Cloud App First Look: 'Benefits on the go with GoBenefits'

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I'm probably stupid, but I have had the same 'health benefits' plan for my company for like the last 30 years, and even though I just renew it annually, it's still a pain when it comes to receiving the annual plan provisions, reviewing the pricing, checking the various plan component options available, figuring out where to sign, when to submit what, and then what to do with the various responses that come back after everything is submitted and approved.

Fortunately I have had the same 'agent' for those 30 years who can guide me through the mess, and who gives me sound advice when it comes to 'we should change this', or 'tweak that' or 'you need to add this option, and delete this one.' 

I can't imagine how small companies, with lots of employees receiving benefits can 'do it'.  The financial part of it is bad enough, but administering all the paper work, and signing-up people, and making changes, and dealing with 'qualifying events' under benefits continuation (I still call it COBRA), I don't see how the small business man does it without a full time 'benefits coordinator'.

That's where 'GoBenefits' steps in. GoBenefits makes shopping for employee benefits fast, affordable, and easy.  It features budget-control settings, instant quoting, and an employee shopping portal. The GoBenefits online marketplace helps small business owners save a lot of time and money, while their employees get to choose from multiple options to create their own personalized health benefits package.

It's like having a full-time health insurance 'agent' and a 'health benefits coordinator' wrapped-up into one position filled by a virtual assistant. 

Best of all, GoBenefits works with QuickBooks Online and with ADP Payroll, making getting signed-up for benefits even easier for both employers and employees.

Maximize Employee Benefit Choices

No one single plan of health benefits will work for every employee. Some employees need only Single Coverage, some need Family coverage, some only need to cover themselves and their kids (because their spouse has benefits from their employer). Some employees need more 'choice' in their providers, while others prefer the control of a Preferred Provider or Health Maintenance type network. 

Many employers would like to offer choices, but it doesn't make sense because they may have to use one insurer for some coverage, and another insurer for other coverages. Health and hospitalization from this carrier, Prescriptions from that carrier, Dental from this company, and Vision from somewhere else. Then add in life-insurance or disability and it's a big mess to track and keep on top of what gets paid to each on a fair basis per employee.

But GoBenefits offers alternatives that streamline the process of providing Employees with choice. 

  • GoBenefits makes high-quality health benefits affordable for small business. A defined-contribution feature allows business owners to set their fixed contribution amount, so they can easily control costs, while still offering employees a retail-like benefits shopping experience.
  • The GoBenefits marketplace is all about choice. With an employee shopping portal, each employee can see full plan, pricing and prescription details for multiple health and voluntary plans, and create their own, personalized health benefits package.
  • Go Benefits is fast, free and provides a superior shopping experience for both employers and employees. With instant, automated, paperless quoting and enrollment, as well as a dedicated team ready to assist with any enrollment questions, GoBenefits makes benefits shopping effortless.

Practically Effortless

As I started out, there can be a lot of time consuming paperwork when it comes to not only contracting for plan benefits, but signing up employees, and processing changes.  GoBenefits has streamlines all of that.  The illustration below shows just how easily it works.

So let's look at some of the particulars of GoBenefits. In the illustration above you will note that you can import employee information from QuickBooks (or from ADP payroll, or also Excel). Certain information will be left to the employee because the employer doesn't have, and doesn't need to know those details. The window below shows an example of just how easy it is for the additional information to be input.

Choosing plans in GoBenefits is a lot easier than looking at a long list of plan options, then looking at a pricing sheet, then selecting the variables, and then trying to figure out not only the total cost, but how much each type (single, family, etc.) is going to cost you as an employer.  With GoBenefits you will search through plan options, and make informed decisions based upon not only what the various plans cost, but what you as an employer are willing to contribute.

When it's time for 'general enrollment' or when you have a new employee (or even an employee with a 'qualifying event'), they can simply be emailed instructions to sign-in to their personal benefits portal.

When employees sign-in to their portal, they can review all the options available to them, and will instantly know what their paycheck deductions will be based upon their selections, variables, and the employer's contribution.

We all know that even though it's 'their' benefits, that they may not feel comfortable making these decisions without input from their spouse.  That's why a portal where they can log-in from anywhere makes the most sense.  They can review options and make choices right from their personal computer, or tablet, at home.  They can easily find explanations of the various plans and coverage options right within GoBenefits.

With one click of the 'Submit Application' button they finalize their enrollment process knowing their coverage details, how much the employer is contributing, and how much will be deducted from their payroll.

GoBenefits provides employers with all the details they need to insure that premiums are shared appropriately.  Both the employer's cost and employee cost are computed and reported within the App based upon the employer's payroll frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, etc.).

Now I ask you, "how easy was that?"

If you, or your clients, need to streamline the way they are handling health benefits (health, medical, dental, life, etc.) and limit their time spent on non-productive activities rather than running the business, then you really should give GoBenefits a look.

For more information see the GoBenefits website, or check them out at either the landing page on the Intuit App Center or their landing page on the ADP App Center (if you process payroll via ADP).