Health Insurance for Employees

[Aarlan]

Hello all,

For those of you who own a small private office, how many of you offer Health insurance as a benefit? How much of the tab do you pick up? How much do your employees pay? Do you offer an HMO v. a PPO?

For the employees on the forum, what do you expect for insurance benefits? Is it better to have a better working environment (better hours, better clientele, better products, etc>) of a private optical with no ins (or HMO type ins, higher weekly contribution, etc.) as opposed to the rigors of corporate (poor hours, being worked like a rented mule, supervisors who couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag, etc) but with good health insurance benefits?

We are trying to stay competitive, but with a small business, the expense of just one employee (employee w/ spouse and 2 children) will run an additional $11,000 (HMO) to $14,000 (PPO) total cost. If the employee picks up $60-90 a week, that is Approx $6,300-10,000 a year the company has to pick up. If we pick up 6 to 10K, that is money we can't pay as an hourly rate.

Any input or suggestions?

AA

[Cindy K]

For the employees on the forum, what do you expect for insurance benefits? Is it better to have a better working environment (better hours, better clientele, better products, etc>) of a private optical with no ins (or HMO type ins, higher weekly contribution, etc.) as opposed to the rigors of corporate (poor hours, being worked like a rented mule, supervisors who couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag, etc) but with good health insurance benefits?

I suppose I have been just so fortunate for the past 18 years to have worked for a great company with great working conditions, great product, great clientele, and a wonderful owner who I work side by side with daily. Life is good. The downside to all of this is yes, I know I could be making far more money elsewhere with a benefit package to boot. But I'd be sacrificing the positive aspects of my working life, and I don't feel that is worth it. I like getting up in the morning and going to work (ok, most mornings) and I've talked to enough opticians working for large chains and such who really aren't as happy as I am. Let the ones for whom money is the driving force sacrifice their souls, let the rest of just have stable employment, clients who become friends, and a boss who manages the dispensary properly and with experience. And no benefits.

[For-Life]

Right wingers always shoot on Canada for having health care, but this proves that it is the business owners who suffer in the long run when it is not there. (just had to get my two cents in there)