BASE HRA+ Is Helping Companies to Save as Much as 50% on Insurance Premiums

July 19, 2011 - PRLog -- As healthcare costs continue to rise and the increasing uncertainty in the future of healthcare reform looms, more employers are turning to plans that are guided by the same IRS tax code.  This type of plan goes by various names, including Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP), Defined Contribution Plan, etc.  BASE® has been administering this very type of plan for businesses across the country for over a decade, and has established a plan that can work for a business owner whether they sponsor a group health plan or not.    

These plans may vary slightly, but they all offer tax savings for both the employer and employee.  No matter what the name of the plan, all of these plans allow the end user to take greater responsibility for their own healthcare and to save money.  Meaning, an employer may establish this type of arrangement for their employees, but it is up to the employees as to how to make the best use of the plan.

Like with any product, it comes down to who delivers it better and BASE® has been recognized for their outstanding service and commitment to clients.  According to client, Kathleen Hudson, “The best part of the plan is that it takes the responsibility of meeting government guidelines off my shoulders and puts it into capable hands.  I know I don’t have to worry about whether or not I am in compliance with government rules and regulations because BASE® will do that for me.”

Ultimately an HRA helps a client accomplish two main objectives.  First, it helps address healthcare needs and goals set forth by the company.  Many business owners are concerned about the health of their staff, and more importantly their bottom line.  This brings us to the second main objective of saving clients money.  Often time’s business owners are looking for ways to cut costs or enhance benefit packages, but are also looking for the best options that won’t cost a fortune to implement.  Obviously the yearly increase in health premiums has brought this entire concept of HRAs to the forefront, and while plans like this have been around for years, it is still a fairly new concept to many business owners.

Molly Varangkounh, another BASE® HRA+ client, is just one of many companies finding success in using this plan to curb insurance premium costs. “Our company was lucky enough to have an agent who kept looking for better options for us, and he introduced us to the idea of a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). This is how we learned about BASE®, an HRA Administrator, who explained how we could reduce our premiums without reducing coverage.”  Molly went on to say, “By using an HRA, we were able to reduce our premium increase by 50%.”

There are various plan designs available, with the most common being when an employer funds a portion of the plan deductible.  Employers identify what will be considered a qualifying expense funded by the HRA plan at the time it is established, and depending on the plan design it could yield very different results.  In the end, the plan design established by the employer can help to avoid that business owner from continually paying increasing health insurance premiums.  

Whether you have a group health plan in place or not, plans like the BASE® HRA+ could prove to be a great addition to your current benefit plan.  BASE® is currently offering a complimentary benefit analysis to those interested in learning how this type of plan can work for them.  Call 1-800-309-8012 or visit http://www.baseonline.com for more information.

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Established in 1999, BASE® offers a variety of quality employee benefit products and services. Whether employers are looking to enrich their current benefit plans, off-set benefit cutbacks, or implement cost saving measures, BASE® works diligently to ensure that each plan meets the specific needs of each client. BASE® offers a variety of plans, which include the HRA, HRA+, and 125 Cafeteria Plan (Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP), Health Care Premium Reimbursement (HCPR)). To find out more about HRAs and 125 Cafeteria Plans visit http://www.baseonline.com.