Are you feeling “sticker shock” over the price of group health insurance for your practice this year? If you have to pay more, let’s make sure every dollar counts and that you’re getting the most comprehensive health insurance possible for yourself and your practice. Here’s how TMA Insurance Trust is advocating for practice owners during Open Enrollment. 

Special Options, Superior Service

TMA Insurance Trust believes every practice owner should know about options that may help their practice control rising health insurance costs and possibly allow them to secure better coverage. The following special waivers make it possible for small groups and solo practice owners to bypass the standard criteria to qualify for a group health insurance plan. 

• The Participation Waiver — With this waiver, practice owners don’t have to meet the minimum required number of employees who enroll in coverage to qualify as a group. Owners only need to make coverage available to employees. There is no longer a need to cover at least 75% of their staff to qualify for coverage.
• The Contribution Waiver — This waiver gives practice owners the option to pay what they can afford instead of the mandated portion of the premium for their employees. They no longer must pay at least 50% of the premiums in order to qualify for group coverage. 

If you never thought you qualified for or thought your practice couldn’t afford group health insurance coverage, these waivers may now allow you to do so for the first time. Solo practice owners may be able to get PPO coverage for just themselves and their families while offering cost-effective HMO plans to their employees. Having more options to offer your staff makes your practice more competitive and can contribute to retaining valuable employees. 

Independent physicians and owners also have special options available to them. 

Did you know:

• Partners with no W-2 employees may be eligible for group coverage only for themselves. Partnership documentation and the company’s SS4 or recent K-1 (Form 1065) is required. 
• Physicians who own a business with their spouse, or their spouse is a W-2 wage employee may qualify for group coverage even without partnership documentation. 

If you’re preparing to open up your own practice, TMA Insurance Trust can assist you in starting your own group plan. You don’t have to go it alone. Now, during Open Enrollment, is the best time to start your plan and take advantage of the savings these special options and waivers may bring. 

We understand that many practice owners and practice managers have little time to invest in shopping for group health insurance benefits. Finding and comparing carriers and plans is a time-consuming and complex undertaking. TMA Insurance Trust works side by side with practice owners and their managers to provide alternative health insurance options and help them secure the best possible coverage for themselves and their staff. And we provide vital support not just during Open Enrollment, but throughout the year. 

Enroll Now, Time is Limited

To take advantage of these waivers, enrollment documents must be completed and submitted to the insurance carrier by December 12th for an effective date of January 1, 2023. Our advisors are ready and dedicated to helping you and your practice find the health insurance coverage that fits your needs and your budget. Call 800-880-8181 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, CST to get started and get covered for the year ahead. 

For over 60 years, TMA Insurance Trust advisors have been serving Texas physicians, their families and staff. TMA Insurance Trust prides itself on offering unbiased information and strategies to members, along with exclusive group rates on a range of the highest-rated plans in the industry.