Comments (4)

1. Wendy Hoechstetter says:

   January 11, 2009 at 1:30 pm

   Dianne,

   Both IIDA and ASID offer group health insurance plans to members, but beware before you join either that both are heavily involved in passing legislation nationwide that will dramatically restrict the right of people to practice interior design, which would put thousands upon thousands of people in design and related industries out of business – and they are funding these efforts with members’ dues and additional mandatory assessments. This is why people are now starting to resign en masse. See the Interior Design Protection Council website at http://www.idpcinfo.org and my website at http://www.hoechstetterinteriors.wordpress.com for more detailed information.

   That said, you should also check all other national industry associations with which you are presently or might consider becoming associated (which are also actively opposed to legislating interior designers out of business), such as NARI or NKBA, as most major national associations of this nature do generally offer some health insurance benefits to members. Other design organizations such as IDS and IFDA may also have association plans, but I am not familiar enough with their membership benefits to be sure.

   It is highly doubtful, however, that any of these association plans will take on an entire company, as they are usually targeted towards individual members of the respective associations, so every individual would have to meet their underwriting standards.

   Also, such association plans tend to have much lower levels of benefits than you could otherwise provide through a good insurance broker and plan tailored to your own company’s needs, or through a good individual policy, and everyone involved would have to go through their underwriting procedures, which could eliminate coverage altogether for some employees if their health has not been up to the plan’s standards.

   Nowadays, they are often major medical plans only, too, which won’t help with anything but the most catastrophic medical expenses. Many such plans also now require a “normal” basic insurance plan to already be in effect before they will underwrite a policy.

   If costs are presently too high with your existing plan, you might be able to decrease them by increasing your deductibles and/or shifting more of the cost of the premiums to your employees. It is possible that a different type of plan, such as changing to a PPO if you presently have an HMO, will help control your company expenses better as well.

   None of these possibilities are likely to win you any brownie points with your employees, though, so consider what impact such changes might have on your staffing levels and employee morale and how that might affect your business overall when making your decisions.

   Remember, too, that any plan changes you make will affect your own coverage as well.

   Your best bet is really to discuss options with your existing broker, who may also have other plans he can offer that might suit your present needs better.

   Hope this helps.

   Wendy Hoechstetter
   Hoechstetter Interiors
   (former insurance agent)

   Reply
2. Betty Jane Kutz says:

   January 12, 2009 at 10:19 am

   You can contact WCAA at http://www.wcaa.org and/or call them at 888-298-9222. I know they offer insurance coverage for their members. You could join and I’m sure it would save you money. Give them a call.

   Reply
3. Rick Smith says:

   January 13, 2009 at 9:04 am

   You might try the Small Business Service Bureau. http://www.sbsb.com

   Rick Smith
   JDR Window Treatments

   Reply
4. Diana Cook says:

   January 15, 2009 at 4:11 pm

   Hi I am an IP, fine art gallery owner and after trying a bunch of different groups, I would highly recommend this company – I used them and they saved me money:

   http://www.healthcareshopper.com/

   Good luck!
   Diana

   Reply