving positive change.
The good news is, there are plenty of options for providing employees of nonprofit groups with health care that works for them. Quality health care is an investment that pays off for nonprofit organizations by attracting and keeping talent, and ensuring that their work thrives.
Increased job satisfaction: change moves slowly and nonprofit work is hard. Even among the most dedicated employees, it can be difficult to feel rewarded and valued. But benefits matter and show employees that their employer cares about their wellbeing. According to 501c (opens in new tab), offering health insurance is a top contributor to job satisfaction and retention, and in a 2018 Clutch survey, more than half (55%) of employees say health insurance is the most important benefit for job satisfaction.
Attract and keep talent:a survey of 420 nonprofits (opens in new tab) revealed that more than a quarter of nonprofits said their top challenge was hiring qualified staff—and a staggering 81% said that they struggle to get the people they do hire to stay. In the same survey, nonprofit employees were not shy about their reasons for leaving the nonprofit sector, with a lack of benefits and compensation among the top three reasons. Investing in health plans for nonprofit employees addresses this concern, and helps ensure that you attract (and retain) dedicated employees who will move your mission forward.
Keep competitive with the private sector: no one enters the nonprofit world to make their fortune, but they do deserve reasonable compensation. Talented employees know that they could likely find more lucrative - but less rewarding - work in the private sector. And while a nonprofit may not be able to compete on salary, they can make up ground with strong benefits packages that make employees feel confident and valued.
Finding the right health plan for your nonprofit
Before moving forward with choosing a health plan, it’s important to understand some basic elements that can impact the cost to your nonprofit, as well as the care options available to your employees:
Find a plan that works for you and your employees’ needs
Nonprofit employees put in hard work and long hours to make the world around them just a little bit better - and they should have benefits that support them in their efforts. As you’re looking for the plan that can best support them, some considerations to keep in mind include:
Personalization: does the health plan provide your employees with a personalized experience that takes their unique health needs and preferences into account?
Cost: can your employees pick a plan that works for their budget?
Convenience: does the plan provide easy access to health coverage with options like telemedicine and urgent care?
Wellness Benefits: does the plan offer rewards or perks that support a healthy lifestyle like access to fitness classes and programs?
Support for the Whole Person: does the health plan provide mental and behavioral health coverage to support emotional wellbeing?
Strike the right cost balance
As you look for the right plan, the biggest cost considerations will center around the balance between monthly premium costs and coverage benefits.
As you shop for health plans, you will likely see them ranked using a Bronze-Silver-Gold-Platinum scale. In short, these denote how much you and your employees will owe in terms of monthly premiums, as well as what is covered by each plan. In general, this will mean that lower-tier plans offer lower premiums but may cover less and require more out-of-pocket costs as health care services are utilized.
Understand your timeline: depending on where you are located and which plan you choose, there may be deadlines that you and your employees will need to meet. You should make sure you understand and can adhere to those timelines when you choose to move forward with offering coverage.
Communicate to employees: have a plan to make sure your employees know about the plans on offer, the amount that your organization will be able to cover, and what they may be responsible for, including costs, paperwork, and timing.
Cigna + Oscar: We’ve got nonprofits covered.
Cigna + Oscar makes health insurance accessible for the nonprofit world, offering custom health care solutions, an expanded network, and a dedicated Care Team for you and your employees.
With Cigna + Oscar, everyone gets the health care they deserve. Our services and benefit (opens in new tab)s include access to a proven network of primary care doctors and specialists, Virtual Urgent Care at no extra cost, and savings on prescriptions.
Cigna + Oscar coverage is insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company. CA: benefits administered by Oscar Health Administrators. Other states: benefits administered by Oscar Management Corporation. Pharmacy benefits provided by Express Scripts, Inc. Cigna + Oscar health insurance contains exclusions and limitations. For complete details on product availability and coverage, please refer to your plan documents or contact a representative.
