Benefit Administration Services
Offerings
Insurance
Program Overview
WMC has partnered with Diversified Benefit Services (DBS) to provide comprehensive benefit administration solutions that complement your existing employee benefits program. Whether you offer a traditional group health plan, an ICHRA, or another benefits package, DBS delivers the tools and expertise to simplify benefits administration.
For more than 35 years, Wisconsin-based DBS has earned a reputation for exceptional service and innovative solutions. Headquartered in Hartland, Wisconsin, DBS combines flexible plan designs, intuitive technology, and personalized customer support to help employers efficiently administer their benefit programs while enhancing the employee experience.
As a WMC participant, you’ll also receive an exclusive 5% discount on DBS’s monthly administration fees, providing additional value while streamlining your benefits administration.
Services Include:
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
- Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA)
- Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA)
- COBRA Administration
- Benefits Administration
- Compliance Support
- Employee Communication & Enrollment Tools
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs)
What is an ICHRA?
ICHRAs allow employers of any size to designate funds that employees can access tax-free to reimburse the cost of individual health insurance coverage. The ICHRA may also cover Medicare premiums, out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses should the employer deem these expenses eligible under than plan.
Why outsource ICHRA administration to DBS through WMC Insurance?
DBS has a proven record of providing exceptional service to clients of all sizes located across the United States. Our unique plan design and employee communication process, knowledgeable customer-focused staff combined with our trademarked robust proprietary software allows for the most effective understanding and administration of your plan.
DBS works closely with employers to create an effective and compliant plan design that meets their needs and objectives. DBS also educates employees to increase their understanding of the ICHRA and to help them become knowledgeable healthcare consumers.
What are the benefits of an ICHRA?
Budget Friendly
Many employers make health plan changes based on cost savings for the company and its employees. With an ICHRA, the employer decides how much is reimbursed based on a budget that works best for the company, essentially eliminating the headaches caused by group health plan renewals.
Flexibility
ICHRA’s are flexible for both the employees and the employer. For employees, they are free to choose the health coverage that best fits their needs while not having to worry about the network and coverages of a group health plan. For employers, businesses can establish different contribution amounts for different classes of employees such as;
- Full-time employees
- Part-time employees
- Employees who are paid on a salaried basis
- Non-salaried employees (e.g., hourly employees)
- Employees whose primary site of employment is in the same rating area (as defined under health care reform’s rules for establishing individual market premiums)
- Seasonal employees (as defined under Code §4980H or the Code §105 regulations, as elected by the ICHRA sponsor)
- Employees included in a unit covered by a particular collective bargaining agreement (or an appropriate related participation agreement) in which the ICHRA sponsor participates, as described under Code §105
- Employees who have not satisfied a waiting period for coverage, if the waiting period complies with health care reform’s waiting period requirements
- Nonresident aliens with no U.S. based income
- Employees hired for temporary placement at an unrelated entity
- Employees who are in a combination of two or more of the classes (e.g., full-time employees covered by a particular collective bargaining agreement)
Attract and Retain Talent
Small business’ often can’t compete with the deep pockets of larger employers that offer a group health plan. ICHRAs give employers the ability to fund a dollar amount that works best in their budget while also providing reimbursement to employees for their qualifying coverages. Some employees prefer the flexibility of choosing their own coverage.
ACA Compliant
ICHRA plans are considered ACA compliant as they are considered minimum essential coverage and employer contributions are deemed affordable when designed properly.
Tax Advantages
Since the ICHRA falls under Section-105 of the IRS code, the reimbursements given to employees are tax free and do not need to be reported as income on employees’ taxes.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are authorized under the IRS code and allow employees to pay for qualifying medical, dental, vision and dependent care expenses on a tax-free basis. Eligible employees determine the amount they want to contribute to their Health Care FSA or Dependent Care FSA. The amount chosen by employees is automatically deducted pre-tax (meaning before FICA, federal and state taxes) from each paycheck during the plan year. The employees are then participants in the FSA and the pre-tax payroll deduction results in employees saving approximately 30% in taxes. Employers save on payroll taxes which helps to offset the cost of FSA administration.
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HSAs)
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are employer funded arrangements allowed under the IRS code that provide for the tax-free reimbursement of qualified health care expenses. HRAs are utilized to lower health care expenditures, to provide quality tax-free benefits for active employees and to offer retiree health care benefits. HRAs for active employees need to be integrated with a health care plan and offered to employees eligible for the employer health plan. The qualifying expenses for reimbursement can be for employees, their spouses and dependents. There are also various employers who establish retiree HRAs to provide benefits for retired employees.
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) is a federal law that requires most employers with twenty or more employees to offer continuation of health benefits to employees after they end employment. COBRA must be offered for group health plans including medical, dental, vision, Health Care FSAs, HRAs, and certain EAPs.
Premium Only Plans (POPs)
Premium Only Plans (POPs) allow for the tax-free payroll deduction of employee contributions for certain group insurance premiums. Group plan premiums for coverages such as medical, dental, vision, accident, term life and disability may qualify. Employee Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions also qualify under a POP.
By using a POP the employee premiums are void of Federal income and FICA taxes as well as State income taxes (most states). Employers also save the matching FICA taxes. DBS POPs are cost-effective and easy to establish.
Eligibility & Participation
ICHRA:
- You must be enrolled in a qualified individual health insurance plan, such as one purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace (on-exchange), a private plan (off-exchange), or a Medicare plan.
Any other DBS programs:
- You must have at least one employee participating in the program at all times.
Get a Quote
Benefits Administration Services
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Network & Provider Search
ICHRA: The network will be determined by what plan each employee elects; the network will vary. Please go to the specific carrier website for a provider search.
For all other programs, the network is not applicable.
Enrollment Process
Installation
The experts at DBS will handle the installation of all the benefits administration services. DBS will work with the employer/broker to coordinate and walk through the enrollment process.
Existing Customers
We’re excited to have you as part of our insurance services administered through DBS. Once you are enrolled, you have access to your account information through the DBS online account viewing system. In addition, the experts at DBS will be able to walk you through any questions you may have.