Your team is the backbone of your company that must be taken care of.  Their health directly impacts your success and that’s why you must offer group health insurance for employees. It protects them in medical emergencies and also shows that you really value their well-being. A good salary is not enough. To retain your employees in this competitive market, you must offer solid health insurance in India to be an employee-friendly workplace.

However, choosing the right policy is not so easy and picking the first plan you see is never recommended. Employers need to know what really matters, carefully evaluate different health insurance plans and then finalize one. A wrong choice can lead to dissatisfied employees. But don’t worry, because we are here to help you!

5 Things to Check in Group Health Insurance

It’s very good if you are considering buying a group insurance but before you go ahead to sign the document, you should always check for these points:

1. Coverage That Matches Employee Needs

The first step would obviously be to understand your employees and what are their healthcare requirements. If you have a team of young professionals, they would mostly need basic hospitalization coverage. But, for an older workforce, you must consider higher coverage because there may be lifestyle-related illnesses.

• Make sure the policy takes care of the basic/common needs like consultation visits, hospital stays, maternity etc
• The policies that also include pre-existing diseases are even better because individual plans often exclude them.
• There should also be an option to extend coverage to the families of the employees.

The best group health insurance for employees would always be the one that adapts to the actual needs of your team and not just offers generic protection.

2. Size of the Hospital Network

Another highly valuable feature of health insurance in India would be a wide hospital network. This is because, through this, your employees will be able to get treatment from their nearest hospital instead of worrying about arranging cash.

• Shortlist from those plans that provide cashless hospitalization across a large number of hospitals in places where your employees live and are accessible to them.
• Also, check if the insurance company has partnered with reputed hospitals because that ensures faster and smoother claim settlement.

This might be a small detail but it can actually make a big difference when there is an emergency situation.

3. Premium Costs vs. Benefits Offered

Cost matters and so does value for money. You have to compare the amount with what’s being offered. Often, the cheapest plan looks the most attractive but it’s not if the benefits are not enough. Similarly, why should you pay for those features that employees won’t even use?

• Compare multiple health insurance plans and select the one that gives the best value for money.
• There must be an option for add-ons like maternity and dental because employees really value these benefits.
• You must also ask about co-payment clauses, deductibles or hidden limits since they majorly affect claims.

The ultimate goal is to provide employees with strong coverage without shaking the company’s budget. 

4. Claim Settlement Ratio and Process

At the end of the day, it’s actually the claim settlement of the policy that makes it good or not good. There’s absolutely no point in getting insurance if your employees have to struggle during claims.

• The claim settlement ratio (CSR) of the insurer says a lot. A high CSR is a positive indicator. It tells that the company settles most of its claims without any stress.
• If the process is quick and cashless and employees don’t have to handle too much paperwork, it’s a green signal.
• There’s nothing like having a dedicated relationship manager or support team by your side while you are handling group claims.

Only if there’s a smooth claim experience, employees will have more trust in both the employer and the insurance company.

5. Flexibility and Add-On Options

Every company has a different workforce and that’s why there should be flexibility in health insurance plans.

• Confirm if the policy allows employees to opt for voluntary add-ons by paying extra.
• Business aims to grow. The policy should also allow easy scaling up.
• Look for features like employees really appreciate like health check-ups and mental health support.

All of these will make your team will feel they are valued and genuinely cared for.

How Group Health Insurance is Different from Individual Policies

Usually, when employers are exploring health insurance in India, they have one question in mind: why choose group health insurance for employees when they can buy their own policies by themselves? The fact that both insurance policies are so different makes group cover a requirement.

Here’s a compare the two options on the basis of different factors:

Coverage Start:

• Group Health Insurance: The coverage starts as soon as you get the policy. No waiting period for pre-existing diseases. 
• Individual Health Insurance: There’s often a waiting period of 2–4 years for covering any pre-existing conditions.

Cost:

• Group Plans: It is more affordable since premiums are calculated for the whole group and are negotiated by the employer.
• Individual Plans: There are higher premiums because the risk is separately calculated for one person/family.

Flexibility:

• Group Plans: While the coverage is decided by the employers, employees might also get the option to top up.
• Individual Plans: You have full flexibility to choose coverage, add-ons and even the insurance company.

Ease of Management:

• Group Plans: The whole paperwork, renewals and claims support is to be handled by the employer.
• Individual Plans: Employees only will have to manage each and everything by themselves.

Value for Employees:

• Group Plans: Because they offer a quick process and good coverage, it shows the employers care for their teams.
• Individual Plans: While they are perfect for long-term security, the cost is higher and gets more restrictive in the short run.

When you get group health insurance for employees, it becomes your safety net and ensures the team is never left unprotected, right from the first day. However, for long-term personal security, individual plans are always better. Together, they make a strong combination for your medical needs.

Benefits of Group Health Insurance for Employers & Employees

Group health insurance is a brilliant thing to do because it benefits both employees and employers in so many ways.

For Employees

• Financial Protection– Their medical expenses are taken care of (and often even for their families). This takes off the load during emergencies.
• Peace of Mind– Patients get almost immediate benefits. There’s normally no long waiting period for pre-existing conditions.
• Better Healthcare Access– Since the hospital network is wide enough, cashless treatment is possible in the nearest facility.
• Extra Perks– There’s also an option to include add-ons like maternity, mental health support and other practical ones.

For Employers:

• Attracting & Retaining– Employees will obviously be more loyal to companies that prioritize their health and do something for it.
• Higher Productivity– If employees are healthy and fit, they will take fewer sick leaves and perform better.
• Positive Work Culture– These efforts directly support the company’s reputation. They come across as caring and employee-friendly and this is what people look for in their workplace.
• Cost-Effective– Money-wise, group health insurance plans will always be cheaper than getting everyone individual coverage.

The right group health insurance for employees is the one that balances between cost, coverage and convenience. PolicyWings helps you with the best options available so you can check coverage, hospital networks, premiums and other details to ensure your employees get the protection they deserve. After all, a healthy team is a happy team and that’s a true success of the employer.