By Jill Faulkner


Group health benefits in Orlando offer numerous options to employees and their dependents. Coverage of this type is usually referred to as employer group health plans, the latter which are typically made available to full-time employees. Coverage is also generally offered to the employee's family if he or she so desires. Companies that offer coverage of this type must be in compliance with all laws, both federal and state, regarding such insurance. An example of this is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, commonly abbreviated as COBRA.

The Department of Labor states that group healthcare coverage is a benefit plan for employees put in place and maintained by a company or union. It gives employees and their families medical benefits through reimbursement or prepaid arrangements, depending on the insurance company's guidelines. Eligibility varies greatly from one plan to the next, but in most cases anyone who has worked for a company for the designated length of time established by the employer can apply for group coverage.

Employers who want to offer such plans are generally required to provide proof of the number of individuals working for the company. Most insurance agencies limit the group policy to 50 or more individuals, although some will cover groups of 40 or less.

Such policies are governed by several laws, one of which is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The act mandates that the plan's administrator must give employees information concerning coverage details and eligibility requirements. Any business providing this type of insurance must also adhere to fiduciary guidelines. If such regulations are not adhered to, participants can sue the plan's administrator.

There are also several laws in effect regarding the termination of benefits. In order to terminate or amend healthcare coverage, one's employer must notify the beneficiary of the plan in writing. This correspondence must be executed by the appropriate party, such as the administrator of the plan. The language used to convey the information must be clear and concise.

Company insurance programs must also adhere to additional regulations, such as those outlined in the aforementioned COBRA. The latter is a law that gives workers the option to continue with their insurance for a period of eighteen months following employment termination. Even though the benefits remain unchanged, however, the policyholder must pay the entire insurance premium, with the employer no longer responsible to subsidize any part of the amount.

Both individuals and families will discover that there are many benefits associated with having health insurance. For instance, most plans cover annual checkups, prescription drugs, and even emergency care. Vision and dental care are also provided under certain policies.

It is always important for one to read the fine print when he or she is considering signing up for group health benefits in Orlando. If there are any details about which the employee is unclear, he or she should ask for the provider's toll-free number and speak to a representative who can further explain the benefits, or visit his or her human resources office. Ultimately, obtaining health insurance is a beneficial activity for virtually anyone.




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