Which Situation Applies to Your Company?
If Your Company Already Has Health Insurance
If your company already offers group health insurance, we generally need three items to prepare a fair comparison.
Current Rates and New Renewal Rates
We need both sets of rates:
- The rates the company and employees are paying now
- The new rates scheduled to begin on the upcoming renewal or effective date
Simple example
When available, provide rates for each coverage level, including employee only, employee and spouse, employee and children, and family coverage.
Subscriber or Enrollment Report
Most employers can download a report showing their currently covered employees and dependents from the current insurance carrier's employer website.
Depending on the carrier, it may be called a subscriber report, enrollment report, eligibility report, member census, or covered lives report.
The report should include, when available:
- Employee or member name
- Subscriber, spouse or child relationship
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Home ZIP code
- Coverage level
- Coverage effective date
No Social Security Numbers Are Needed for the Initial Quote
If Social Security numbers appear on the report, remove or hide them before submitting it. A carrier-generated report is usually easier than manually recreating the covered employee and dependent information.
Current Summary of Benefits and Coverage
We also need the current plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage, commonly called the SBC. This document provides the benefit details needed to make a fair comparison against another option.
The SBC normally includes:
- Individual and family deductibles
- Individual and family out-of-pocket maximums
- Primary care and specialist copays
- Urgent care and emergency room costs
- Coinsurance
- Diagnostic testing and imaging
- Outpatient surgery benefits
- Hospital benefits
- Prescription drug tier costs
- Network and out-of-network benefits
If Your Company Does Not Currently Offer Health Insurance
To prepare an accurate quote, we need a complete census of the employees who may be eligible for coverage. The employees and family members expected to enroll should be clearly identified.
Complete Employee Census
- Employee name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Home ZIP code
- Employment status when relevant
- Expected coverage choice
Employees expected to enroll may be highlighted or identified in a separate column on the full census.
Projected Covered Employees
Clearly identify which employees are expected to enroll.
Spouse and Child Information
For every spouse and child expected to be covered, provide:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- Relationship to the employee
Every Person Expected to Be Covered Is Part of the Quote
The age and gender of each employee, spouse and child expected to enroll are used when calculating the group's rates.
No Social Security Numbers Are Needed for the Initial Quote
We Compare Coverage, Not Just Premiums
A lower premium does not automatically mean a better health plan. A new option may cost less because it has a higher deductible, higher copays, weaker prescription benefits, a smaller provider network or greater employee out-of-pocket exposure.
We compare:
- Premiums
- Deductibles
- Out-of-pocket maximums
- Office visit and emergency costs
- Hospital and outpatient benefits
- Prescription drug costs
- Provider networks
The goal is not simply to provide the lowest quote. The goal is to determine whether another option provides better overall value for the company and its employees.
Ready to Request a Group Health Insurance Quote?
Whether your company already has coverage or is offering health insurance for the first time, Alabama Health Solutions can help you gather the required information and compare available options.
No Social Security numbers are needed for the initial quote, and requesting a comparison does not obligate your company to change plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is needed for a group health insurance quote?
Companies with current coverage generally need the rates being paid now, the new rates scheduled to begin at renewal, a subscriber or enrollment report and the current Summary of Benefits and Coverage. Companies without current coverage generally need a complete employee census and information on any spouses and children expected to be covered.
Do I need employee Social Security numbers to request a quote?
No. Social Security numbers are not required to prepare the initial group health insurance quote. Additional enrollment information may be requested later if the company selects a plan and moves forward with enrollment.
Where can I find a subscriber report?
Most employers can download a subscriber, enrollment, eligibility or member census report from their current insurance carrier’s employer website. It should list currently covered employees along with any covered spouses and children.
What is a Summary of Benefits and Coverage?
A Summary of Benefits and Coverage, commonly called the SBC, is a standardized document that outlines a plan’s deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, copays, coinsurance and other benefit details. It is usually available through the insurance carrier’s website, renewal documents or employer portal.
Do I need both the rates being paid now and the new renewal rates?
Yes. We need both the rates being paid now and the new rates scheduled to begin at renewal. Comparing the two sets allows us to calculate the actual increase and understand how the cost is changing before comparing other options.
What census information is needed when starting a new group plan?
A complete employee census should include each employee’s name, date of birth, gender, home ZIP code, employment status when relevant and expected coverage choice. For any spouse or child expected to be covered, we also need their name, date of birth, gender and relationship to the employee.
Have questions about your current plan first? Read our guide to health insurance terms, or request a quote directly. You can also email office@alabamahealthsolutions.com with any questions.