Arlington Group health insurance policies typically include compensation plans, such as fee-for-service (FFS), or managed care plans, including Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and Point of service (POS).

The main difference between reimbursements and managed care plans are the types of providers, physician and physician choices, out-of-pocket costs, and medical bill payments.

What is group health insurance and how does it work?

Group health insurance, also known as employer coverage, is a type of health insurance provided by the employer of a member organization. Members of a group health insurance policy generally receive cover at a lower cost because the risk for the insurer is spread over several members.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), companies with 50 or more full-time employees must offer health insurance to full-time employees and dependents under age 26 or pay compensation. Insurers are also required to provide collective coverage to organizations with only two employees. In some states, self-employed individuals may also qualify for group coverage plans.

Group health insurance policies are selected and purchased by companies or organizations and then offered to employees. Most states require group insurance with a 70% participation rate, although the minimum rate is higher or lower in some states.

How group health insurance works

Companies and organizations purchase group health insurance plans to provide medical coverage to their employees or members. Only groups, not individuals, can enroll in collective health insurance plans. While all group health insurance plans are different due to variations in costs, health insurers, types of group plans, and plan specifications, they generally have the following characteristics:

• Group health insurance policies often require a 70 percent participation rate
• Group members have the option to enroll or decline health insurance
• The collective health premiums are divided between the company and its employees.
• Family members and dependents can be added to group plans at an additional cost

To participate in group health insurance, a company needs at least one full-time or full-time equivalent employee. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time or full-time equivalent employees are not required to provide health insurance, while larger employers with more than 50 full-time employees are required to provide collective medical services insurance for their staff.

Benefits of Arlington Group Health Insurance

Group health insurance plans have several advantages and benefits over individual plans. Many employers offer additional health plans, including dental, vision, and pharmacy coverage, individually or as a package.

The main offering of group benefit plans is lower premiums. According to 2018 research from eHealth, a private online health insurance marketplace, the average per person premium cost in group health insurance was $409 per month, compared to $440 for an individual plan. In the same study, small group health plans had an average deductible of $3,140 per year, compared with $4,578 for individual plans.

In addition, family members and dependents can be added to group plans at an additional cost to members, which can help families with single caregivers or whose individual or alternative health plan options are priced significantly higher.

Arlington Group Health Insurance plans offer numerous tax benefits for both the employer and the employee. The money employers pay for monthly premiums is tax-deductible, and employee premium payments can be made pre-tax, which can lower your overall taxable income.

Some smaller businesses may also qualify for the small business tax credit. The small business health care tax credit benefits an employer with fewer than 25 full-time employees who pay an average wage of less than $50,000 per year and offers a qualified health plan through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace and pays at least 50% of the cost of health care coverage for each employee (but not for family or dependents).

Who can sign up for Arlington Group Health Insurance?

To qualify for Arlington Group Health Insurance, an employee must be on the payroll and the employer must pay payroll taxes. People who generally do not qualify for group coverage are the self-employed, retirees, and temporary or seasonal employees. Employees on unpaid leave often don’t qualify for group coverage until they return to work.

In general, group health insurance should also be offered to an employee’s spouse and dependent children up to age 26, although employers may choose to broaden the age definition for dependent children. Employers may also choose to extend health benefits to unmarried same-sex or opposite-sex couples, and that coverage must reflect coverage extended to spouses in the same plan.

How do you register for Arlington Group Health Insurance?

To enroll in a group health plan provided by your employer, request the enrollment deadline once you sign up. If you miss this deadline, you may have to wait until the annual open enrollment period to join. Some employers may have waiting periods of up to 90 days before the new employee insurance plans take effect. During this time you do not have to pay a premium, but you also do not have access to health insurance.

Some group health insurance plans offer different levels of coverage or additional coverage, such as dentistry, vision, and/or pharmaceuticals. During open enrollment periods, you can make decisions about these insurance options offered by your employer and add or remove dependents. If a major life event, such as a marriage, the birth of a child, or the loss of your spouse’s job, changes your circumstances, you may be able to enroll these new dependents in your Arlington group health insurance policy outside the enrollment period.

Where can you find group health insurance?

The most common way to purchase Arlington Group Health Insurance is through an employer. If your employer does not offer health insurance due to the small size of the company or you are not happy with your employer’s coverage options, seek coverage through a membership organization. If you are a member of a membership organization that offers a group health plan, such as AARP, the National Association of Executive Women, the Writers Guild of America, or the Independent Workers Union, you may be able to get health insurance through your membership.

Beware of plans offered by some membership organizations, as many offer a “health services discount plan,” which can save you money on prescriptions, but is not an actual health insurance plan.

15 Best Arlington Group Health Insurance

1. A Metroplex

3901 Mansfield Hwy, Fort Worth, TX 76119

A Metroplex is an independent insurance agency that helps Arlington customers insure their health care costs. Its accident insurance services include, in particular, consultations on mutilation and occupational accident insurance. The line of personal insurance products also includes pension funds and environmental coverage. In addition, the bureau writes construction crime and risk insurance policies for companies and owners of commercial real estate. Metroplex continues to participate in training to provide its customers with individualized solutions.

2. American Affinity Group

4275 Little Road, Arlington, TX 76016

American Affinity Group is an insurance marketing company that has been offering health plans in Arlington since 2006. Their team of agents offers a variety of policy options through contracts with various health insurers in the industry. Some of the products it offers cover critical illness, life, Medicare supplements, terminal dues, and disability. Tom and Dustin Pierson, a father and son team, founded the company with a philosophy to treat every customer as a member of their family.

3. Archer Insurance Solutions

PO Box 121193, Fort Worth, TX 76121

Archer’s Insurance Solutions is a local insurance company serving the Arlington community and surrounding areas. Their independent insurance brokers assess their client’s needs and help them choose the most appropriate coverage from multiple providers. Some of the health insurance plans the team administers include major medical insurance, limited benefits, limited benefits, short-term medical coverage, and student coverage. The group also offers additional coverage for dental care, IHD, accident and cancer. The company’s advisers have more than 15 years of experience in the insurance business.

4. Clint Goin

7420 North Beach Street, Fort Worth, TX 76137

Clint Goin is a health insurance company serving customers from Arlington and the surrounding areas. Offers a wide variety of health insurance and coverage options, such as Medicare supplements and hospitalization insurance. In addition to health insurance, Goin also offers home, vehicle, property and business plans to ensure clients’ financial security in the future. He is an agent for State Farm Insurance, an insurance company that has been around for nearly 100 years.

5. Elite Health Plans

1807 West Park Row Drive, Arlington, TX 76013

Elite Health Plans is a health insurance company that protects the communities of the greater Arlington area and surrounding cities. The company has comprehensive health insurance plans for individuals and groups that cover essential medical services such as labs, specialists, doctor visits, and prescriptions. The individual plan has comprehensive coverage. Some of them include maternity and pre-existing conditions. It also offers ACA-qualified MEC plans, which cover medical benefits. Elite Health Plans has been helping families and employees for over 20 years.

6. Greater Texas Wealth and Risk Management, LLC

316 South Lamar Street, Weatherford, TX 76086

Greater Texas Wealth and Risk Management, LLC provides a variety of insurance and financial solutions to Arlington customers. Offers policy options such as individual and group health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, annuities, Medicare Supplement insurance, and Medicare Advantage plans. Products such as mutual funds, brokerage services, and investments are also available. Greater Texas Wealth and Risk Management, LLC has a strong focus on maintaining integrity and professionalism in providing services to its clients.

7. Honor Assurance

1807 Waterwood Drive, Arlington, TX 76012

Founded in Arlington, Honor Insurance is a small, veteran-owned insurance agency that has helped individuals, families, and businesses in the area with their insurance needs. Customers can choose the health insurance they need and the level of coverage from the insurance packages they have access to. It has two types of health insurance plans: ManhattanLife and Aliera Health Care. Honor Insurance helps customers by bundling small policies that can be customized.

6. Jay Lankford

101 West Main Street, Crowley, TX 76036

Jay Lankford is a local Farmers Insurance agent serving residents and businesses in and around Arlington. It offers a variety of risk management solutions, including term life insurance, life insurance, and universal life insurance. It also offers home, auto, property, and business insurance programs and coverage for renters and condominiums. Jay has been with Farmers Insurance for over 16 years. Its aim is to help its customers choose the insurance that suits their needs.

9. Kirk Bond Insurance

128 North Saginaw Blvd, Saginaw, TX 76179

Kirk Bonds Insurance is an insurance company based in Saginaw. Provides personal and business insurance services to clients throughout Arlington and the surrounding areas. This agency offers a wide variety of health insurance policies, including individual and group insurance, dental and facial insurance, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance. His team offers policies from more than 100 insurance companies to provide customers with a variety of coverage options. Kirk Bonds Insurance has over 40 years of industry experience.

10. Kyrstin Daniels

9292 Huntington Square, North Richland Hills, TX 76182

Krystin Daniels is a State Farm Insurance Agent with her own office serving clients in and around Arlington. She guides her clients in buying health insurance. She offers options for health insurance, supplemental health insurance, individual medical health insurance, and Medicare supplemental insurance. In addition, Krystin also offers short-term and long-term disability coverage. The agent assists its clients in insuring their homes, cars, properties, and businesses. In addition, it offers medical insurance for pets.

11. Matt Poston

3417 Hulen Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Matt Poston is a second-generation State Farm insurance agent serving customers in Arlington. Provides health insurance solutions, such as individual health insurance, supplemental health, and disability insurance, and Medicare supplements. Also offers life, auto, homeowners, pet, and business insurance, mutual funds, and annuities, as well as moving assistance in Tarrant and Parker counties. Matt is a lifelong member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and has also completed his Bachelor of Arts.

12. Phil Haynes

4022 Keller Hicks Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76244

State Farm insurance agent Phil Haynes creates several protection plans for Arlington residents, including health insurance that can be individual health coverage, supplemental health insurance, or Medicare supplements. Create insurance plans for both families and individuals, as well as seniors. In addition, Haynes can offer customers life, business, homeowners, and renters insurance. He has been a State Farm agent for over 45 years. Bilingual insurance specialist entertains Spanish-speaking clients.

13. Precise health insurer

3750 McCart Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76110

Precise Health Insurance Agency is an independent agency that provides health insurance to clients in and around Arlington. In addition to health, it also offers several insurance plans such as life, dentistry, vision, and Medicare. With over 30 years of combined experience, Precise Health Insurance Agency’s bilingual Spanish team has access to providers such as Cigna, United Healthcare, Ambetter, Aetna, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield from Texas to help customers customize their insurance policies.

14. Tracy Pierce Insurance Group

2601 Scott Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76103

Tracy Pierce Insurance Group specializes in health insurance. The owner, Tracy Pierce, is a military veteran and member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Serves customers in Arlington who want to plan for their future medical needs by offering short-term and long-term health insurance plans. It also helps people going through a life transition, such as divorce, marriage, or pregnancy, to change their insurance policies or their beneficiaries. His agency offers insurance products from MetLife, Liberty Mutual, and Berkshire Hathaway.

15. United HealthCare, BlueCross, and BlueShield | Steven A. Bell

3609 Smith Barry Rd, Arlington, TX 76013

United HealthCare, BlueCross, and BlueShield | Steven A. Bell provides life, health, and Medicare products to residents of Arlington and surrounding communities. The company provides health insurance for individuals, families, and seniors. Some of the benefits customers can get include dental and prescription plans, eye care, chiropractic, and personal health management programs. The company has been in the industry for over 40 years, offering same-day services, walk-ins, and in-home appointments.

Why These Health Insurers?

Our goal is to connect people with the best local experts. We rate Arlington’s health insurers on more than 25 variables in five categories and analyze the results to bring you a hand-picked list of the very best.

Our Arlington Group Health Insurance selection criteria:

Availability

Always accessible and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.

Ratings

Build customer trust with licenses, accreditations, and awards.

Reputation

A history of satisfied customers and exceptional service.

Experience

Masters in their field, based on years of practical experience and training.

Professionality

Provide a service with honesty, reliability, and respect.

Arlington Group Health Insurance for the Self-Employed

About 25.7 million small businesses in 2017 were considered “non-employers” or businesses with no paid employees, according to a 2020 report by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy. If your business has no employees, you’re considered a small group of one.

Even if you are self-employed, certain states may allow you to purchase group health insurance for your business. Check with your state insurance department to determine if your state allows group policies to be sold to groups of one.

What to do if you lose your group health benefits?

If you lose your job, you could also lose your employer-sponsored group health insurance plan. You and your dependents can keep this cover via the so-called continuation cover.

In 1985, Congress passed the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), which allows workers who lose their jobs to purchase group health insurance for themselves or their families for a limited time. According to COBRA, the same group insurance policy with the same benefits should be available to the dismissed employee; however, the former employee must pay the full cost, including what the employer previously covered, of the plan.

Continuation coverage is often much more expensive than an individual health insurance plan, so think carefully about the price, benefits, and network of the provider before choosing to temporarily keep your coverage through continuation coverage rather than switching to an individual plan.

Arlington Group Health Insurance FAQ

What is a group health plan?

Group health plans are plans sponsored by an employer or a group that provides health care to members and their families. The most common type of group health insurance is group health insurance, which is health insurance that is extended to members, such as employees of a company or members of an organization.

What is a collective health cooperative?

A collective health care cooperative, also known as mutual insurance, is a health insurance policy owned by insured members.

The insurance is offered at a reduced cost and what they collect from members is based on paid claims. The healthcare costs are divided among the insured population.

How many employees do you need to qualify for group health insurance?

Many collective health insurers offer schemes for companies with one or more employees. However, the type of plans available may vary depending on the size of the business. For example, United Healthcare offers several plans for small businesses with 1 to 99 employees, medium businesses with 100 to 2,999, and large businesses with 3,000 or more employees.

What are group health insurance policies?

Group health insurance plans provide health coverage to members of an organization or employees of a company. They may also provide additional health plans, such as dentistry, vision, and pharmacy, individually or as a package. The risk is distributed over the insured population, allowing the insurer to charge low premiums. And members enjoy low-cost insurance that protects them from unexpected costs due to medical events.

What does group health insurance cost?

The average group health insurance policy costs just over $7,400 for a person per year, with employers paying about 80% and employees the difference. Family coverage averaged just over $21,000.

Conclusion – Arlington Group Health Insurance

Arlington group health insurance is one of the most affordable types of health insurance available. Because the risk is spread among the insured, the premiums are significantly lower than with traditional individual health insurance policies. This is possible because the insurer takes less risk the more people participate in the plan. For employees who would normally not be able to afford individual health insurance, it is an attractive benefit.