In this competitive world of group health insurance plans, insurance companies are looking at different ways to make their plans unique, control claims, or add prevention tools to their benefit offerings. For example, even though a health plan may not provide coverage for acupuncture, through the ancillary plan members can receive a discount for this service.
Under these “ancillary benefits”, discounts or free services can be found for:
- Massage Therapy
- Eyeglasses, Contacts, and Vision Exams
- Acupuncture Treatment
- Counseling/Therapy
- Financial Planning
- Legal Services
Group life and dental carriers also offer similar ancillary benefit programs.
When we discuss benefits with a prospective client, we often find that these programs have not been discussed or communicated to the employees. These free programs can add value to your benefit plan, as they stretch the amount of services covered and give the employees more for their money. These programs are also something to review if you are looking at two carriers with similar cost.