Advantages of Purchasing Health Benefits through BHG
Advantages of Joint Purchasing Health Benefits through the Berkshire Health Group
► Gives small and mid-size governmental employers the health benefits purchasing advantages of a large employer:
- Volume pricing reduces cost margins and administrative expenses,
- Large risk pool enhances rate stability and predictability,
- Employees and retirees can choose from among multiple health plan options
- High service level from health plans
► Decisions are made by the members of the Joint Purchase Group
- Each BHG participating governmental unit gets a voice and a vote on decisions about health benefits,
► Administrative Ease
- Central benefits administrator, GBS, reduces administration burden for participating employers,
- Participating employers deal with GBS for all transactions and questions for all health plans,
- Employers receive one consolidated monthly bill for multiple health plans and carriers and make one monthly payment to the BHG,
- COBRA administration provided by GBS
► Access to employee wellness programs at no cost to the participating employer
► BHG structure and meetings encourage idea exchange/problem solving and increase opportunities for innovation