A Comprehensive Guide to PEO Insurance

Modern businesses face challenges like talent acquisition and compliance with the changing employment laws. Many businesses seek solutions to streamline their processes and enhance efficiency to stay competitive, relevant, and agile. One of the approaches gaining traction is leveraging professional employer organizations (PEO) insurance. This solution can address the complexities of worker administration, risk mitigation, and overall business optimization.

This article will help small to mid-sized business owners understand how PEO insurance can benefit their business.

What is a PEO?

A professional employer organization (PEO) is a business model that small to mid-sized businesses use to manage their everyday human resource needs. Some of the help PEOs provide include;

• Providing health insurance
• Filing payroll taxes
• Getting worker’s compensation coverage
• Writing employee policies
• Managing employee issues.

PEOs manage all these services under one roof–merging your vendor relationships. As a result, as a business owner, you have more time to work on other business matters. By working with a PEO, you can reduce the risks of unexpected costs, lower the maintenance cost of employee management processes, and increase business adaptability.

How Does PEO Insurance Work?

One of the biggest worries of every business owner is the cost of providing health insurance to employees. According to a 2021 report, 55% of small business owners face challenges in providing health insurance. 

As part of PEO’s work, they can help small business owners access health insurance options that would have been difficult to get by themselves. Some health insurance plans limit themselves from working with small businesses.

PEOs are considered large employers, making it easy for them to access limited health insurance coverage. As a result of accessing these plans, your business may improve your competitiveness in the tight labor market. 

Benefits of Working With a PEO for Your Business Health Insurance 

While small businesses can handle health insurance alone, the process can be time-consuming and overwhelming. From managing health insurance costs to negotiations and planning, these tasks can quickly overtake your time. 

In the white paper by the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO), researchers conclude that PEOs have a massive impact on businesses in various ways. 

According to NAPEO, 70% of small businesses have increased their revenues after becoming a PEO client. Also, 66% of the businesses studied reported higher profitability. Some of the benefits of becoming a PEO client include;

• Access to PEO health insurance carriers – This variety of options provides businesses with competitive health insurance plans and more product offerings.
• No more dealing with health insurance administration problems – With PEO insurance, you will not have to think hard and long about handling and managing health insurance costs and administration.
• PEOs will handle the process – PEOs will manage the entire carrier relationship, from the first selection process to annual renewal and open enrollment. 
• Help plan for annual changes – Since PEOs are well-versed in handling a large group of financial plans, they better understand how the plan is running and what’s expected at renewal.
• Enhance employee satisfaction -By partnering with PEOs to provide health insurance plans, you invest in your employees, making them feel valued and happy. This strategy will likely help your business retain your employees. 

As a business leader in charge of a small business, you understand that your time and your employee’s time is limited. Your company’s productivity may suffer when you spend so much time on time-consuming and technical tasks like health insurance.

PEO vs. Insurance Broker: Which is Better?

While a PEO is a human resource firm, an insurance broker is a state-licensed business located where your business is. Insurance brokers will recommend plans for your business based on your needs and budget.

However, since the insurance broker receives a commission after their clients sign contracts with their insurers, they may be biased in the plan they provide. The commission structure may encourage them to present only expensive plans to earn more. Depending on your business needs, you may settle for an insurance broker if you prefer having more control over your business, as working with a PEO resembles having a long-term partnership. 

In Summary

For small businesses, PEO insurance is more comprehensive and less expensive. Although it may feel expensive, the costs are worth the errors and time saved in your taxation, payroll, and legal compliance. By entrusting your health insurance responsibilities to PEOs, you can focus on other parts of your business.