To ensure the ‘good health’ of your business, it is necessary to take care of your employees ‘health. By offering group health insurance policies, you can take care of the rising medical expenses which otherwise could be a major brunt on the finances of your employees.
While, most of the group health insurance policies offer basic coverage like pre and post-medical expense cover, cashless facility, advanced technological surgery coverage, etc.; there are some extra benefits that you can include in your employee health insurance policy.
Key Takeaways
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The JW Marriott Principle: Taking care of employees ensures they take care of customers, ultimately securing the health of the business itself.
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Fighting Medical Inflation: With delivery and critical care costs skyrocketing, standard base plans are often insufficient. Customizing the policy to include specialized riders is essential.
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Income Protection: For critical illnesses like cancer, the benefit should go beyond hospital bills to address the “loss of income” if the breadwinner is unable to work during recovery.
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Closing the Senior Gap: Since individual insurers often charge exorbitant rates or refuse cover for seniors, providing parental cover is one of the most significant “wellness” gestures an employer can offer.
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Balanced Sustainability: Employers can manage the higher premiums of these extra benefits by introducing “Co-payments,” where the employee shares a small portion of the claim cost, preventing the misuse of the policy for minor ailments.
As said by JW Marriott, “If you take care of your employees they will take care of your customers, and your business will take care of itself”, by expanding your Group health insurance policies, you can take care of one of the biggest woes— medical inflation.
So, here are some of the additional benefits which you should include in your employee health insurance policy-
1. Maternity expenses–
Considering the medical inflation rate, maternity expenses have also reached a new height. When the cost of normal delivery has crossed the mark of Rs 50,000 in private hospitals, you can only feel bad for a lady who would have to spend lakhs of rupees to bring her baby into this world.
It is time to extend your support to female employees by covering maternity expenses under a group health insurance policy. Though you would have to incur a slightly higher premium for providing maternity coverage, it is a good move that you should make toward your female employees. It will also help male employees as they will be able to avail the benefits for their pregnant wives.
2. Critical Illness Cover–
Did you know, cancer killed 7.8 Lakh people in 2018? Our lifestyle today is itself the reason behind critical ailments like cancer, heart attack, kidney failure, paralysis, etc. The sad part is that even youngsters are suffering from such ailments. In a country like India, where one visit to the doctor can disturb your monthly budget. Think about the budget of that family who has to deal with critical ailment expenses as well.
The treatment cost of cancer can easily go above Rs 5 lakh or Rs 10 lakh. The situation becomes worse if the breadwinner is diagnosed with a critical ailment and loses their earning capacity. Along with the medical expenses, now the family has to think about ways to deal with household expenses also.
Along with covering medical expenses of common ailments, it would be good if you start covering the total cost of critical ailments along with covering the loss of income. It means, if God forbid, one of your employees is diagnosed with cancer, your employee health insurance should not only cover medical expenses. Also, make huge payments to cover the loss of income in case the disease forces you to leave the job.
Just imagine the plight of a person who is diagnosed with cancer! Though you can’t reverse his medical condition; your financial help will go a long way in helping him/her fight these critical ailments.
3. Employees’ Parents–
You might be offering group health insurance to your employees, now it’s time to take care of their families as well. In most situations, health insurance companies either charge a high premium to cover senior citizens or refuse to give them a policy. Usually, diseases increase with age, and therefore, you can help your employees by covering the health expenses of their parents as well.
Though all the above coverages will require paying extra premiums; it will surely make you an employee-friendly company. If you’re worried about the cost, you can introduce the feature of co-payment and deductibles in an employee health policy. Ensuring that your employees also bear some portion of the claim. It will also deter them from filing small claims.
Additional Read: How Group health insurance plans can help small-and-medium-scale businesses
Summary Table: Enhanced Group Health Benefits
| Benefit Type | Problem Addressed | Strategic Solution |
| Maternity Cover | High cost of delivery in private hospitals (₹50k+). | Financial support for female employees and spouses of male employees. |
| Critical Illness | Life-threatening ailments (Cancer, Kidney Failure). | High-value payouts to cover treatment and loss of income. |
| Parental Coverage | High premiums or rejection for senior citizens. | Including aging parents under the corporate “umbrella” policy. |
| Cost Sharing | Rising corporate insurance premiums. | Implementing Co-payments or Deductibles to manage costs. |
| Employee Status | Job market competition and retention. | Transitioning to an “Employee-Friendly” corporate identity. |
How can SecureNow help you?
It is about the health of your employees, and you can’t take a risk with it. So, choose the right group health insurance policy with the help of SecureNow— a reliable corporate insurance advisor. In case you need any assistance at the time of purchasing the group health insurance, you can contact the expert team of SecureNow. Further, you can take the help of SecureNow to customize the group health insurance policy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does maternity coverage only benefit female employees?
A) No. While it is a major support for female staff, male employees also benefit significantly as the policy typically covers the maternity expenses for their wives, reducing the financial stress on the entire family.
2. What is the difference between a “Deductible” and a “Co-payment”?
A) A Deductible is a fixed amount (e.g., ₹5,000) that the employee pays before the insurance starts paying. A Co-payment is a percentage (e.g., 10% or 20%) of the total bill that the employee must bear for every claim. Both are used to keep premium costs manageable for the employer.
3. Why should a group plan cover “Loss of Income” for critical illnesses?
A) Major diseases like paralysis or heart failure often require months of recovery during which an employee cannot work. A fixed-benefit payout helps the family manage daily household expenses and bills that standard hospitalization insurance does not cover.
4. Is it true that insurers often refuse to cover elderly parents?
A) In the individual retail market, insurers are often hesitant to cover people over 65 due to high risk. However, in a group health plan, the insurer covers the group as a whole, making it much easier and more affordable to include senior citizen parents.
5. How does adding these benefits affect my company’s tax liability?
A) The premiums paid for group health insurance—including the additional costs for maternity or parental riders—are considered a business expense. This can be used to reduce the company’s overall taxable income.
About The Author
Mayank Sharma
MBA Finance
He is a professional who brings extensive knowledge and expertise to the field of group health insurance. He has dedicated 7years to helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of insurance. Having worked closely with numerous clients and insurance providers, he deeply understands the nuances of group health insurance policies. With a reputation for providing insightful and informative content, he leverages his industry experience to educate readers about the importance of group health insurance and its benefits. Through their articles, Mayank Sharma aims to empower individuals and businesses to make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage, ultimately promoting healthier and more secure communities.
