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Table of
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5 More Reasons To Join The Chamber Plan
What sets the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan apart form the market? It's not just the exclusivity (only Chamber members are eligible to participate). The 5 reasons more than 20,000 firms get group benefits through the Chambers Plan.
Not-for-Profit
The Chambers Plan operates under the direction of the not-for-profit Chamber Insurance Corporation of Canada. It's volunteer board is comprised entirely of Chamber people, form across the country.
Outstanding Service
The plan's service centre works in concert with your local agent to answer all your questions.
Fast, Accurate Payments
Most health and dental claims turn around under 48 hours. The plan also offers pharmacy card and electronic dental options employees can use to submit their claims.
You Choose the Coverage
Every firm participating in the Chambers Plan has a custom group benefit program, based on coverages the owner selects.
You Control the Cost
Why pay for a package with benefits you don't want when you can customize? Customization puts you in control so you get top
value for your dollar. Whatever your reasons for wanting group benefits for your company, put the Chambers Plan in your
top ten and call for details. 1-800-665-3365 www.chambers.ca
At work for small business since 1970
Can it Be "Good
News" if No One Knows?
Is your company a typical Canadian employer, making a group benefit program available to employees? If you are, do you regularly remind employees about the program and its value to them?
How you present benefit plan information will depend on a number of things, including your corporate culture and your employee population. Whether you pay the whole premium. Or share the bill with employees, individuals who understand the coverage are more likely to appreciate such a plan, and to work with you to keep it affordable for the long run.
For many workers with young families, prescription medication coverage might be of greatest interest, but it's also very worthwhile talking about the importance of other benefits like life, accidental death & dismemberment, short and long term disability, or critical illness. After all, it's one thing to help a family pay for medications they need. It's another to help pay all the family's bills through income replacement if a breadwinner can't work because of an illness or accident.
Taking the time to explain benefits not only ensures your people what is covered, but it also avoids disappointments down the road, where people assume incorrectly that a product or service is covered. This way your employees will appreciate the benefits you provide, and the expenses that are paid on their behalf.
If your plan sends you newsletters, consider passing them on to your
employees. Some programs, like the Chambers Plan, welcome calls directly from insured's, which keep your own administration work to a minimum. Put the plan's website and toll free numbers in your company news, or post them in our lunchroom where people see them on a regular basis. Then, when they have questions about coverage or claims, they can get answers promptly.
Group benefits are valuable but they are not 'free'. Employees who use program judiciously, when there is a real need, help keep the program affordable for years to come.
BRUSHING UP ON
DENTAL CLAIMS
Dental Benefits are one of the most appreciated parts of a group benefit plan. But confusion sometimes arises when it comes time to file a claim. Here are some of the most common questions.
Who's supposed to sign the claim anyway?
Dental claims ask a number of signatures. For prompt processing, make sure you have the right 'autograph' in the right places. The dentist's office must complete the treatment portion of the form and the employee must sign the bottom.
Here's the tricky part: The patient must sign the confirmation of the amount claimed.
On standard forms that's the box on the right hand side, about a third of the way from the top. The insurer wants the person who received the services to confirm they were provided and that the amount charged reflects the work that was done. If the patient is a dependent child, the employees signs this part of the form. If the spouse received the treatment, the spouse's signature is required.
Do I have to mail in a request for an estimate?
Your dentist's office may also call this a 'predetermination of benefits'. Whatever it's called you're looking for confirmation of how much your insurance will pay before work starts. Although claims must be sent in by mail (or submitted electronically directly from the dentist's office), the Chambers Plan accepts faxes requesting dental coverage estimates. This service can save you valuable time when you're anxious to get treatment underway. Your dentist simply completes a claim form, marking it "Estimate", and sends it to the plan any way that suits you, by mail or fax.
How long do I Have to submit a claim?
The Chambers Plan calls for dental claims to be submitted within 12 months of the date services are provided. If someone leaves your company, they have 120 days to send in claims for services they received while still employed by you.
5 Great
Reasons Members-Only Group Benefits Are Worth A Look!
If you are thinking of adding group benefits to your company, there are a lot of good reasons to put your Chamber membership to work for you. Not the least is exclusivity: only members have access to the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan.
But, the Chambers Plan also offers you a quality, customized product with features you aren't likely to find elsewhere. Here are five of the most frequently citied reasons companies like yours join the program.
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No Minimum Firm Size.
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Your small to medium business is eligible to apply -- even if it's a one person operation, or home based enterprise.
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No Industry Restrictions
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Most benefit plans won't accept some industries.
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The Chambers plan welcomes for profit businesses of all kinds.
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Guaranteed Approval
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With three or more full time people, your firm can choose benefit options that guarantee coverage to you and your employees.
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Guaranteed Renewal
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As long as your firm pays its premiums each month, the Chamber Plan guarantees your benefit program is renewable, year after year.
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Rate Stability
Claims are averages over more than 20,000 firms just like yours. Higher than usual claims on year? You won't be singled out for a price increase.
Your Chamber Plan representative is ready to show you how coverage can be tailored to fit your company. Every Chambers Plan client has a custom benefit plan, not an off the shelf program. Now that's a great reason to call for details.
Enrich your Benefit Plan Without
Spending A Cent!
Looking for a way to make your benefit plan more appealing? Not sure how to add coverages in a diverse workplace that includes single people and employees with families, perhaps over a wide range of ages?
Why not include optional benefits in your program with premiums paid by the employee? It's an easy way to customize benefits for each individual in your company without adding to the employer's cost. All you do is deduct the monthly premium through your payroll and send it to the insurer with the premium for your core coverages.
Optional Group Life Insurance is the best known example of an optional product. Such coverage has been available for many years but is probably underutilized by employers.
It's an attractive product, offering employees (and their spouses) a low cost way to top up personal life insurance coverage. Optional plans typically offer a small amount of coverage for dependent children as well, if either parent becomes insured.
While employees can get life insurance coverage on their own, group products can be much less expensive and less hassle. The amount of medical evidence required - such as questionnaires, blood tests is typically less onerous than individual products.
Chambers Plan optional life coverage is also portable. That means the
employee can keep the insurance even if he or she leaves your company. That's a great advantage to people who may not be healthy enough to apply for this kind of program under future circumstances.
Optional Life is a cost effective way to customize your group life benefit, opening a door for employees who need more coverage because of their unique circumstances. Why not include it in your group benefit program.
Invest
some time educating employees and save yourself 10%!
How do you help keep group insurance premiums down? Focus on healthcare, the area most prone to large increases, and encourage your
employees to take responsibility for the way they use their plan. That's the message Canadians can take from a 2004 study of US group benefits programs.
Companies with the best track record educating employees typically saw a 7 percent premium increase. Companies facing higher increases - a medium of 17% - did less to help workers make cost-effective health care decisions.
The 10% difference is hard to ignore. Employers who ensure employees understand how coverage works best for the long term are reaping
the rewards.
Successful plans include features like deductibles and co-payments. These directly involve employees in every purchase, reminding them to ensure each purchase is appropriate.
These same features can also encourage what the medical community call “compliance” -- patients who follow the doctor's instruction, like taking medications for the full period prescribed, not just until the patient initially feels better. This kind of smart consumer behavior helps ensure the treatment is successful, and avoids repeat visits to the doctor to start the treatment process over again… often with a new prescription.
Ideally, employers and employees should see themselves partners in a benefit program. While the insurance company is there to provide a safety net in case of catastrophe, you should approach day to day claims as though you're spending your own money. That will keep your benefit program affordable for the long run.
Looking
for a new benefits plan?
Whether you're managing a human resources department in a small-to medium size business or running the whole company, you don't want to take you group benefit plan to market just for the exercise! But there are times when it makes sense to compare your premiums - or your coverages –to what's available elsewhere. That's where the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan can help.
Sometimes a plan review is triggered by significant changes inside your organization. You may have a new budget target for your plan, or want to change your coverage. Or , your firm may simply have outgrown your current benefits, with a shift in your demographics or number of employees. Whatever your motivation, you're most likely to be happy with the outcome of a benefit review if you have a clear idea of the kind of change you want. For example...
Many companies have a benefit philosophy that states why the firm offers a benefit plan. This helps provide a framework for selecting the types of benefits that are consistent with the companies objectives. If you don't have a clearly stated benefit philosophy, now might be a good time to develop one.
When you meet with your group benefit advisor, it's useful to have your benefit plan's financial history on hand, including a full profile or "census" of your current employees.
Make a list of the reasons you're conducting a plan review, any deficiencies you want to overcome in an new plan. This will give you a yard stick for measuring alternatives.
When it's time to tackle a benefit review, your Chambers Plan representatives can do the legwork for you, but you're in charge. If there are specific objectives you want to meet, or directions you want your benefit program to take, point your agent in the right direction. That will ensure your time is well spent.
Is
There a Group Benefits “Starter” Plan?
Absolutely! A good benefit program will put you in control of the types and
levels of coverage you include in your plan. So whether you're introducing
a program to your company, or working to keep your existing plan current,
you should call the shots.
A benefit plan typically starts with basic group life insurance for your
employees. You'll have income replacement (short and long term disability
income) and critical illness options, plus decisions to make about health
and dental benefits. These latter two coverage's are among the most popular
but health care can account for the largest portion of your plan's premium
so you'll want to consider your options carefully.
The Chamber of Commerce group insurance plan offers a wide range of health
coverage's to open up new alternatives for your company, even if you
couldn't afford health care in the past.
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You can choose an entry
level program with the lowest priced coverage, or you can opt for a
broader program.
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Your choices include
programs with and without prescription drugs, the single most costly
component of any health plan
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Select from a wide range of
deductibles and co-payment levels. For example, one of our most popular
programs includes $25/$50 annual single person/ family deductibles (the
employee covers health claims up to this amount each year before
benefits are payable) and on going employee payments of 20% of the cost
of the prescription drug claims for the remainder of the year.
Choice is critical to managing
the rising cost of health care benefits, and the Chamber Plan delivers a
full range of options, from entry level to comprehensive . You simply pick
the kind of benefits that work for you. And remember, the Chambers Plan also
lets you manage your program with:
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Special disability income
options for owners;
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Top up benefits for key
employees through ‘cost plus' benefits;
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Contemporary options like
critical illness benefits and retirement savings.
All these options give you
increased control over the cost of your plan, today and tomorrow. And, at
the plan's annual renewal, you can change your coverage's to suit your
current needs and budget. So join 20,000 Canadian businesses already
covered. In just a few minute with your agent, you're on your way to an
affordable group program, built just for you.
Benefit Facts presents information to help you manage your employee
benefits. Brought to you by your Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan
agent, representing Canada's premier group plan for small and medium sized
business.
1-800-665-3365
www.chambers.ca
AT WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESS SINCE 1970
What
Benefit Plan is Right for Your Firm?
Have you ever heard someone complain about their group benefit plan: "My
insurer's plan stinks"! That kind of comment probably points to one of
two problems.
First, if a company offers you a packaged program-its only program-that may
be a red flag. Some plans are pre-packaged. You can take them or leave them:
you can't just change them! While this may make the buying process easier,
it can also be more expensive for your company.
For example, if you're considering such a plan, will you be:
'Value' is as important as
price for most companies, so give serious consideration to a custom benefit
plan. You're more likely to use and appreciate the coverage's you choose.
Second if your employees voice concerns about your plan, you'll want to
ensure benefits are being paid appropriately. Some of the problem may lie in
employees' expectations.
There are a wide range of coverage's you, as the employer, can purchase.
Employees should understand what kind of benefits you have selected and why
you've chosen them. For example: Many employers turn to "managed health
care" plans as a way to keep their program affordable while still covering
a broad range of expenses. It's especially important that employees
understand this kind of coverage so they can get the most out of their
benefits. That includes discussing things like generic drugs with their
physician before he or she writes a prescription. Work with your insurance
advisor to customize a group benefit plan that you can afford, then talk
with your employees about the plan and how it works. These two steps go hand
and hand to ensure your benefit plan investment delivers.
How can
you recognize Quality in a Group Benefit Plan?
If you're a small business in the market for group benefits, how do you
choose the right plan for your organization?
One, first step is to look at the flexibility a program offers.
If someone sells you a 'package', you're probably paying for benefits
you don't want or don't need . If you have a custom plan built from a
wide range of coverage's, from basic to comprehensive coverage's. So flexibility and price go hand and hand.
Second, bottom line price gets the most attention, and it's clearly
important. Flexible benefit options mean cost control. A good plan offers
you a range of coverage's, from basic to comprehensive coverage's. So flexibility and price go hand and hand.
That's especially the case for health and dental care benefits which
typically represent the largest portion of your premium. Again, a good
program lets you select a level of coverage that's well defined and fits
your budget.
Third, your agent should be knowledgeable about group benefits, not just
offering them as a side line. For example, your agent should understand the
tax implications of who pays disability premium, and be able to advise you
on features like 'cost plus' from owners and key employees.
Finally, don't forget service. You'll want to choose a group plan with
high standards. Expect toll free lines you and your employee scan both use
to ask questions about coverage and claims. Demand quick benefit payment to
limit the time you're out of pocket from expenses you've paid.
The Chamber of Commerce group insurance plan is designed with all these
factors in mind.
How can
you Protect Yourself From Shrinking Choices for Small
Group Benefit Plans?
Over the last few months, the face of the Canadian insurance
marketplace has changed dramatically. Major organizations have 'demutualized',
turning themselves into stock companies, some ripe for takeover. Others have
already merged, forming one larger company out of two.
It's probably fair to say that these 'new' insurers are taking a hard
look how they do business and who their customers are.
The bottom line is more important than ever.
What are the implications for your group benefit plan, especially if you
work alone or with a handful of employees?
Increasingly, your company will have to be source of profit for a large
insurer to take any interest in you. If your group's claims exceed the
break even mark opposite your premium, even briefly, you can see hefty
increases in your rates. That assumes you are offered renewal of your
coverage. It's usually up to your insurer.
The Chamber Plan is different. In spite of its modest size, it's the
largest program in the country for small business covering 19,000 firms.
Directed by the Chamber Insurance Corporation of Canada, a non-profit
organization of Chamber managers and volunteers, the Chamber plan is run for
Chamber people, by Chamber people. Once your firm becomes insured, your
plan is guaranteed renewable.
As the industry continues to evolve, we expect bigger insurers to focus on
bigger employers. Our commitment is to serve the small business community
and what well continue to do.
Group
Benefits - Group Benefits and Chamber Membership, All Under One
Convenient Monthly Umbrella
Now you can simplify your accounting by combining two regular payments into
one straightforward monthly amount.
If you're participants in the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan,
you can pay your benefit plan premium and your Chamber membership, all with
one automatic payment. It's a great alternative to lump sum annual
membership payments.
The Chamber Group Insurance Plan offers this option without any additional
cost to you. Here's how it works...
The plan collects the monthly membership amount set by your Chamber. It's
clearly stated as a separate line item on your regular group benefit
statement. As always, your benefit statement fully describes the amount
deducted from your bank account, as a preauthorized payment.
Once a month, we submit the fees we've collected across the country to the
appropriate Chambers. These fees are sent to the Chambers in full, without
any charge or deduction. It's simply a service we offer you and your
Chamber to make life easier.
So, if you'd rather avoid an annual membership fee, consider the monthly
alternative. It's available to all Chamber group benefit plan
participants. Contact your agent or Chamber to get on board!
Brought to you by your Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan agent,
representing Canada's largest group plan for small business.
Travelling?
- Your Group Benefits May Save You $$$
If you're planning to travel outside your home province, do you need to
buy medical emergency coverage?
You may not if you have group health insurance.
The Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, for example, providing a wide
range of benefits to insured employees and family members. These people do
not typically need to buy additional short term personal policies, unless
they plan to be away for an extended period of time.
Under the Chambers Plan, all the health care options include 24 hour
telephone support to help insured's find medical help abroad, including
interpretation services.
The plan covers the cost of emergency treatment away from home, from
hospital to physician charges. Many other costs arising from an emergency
are also covered, including:
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The cost of air fare changes
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The return of an insured's
vehicle
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Chaperoning minors who must
return home alone, and
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A bedside visit by a family
member if the injured individual was travelling alone.
So check your group policy for
travel coverage. See what benefits
You're entitled to and note any limits that apply (such as maximum trip
duration or age restrictions).
With this information you may be able to save yourself the cost of
additional insurance coverage when you travel.
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