Health Insurance Employer paying health insurance.

[JohnJay]

How does this usually work? Does the employer pick a certain plan every year that all employees get?
Can an employee "upgrade" this plan if they want a better package or benefits?
What would be a typical plan that an employer would give?
Or does an employer just say that we will play x amount towards your health insurance every year?
Is there any advantages for employer or employee to pay for health insurance rather than increase salary by the same amount?

 

[Innisfree]

What I’ve seen in a few jobs is that the employer chooses a provider and plan. This might change from year to year.
They pay for it, and the premium is added to your gross income so you pay BIK tax on the amount.
You get a tax credit against it too.

Depending on the employer, and how they manage payroll/HR, they may allow flexibility to change plan and provider, but this is extra administration, so it may not be widespread.
Don’t know how typical, but we are on https://www.layahealthcare.ie/productsandservices/plan/scheme/principle

There’s normally a group discount I think, so getting a plan through work is likely to be less hassle and better value.

 

[irbx]

What I’ve seen in a few jobs is that the employer chooses a provider and plan. This might change from year to year.
They pay for it, and the premium is added to your gross income so you pay BIK tax on the amount.
You get a tax credit against it too.

Depending on the employer, and how they manage payroll/HR, they may allow flexibility to change plan and provider, but this is extra administration, so it may not be widespread.
Don’t know how typical, but we are on https://www.layahealthcare.ie/productsandservices/plan/scheme/principle

There’s normally a group discount I think, so getting a plan through work is likely to be less hassle and better value.

Also for some employee schemes waiting periods are waved for existing conditions when joining which is a huge benfit.

On my wife scheme in work everyone is put on the same plan. But ringing up laya directly can change the plan to what we want and just pay the difference.

My own work scheme is not flexible also with laya company pays for one plan no changes are allowed by laya. But my work allows me to take cash instead of insurance as I end up double insured.

It depends on number members in company and how well they bargain with health insurers rep for the contract.

 

[thedaddyman]

In the case of my own employer, we are given a core package for ourselves and our families but we have the ability to add extra or go to a better package with the provider and we use an online tool to give us a calculation that if we move up, it takes some extra out of our salary.

There is a group discount so it is cheaper then if we went external and got it ourselves. In some American MNC's, it is compulsory to sign up for the basis package (officially as part of being a caring employer, unofficially it reduces absenteeism) and the only exemptions are if, for example, you were covered under the Garda scheme through a spouse or somewhere else.