Is there a mandatory Hawaii health insurance program that covers the state’s workforce? I’m starting a small business and I still cannot afford to share the monthly premium for employees’ benefits. What factors should I consider when I decide to get a group health plan?
As an employer, you have to know the provisions of Hawaii health insurance plans and the differences in coverage of group and individual policies. When you get a group health plan, keep in mind that employer groups enjoy Guaranteed Issues Rights. It is a federal law applicable in all states that requires insurers to sell group health plans to small groups. Your application, as an employer, cannot be denied for health status reasons. Group health plans are protected from pre-existing condition exclusions. Even if an employee has health issues, the whole group plan must not be affected. You need to shoulder a certain percentage of the premium. It will depend on the type of health plan you might choose. For added protection to their employees, most employers choose to get COBRA and HIPAA when applying for Hawaii health insurance. With COBRA, employees can extend the coverage of their health plan to at least 18 months at their own expense. With HIPAA, the employees must apply for individual plans within 63 days from the last day of the coverage of the group plan. The law protects them from being rejected because of issues such as pre-existing condition. Answer by general public - July 3, 2009 @ 1:59 pm No CommentsNo comments yet. Leave a comment |
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Most employees get their Hawaii health insurance through their jobs. The Prepaid Health Care Act is created for business owners to provide their employees with a group health plan. The Act is applicable to workers who render 20 hours of work a week for four consecutive weeks.
