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Open enrollment is right around the corner, and brokers know better than anyone that employers must go beyond major medical insurance to impress their workers when it comes to benefits. Employees today expect more options when choosing coverage that best suits their needs for the upcoming year, as well as those of their dependents.

Your clients are looking to you to help guide them in providing the most affordable and robust coverage to their employees. You are probably wondering how affordable and robust can be in the same sentence. It’s possible. Here are five voluntary solutions that your clients should offer to help ensure employees are able to protect both their families and finances year-round.

1. Disability insurance: Brokers can help employers understand the risk of disability and encourage employees to prepare for the future. When employees are unable to work and earn a paycheck, out-of-pocket expenses can accumulate and cause overwhelming financial stress. Having disability insurance in place can be key for an employee because it helps protect their paycheck, giving them the ability to get on with life without a huge financial setback.

2. Critical Illness insurance: Suffering from a major illness can be detrimental to one’s physical, emotional and financial health. Having a critical illness plan can help cover related medical costs or simply assist with everyday living expenses. Encourage those with family histories of cancer, stroke or heart attack, as well as workers approaching retirement, to consider this type of insurance to help give them added peace of mind.

3. Life insurance: After the death of a family member, financial burdens should be the last thing on families’ minds. By offering life insurance, employers can give their employees the opportunity to help protect their loved ones’ futures and relieve financial stress during difficult times.

4. Accident insurance: No matter how careful people are, accidents happen. Employers can help prepare employees for unintentional injuries by offering accident insurance. In the event of a covered accident, this coverage provides cash that can be used in any way an employee sees fit. These policies help workers and their families stay ahead of the medical and out-of-pocket expenses that can quickly add up after an injury and allow them to focus on recovery.

5. Value-added services: In response to rising health care costs and higher consumer demands, employers should consider offering employees nontraditional benefits some refer to as value-added services. These come in many forms and can help employees navigate the complexities of the health care environment, improve their experiences as health care consumerism gains popularity, and protect personal and financial information. Examples include telemedicine, bill negotiation and identity theft protection.

As a broker, you know open enrollment is the perfect time to help your clients help themselves and their employees. The five solutions listed above are great ways to impress employees with enhanced benefits plan offerings. Encourage your clients to offer a robust benefits package that will help provide more protection for employees and keep them happy throughout the year.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a solicitation.

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Instant Insights /

5 voluntary policies brokers should recommend this open enrollment season

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