Pet insurance in Bloomfield Hills as a workplace benefit your team pays for through payroll
Employers want something new to offer at open enrollment. But health premiums keep rising, so a richer medical plan is often off the table. Pet insurance in Bloomfield Hills is one way to add a benefit people notice without adding much to your costs.
We are an independent employee benefits consulting firm, in business since 2007, with an office on Woodward Avenue. We work with employers in Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Novi and across Michigan.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance as an employee benefit is a voluntary plan. You make it available. Employees who want it enroll and pay through payroll deduction.
Plans usually cover dogs and cats. Most pay toward vet bills for accidents and illnesses. Some offer add-ons for routine care, like checkups and vaccines. Many plans pay the employee back after the vet visit.
Here is how we help:
- We compare pet insurance carriers and plan designs.
- We set up enrollment and payroll deductions with your team.
- We add it to your other voluntary benefits, so employees enroll in one place.
- We explain it to employees in plain words.
For proper coverage of an account we work in teams of 5: an account executive, an account manager, a plan analyst, customer service and IT. When an employee has a question later, our customer service team helps.
Does offering pet insurance cost the employer anything?
Usually very little. Employees pay the premium. Your cost is mostly time. That means setting up the plan, adding the payroll deduction and sharing it at enrollment.
Some employers choose to pay part of the premium. That is up to you. If you do, talk with your payroll team about how to handle it on paychecks.
How do employees sign up for pet insurance through work?
Most employers offer it at open enrollment in the fall, next to their other plans. Some pet plans let employees join at other times of the year too. The rules vary by carrier, and we confirm them for you.
Employees usually pick a plan level and add their pets. Coverage then starts on a set date. It is a good idea to tell employees about any waiting period before coverage begins.
Common questions
Is pet insurance a pre-tax benefit?
No. Pet insurance premiums are usually paid after tax. Pet coverage is not a qualified benefit under a cafeteria plan, so it cannot be deducted before tax. If the employer pays part of the premium, that amount is generally taxable income to the employee, which payroll needs to know before the first deduction.
Can a small business offer pet insurance?
Often, yes. Carriers set their own rules for group size, and we check them for you. Requirements can include a minimum group size or minimum enrollment, and some pet plans are offered as individual policies at a group rate rather than as a group contract. We tell you which arrangement fits your headcount before you announce anything.
Does pet insurance cover conditions a pet already has?
Usually not. Most plans exclude pre-existing conditions. We point this out in the employee materials. The definition varies by plan, and some treat a condition that has fully resolved as covered again after a set period. Plans also have waiting periods for illness, so a pet that gets sick soon after enrollment may not be covered yet.
Talk to us about pet insurance in Bloomfield Hills
Send us your renewal or book a 30-minute call. We will show you how pet insurance fits with your other voluntary benefits. Visit us at 41000 Woodward Avenue, Suite 350 East, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, or call 248.370.8853.
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