Group Health Insurance
Plan Design
Plan design is the foundation of your group health program — the deductible, copay structure, HSA compatibility, and network type that determine what your employees actually experience when they use their coverage. Getting plan design right means balancing what your team needs with what your budget can sustain.
Group Health Insurance
What You Need to Know About Plan Design
Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Structure
Higher-deductible plans lower employer premium costs but shift more financial risk to employees. The right structure depends on your team's utilization patterns, income levels, and risk tolerance — and should be reviewed annually as costs and composition change.
HMO vs. PPO vs. HDHP
HMOs offer lower premiums with network restrictions. PPOs provide flexibility at higher cost. HDHPs pair with HSAs to create tax-advantaged savings for employees. Understanding the trade-offs for your specific workforce is the core of plan design work.
HSA Compatibility
High-deductible plans that meet IRS requirements allow employees to contribute to Health Savings Accounts — a triple-tax-advantaged benefit. Employer contributions to HSAs are a powerful way to offset higher deductibles without fully absorbing the premium cost difference.