• Major Medical Plans
• Section 125 Plans
• Dental Plans
• Vision Plans
• Life Plans

Major Medical Plans

Employees often view health insurance as one of their most valuable benefits. In fact, a 1999 survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute found that 65% of workers felt health insurance was their most important benefit. The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, through its affiliate Strategic Employee Benefits Services, offers a variety of options including small group and medical savings accounts.
In a 2000 Small Employer Health Benefits Survey, EBRI found that 70% of small employers offered health benefits to workers because they believe that keeping employees healthy increases productivity. The survey also found that 80% of employers offered health benefits to help with recruitment and retention.

Benefit plans may include:

• Preferred Provider or Point of Service options
• Flexible coinsurance and deductible amounts
• Prescription drug options
• Maternity coverage options
• Mental health and lifestyle coverage options

Section 125 Plans

Made possible by Section 125 of the IRS code, these plans offer employers a way to save taxes on their group benefit plans. They also offer employees a way to save taxes on money spent out-of-pocket for dependent care and medical expenses.
Three types of Section 125 plans exist: Premium Only, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Full Cafeteria Plan. Money allocated to a Section 125 Plan is subtracted from the employee's taxable income. It is also free from employer-paid Social Security and Unemployment taxes.

Benefit plans may include:

• Flexible contribution amounts
• Plan documentation for employees
• Weekly employee reimbursement cycle

Annual re-enrollment process

Dental Plans

Although it is not always considered a top priority by employers offering a benefit plan, dental benefits are often a priority for employees. Over the past six years the number of small businesses offering dental benefits has more than doubled, according to a LIMRA small business report. LIMRA attributes that jump to employee demand for dental benefits.

Allegiant Financial Services and its affiliate Employee Benefits Services, helps business owners choose dental insurance that will complement their existing health plan and satisfy the needs of their employees

Benefit plans may include:

• Flexibility in choosing deductibles, coinsurance and benefit maximums
• Employee only or family coverage
• Orthodontic coverage

PPO plans, where available

Vision Plans

Businesses today often believe it important to offer more than one benefit to their employees. In fact, according to a survey conducted in 2000 by LIMRA, only 9% of the firms surveyed offered just one benefit. Helping employees take care of their vision is an important part of a well-rounded benefits package.

The Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, through its affiliate Strategic Employee Benefits Services, helps you choose an insurance provider and a benefits plan that will meet the needs of your employees.

Benefit plans may include:

• Employee only or family coverage
• Frame and lens coverage
• Annual or more frequent eye exam coverage
• Contact lens coverage
• Vision correction coverage

Point of service plans

Life Plans

Providing your employees with the peace of mind that comes from life insurance coverage is one of the best benefits providable. According to a study conducted by LIMRA, four in ten small firms (under 100 employees) offer group life insurance. That number increases dramatically as the size of the company increases. In fact, the LIMRA study found that group life insurance was the third most prevalent benefit offered in companies with 10 or more employees.

Most companies offer basic group life insurance in which the employer pays some or all of the cost of coverage. Supplemental life insurance, additional insurance coverage that can be purchased by the employee, is also a popular benefit option.

A Strategic Employee Benefits Specialist can work with you to design a group life insurance plan that fits your needs and provides a quality benefit to your employees.

Benefit plans may include:

• Flexible schedules and maximums
• Benefit amounts based upon an employee's earnings
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage