THE EZICHRA EXPERIENCE
Why choose ezICHRA?
The team at ezICHRA is on a mission to improve the employer-sponsored health insurance system by providing employers with a predictable and sustainable financing option while also giving employees the power to choose the health plan that best fits their needs.
January 1, 2020, is the birth date of ICHRAs. That is also the date that a group of employee benefits consulting professionals moved six of their group health cases to an ICHRA and ezICHRA was born. Since then, the ezICHRA team has successfully migrated hundreds of group health cases to ICHRA, insuring thousands employees and dependents.
We have recently been approached by a surprising number of previously in-force ICHRA cases, groups already administered by other ICHRA vendors, for the purposes of having ezICHRA take over the ongoing ICHRA administration of their plan. We have been honored to do so.
Top three reasons companies are choosing ezICHRA over all other ICHRA administrators.
We are benefit consultants first
The majority of the ICHRA vendors in the market are technology companies that entered the health insurance business to promote and sell their technology. As employee benefits consultants, the team at ezICHRA understands the challenges that companies face when introducing a new concept to employees which is why we provide high-touch support to make the ICHRA process smooth for all stakeholders.
Insurance is confusing,
employees need support
As benefits consultants, the team at ezICHRA knows that, for the layperson, insurance can be overwhelming. That is why we encourage employees to reach out to our ezICHRA Plan Advisors through a virtual or telephonic one-on-one session so that we can help employees with their plan selection. Additionally, throughout the year, our team is here to advocate on behalf of each employee should they need assistance.
Superior payment technology system
ezICHRA’s Premium Payment Manager (PPM) technology is by far the most reliable system in the country. PPM issues a virtual credit or debit card to make each individual’s payment. The virtual cards are funded monthly by the employer through a scheduled single ACH payment. Most other payment systems rely on using checking accounts which are bulky and less nimble to manage, often leading to missed payments and sometimes plan terminations.
Our 3 step process for your success
The process has been broken down into three phases that will guarantee a successful implementation.
The ezICHRA team will be there with your employees every step of the way!
PHASE 1
Plan Design
One of the many advantages of an ICHRA is that it can be customized to fit your culture and budget. While flexible, there are several important rules to follow so your plan complies with ICHRA regulations.
- ICHRA reimbursement must be offered fairly to all employees to satisfy Section 105(h) Nondiscrimination Rules.
- Applicable Large Employers must ensure plan affordability if they want to avoid Employer Shared Responsibility Penalties.
- Employers must not offer a choice between an ICHRA and a group health plan to any class of employee. Employers may offer an ICHRA to one or more of the approved classes and a group plan to other classes.
- Employers must use reasonable procedures to substantiate employees are enrolled in a qualified individual medical or Medicare plan in order to reimburse an employee.
- Allowable ICHRA classes
- Full-time employees
- Part-time employees
- Seasonal employees
- Salaried employees
- Hourly employees
- Employees working in same geographic location
- Union employees
- Waiting periods
- Non-resident aliens
- Some temporary employees
- Combination of classes
- Minimum class sizes apply
PHASE 2
Education & Enrollment
For an employee, an ICHRA is a significant change to the way they obtain health benefits. They will need knowledgeable assistance to successfully guide them through the ICHRA enrollment process.
Your employees will access a company-branded ezICHRA Portal containing all of the information necessary to help them make a plan selection. After verifying their personal information, the Portal allows employees to view the monthly premiums and plan designs of all of the health insurance plans that are available in their area. The site is available during open enrollment and throughout the year, making it a simple and efficient way to communicate and manage your program.
The ezICHRA team will work with your employees one-on-one to select and enroll them in a plan that best fits their needs. Experts are available anytime to help employees with claims questions, network assistance, or anything relating to their insurance policy.
PHASE 3
Administration
ezICHRA’s exclusive Premium Payment Manager (PPM) greatly simplifies your ICHRA administration. PPM allows employees to pay for their monthly premium and request reimbursement. Bringing all the pieces of the puzzle together in a seamless and simple way.
ICHRAs are a fantastic way for employers to stabilize the expense of their medical benefit offering. The challenge is that the administration of an ICHRA plan can be a huge burden without the right processes in place. Many ICHRA models require an employee to purchase a qualified health plan using their own after-tax dollars. Then, adding to the challenge, an employee must substantiate that they have proper coverage and request reimbursement by mail, email or a mobile application. The good news is that ezICHRA’s PPM makes the payment, substantiation and administration process easy by eliminating many of the action steps necessary in other ICHRA models.*
*Unfortunately, Medicare Part B cannot be funded by PPM. Therefore, Medicare premiums and reimbursements are managed outside this of system.
