Association medical plans are very popular because of their rates, diversity of plans offered and other benefits available to association members.  Contact Benefit Design & Strategies to locate the most competitive association health insurance program in Vermont. We can help you choose the best plan(s) among all the "open associations" (i.e those where membership is not restricted to a specific profession or type of business).

Two of the three major Vermont carriers offer association plans to small groups (Vermont employers with less than than 51 eligible employees).  The third carrier may be offering association plans in the near future.

Work with Benefit Design & Strategies to locate the most attractive health insurance program for you and your company.

Benefits of an Association Plan:

• Wide selection of health plans to choose from - PPO's, HMO's, HSA's, HRA's, Point of Service, OAP's, EPO's
• Competitive pricing compared to “community-rated” (non-association) medical plans
• The opportunity to offer a Dual Option (up to two health plans) to meet the diverse needs of your work force (permitted by most carriers for Vermont businesses with as few as five covered employees)
• These associations are open to all types of businesses, including self-employed individuals/families
• More frequent open-enrollment periods during the year gives employees several opportunities to sign up for coverage
• Many Vermont associations offer other tangible benefits and business services with discounted rates
• Ability to move from one Vermont carrier to another in any month.

Benefit Design & Strategies works closely with all the Vermont carriers and knows the idiosyncracies of their rules and policies. For instance, switching in the middle of your plan year from one health plan to another or from one association to another sponsored by the same carrier can be tricky. They are likely to tell you it can't be done. If you want to move to a new health plan, we can make it happen.

Renewal Dates for Association Plans

When joining a association health plan in Vermont, your anniversary date for the purpose of future rate changes will coincide with the association’s renewal date. For instance, an employer that enrolls in an association plan in June while the association has a January 1 renewal date, thus their premiums are locked in for 7 months, until the end of the calendar year. The premiums would then adjusted January 1st and would remain in effect for the next 12-month period.

Benefit Design & Strategies can help your small business make a smooth transition with no interuption in coverage:

•     to a different medical plan within the same association,
   
•     to a different association offered by the same Vermont carrier, or
   
•     to switch to a completely different carrier.

Contact Benefit Design today to help you find the right association.