Additional Coverage

Give your employees the extra peace of mind that comes from knowing they and their loved ones are protected. We offer term life, supplemental term life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) through our partner carriers. When you offer these benefits to employees, you also get a valuable corporate tax deduction and easy-to-use services, because we handle the plan administration.

• You can select basic coverage, but coverage can also be tailored to fit the needs of your business and employees.
• Most group term insurance policies include an amount of (AD&D) insurance equal to the amount of life insurance.
• A benefit schedule may be based on a fixed dollar amount, job classification or salary multiplier.
• You'll also want to learn about Waiver of Premium Benefits, an option available if an employee becomes totally disabled before age 60 and remains disabled for six months.

Additional life insurance benefit options include:

• Accelerated Death Benefit: For terminally ill employees with life expectancy of 12 months or less; pays a portion of life insurance benefit while employee is still living.
  • Note: This benefit may create taxable income or may adversely affect employee eligibility for Medicaid or other government benefits or entitlements. Anyone thinking of filing for accelerated death benefit should obtain professional tax counsel first.
• Extension Coverage, Conversion Coverage: These options become effective when an employee is no longer working due to disability.

As an employer, you can give your team access to dental insurance – one of the most desired benefits. Employees will enjoy access to regular preventive care, such as teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments, as well as other dental services. All of our dental plans offer the convenience of payroll deduction for premiums and the freedom of provider choice.

It’s clear to see there are benefits to offering vision insurance as part of your insurance package. If you have 10+ employees, you can offer our vision insurance option. Employee benefits include:

• Vision exams, prescriptions and glasses frames/lenses: Employees pay a co-pay for office visits. Frames with lens discounts are available.

• EyeMed network: Enjoy access to more than 85,000 vision care providers at almost 27,000 locations nationwide.

As an employer, you can make this benefit available and only have the employee pay for the coverage. It can be a voluntary product for employees as well.

There are different ways to help employees budget and pay for medical expenses throughout the year. Both of these options are tax-favorable savings options that follow specific federal rules to help employees pay for unreimbursed expenses.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• Specified amount is set aside tax-free from employee paychecks.
• Employees can get reimbursed for expenses incurred within a specified time frame established by the federal government (typically a calendar year and small extension). Unused funds are lost after this timeframe.
• FSA can be used for qualified dependent care, medical, prescription, dental and vision expenses.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

• Specified amount is set aside tax-free from employee paychecks.
• Employees can get reimbursed for expenses incurred. Funds do not expire, allowing for unused savings to accumulate year-over-year.
• An HSA can only be paired with high-deductible health plans. It can be used for qualified medical, prescription, dental and vision expenses

Experience wellness at the workplace. Our well-being services offer comprehensive engagement opportunities and resources for employers and employees. We work with your team to identify the best wellness practice approaches and assist with implementing or leveling up existing health services. These services include:

• LiveNOW online portal
• Health risk assessments
• On-site or virtual screenings
• Health coaching by referral
• Other programs for purchase

The LiveNOW program is a portal involving multiple engagement offerings. This tool comes with pre-built, self-guided wellness improvement tracks, activities and more.

Employers can offer their employees counseling services through the Avera Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Members, spouses and dependent children receive three confidential counseling sessions every year at no cost. Additional services include:

• Substance abuse prevention
• Leadership/manager training and development
• Consultation
• Executive coaching
• Critical incident response

We offer small and large employers short- and long-term disability options for employees who are unable to work for a period of time due to a disability. Employees can opt to receive payment either as a percentage of salary or in a lump sum amount each week. Disability insurance is sold employee-voluntary or employer-provided.

• Long-term disability: Plan options are for two or five years. Our plan pays 60% of an employee's earnings, up to a maximum monthly benefit of $6,000.
• Short-term disability: Plan options are for 90 or 180 days. These plans replace 60% of an employee's weekly earnings, up to a maximum benefit of $1,000 per week.

Protecting hard-earned income is important for those who are managing a critical illness. Critical illness insurance is an option for employees who are looking for a security line of income if a critical illness occurs. An insured employee would get a payment in a per-day or lump sum benefit to help with expenses.

• Helps bridge gaps in coverage: provides additional financial support while supplementing existing coverage
• Cash benefits: helps protect employees’ wallet and savings
• Flexible spending dollars: provides protection for a variety of covered conditions, including heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery and more