Finding Affordable Health Insurance for Your Small Business
As an experienced small business owner, I know the struggle of trying to provide quality health benefits on a tight budget. Monthly premiums continue rising while plan choices become limited and confusing.
I remember the stress of spending hours researching options only to end up with patchwork policies that left employees frustrated with coverage gaps and hidden costs around every corner.
That was until I discovered Sana Benefits – an innovative company offering straight-forward pricing and plans specifically designed for SMBs like yours.
In this comprehensive review, I‘ll share insider knowledge around what makes Sana different along with tips to help you evaluate if their services are right for getting your team securely covered without breaking the bank.
Why SMB Health Insurance is So Challenging
First, let‘s level-set on why traditional group health plans fail small and medium businesses. At a high-level, the main pain points include:
Limited, Confusing Plan Options – Typically only higher deductible HMOs and basic PPOs lacking flexibility. Requires fluency in healthcare acronyms.
Hidden Costs – Out-of-network charges, climbing deductibles, copays that eat away at budgets. No price integrity.
Overwhelmed Employees – Sparse provider choice, insurance-speak, and authorization hoops leave workers frustrated.
Wasted Hours – Researching, enrolling staff, tracking paperwork, and managing bills. No automation.
Non-Compliance Risks – Neglecting provisions of the ACA or other regulations leads to IRS fines.
On top of all that, steadily rising premiums force small business owners to absorb more health care costs or pass a greater share of expenses onto employees.
It becomes easy to feel stuck choosing between quality coverage and affordability — but Sana looks to change the game.
How Sana Benefits Can Transform SMB Health Insurance
Founded in 2017, Sana took the frustrations felt by so many small and medium businesses to reinvent affordable health insurance centered around intuitivetech and member choice.
The Austin-based company partners with leading health companies nationally to connect SMB employers and staff with best-in-class specialized care — both in-person and virtually.
For small business owners like you, Sana delivers key advantages not found through typical group carriers:
1. Significant Cost Savings
Sana clients save an average of 20% yearly on premiums compared to traditional group health plans. That equals upwards of $2,000 per employee per year that stays in your bank account.
2. Fixed, Transparent Pricing
No more surprise rate hikes or hidden fees. Monthly premiums stay consistent allowing you to accurately budget spending.
3) 90% Unused Claim Reimbursement
If employees don‘t hit the maximum allowance, 90% gets credited back reducing future invoices.
4. Quick, Low-Touch Employee Enrollment
Going from zero to insured takes less than 5 minutes per person without piles of paperwork.
5. Access to Top National Specialists
No network restrictions to see the trusted practitioners or hospitals you prefer both nearby or out-of-state.
6. $0 Virtual Medicine & Mental Health
Unlimited telehealth appointments, counseling services, access to leading specialists.
7. Turnkey ACA Compliance
Sana‘s platform tracks all requirements and filings like 1095 forms so you avoid IRS penalties.
Now let‘s walk through how Sana delivers simplified benefits for both you as a business owner along with employee experiences.
How Sana Benefits Works for SMB Employers
Sana arms companies with cloud-based tools taking the grind out of managing health plans so you can instead focus on growing your business.
Employee Enrollment Made Seamless
Onboarding new hires becomes nearly frictionless using Sana‘s fast digital enrollment which gathers all needed personal, dependent, and beneficiary details in minutes without paperwork.
Bulk uploading employee census details from your HRIS or payroll system further reduces manual entry. Ongoing changes to family status or coverage selections get handled directly by staff through self-service.
Real-time Insight Into Heath Plan Utilization
Sana‘s secure online dashboard tracks deductible contributions across your team in real-time. Better understand spending patterns – including where repeat claims occur — to tailor cost management strategies.
Drill into intuitive claim category analytics to identify the conditions driving expenses and proactively guide employees to lower-cost quality care.
Automated Claim Reviews Catch Overbilling
Sana‘s integrated claims auditing checks for duplicate submissions, confirms eligibility across all members, and detects abusive billing practices to drive maximum savings.
Significant claim submissions also trigger medical case managers to examine if treatment protocols represent established best-practices.
Fixed Premiums With Credit for Unused Allowances
Since Sana self-underwrites all policies directly, monthly invoices stay fixed without surprise rate hikes common from large group carriers. Know exactly what you‘ll pay each month to accurately forecast.
Plus if employees don‘t hit the maximum annual allowance, you‘ll receive a 90% credit towards future premiums reducing plan expenses even further.
Health Insurance That Puts Employees First
Sana‘s plans focus on employee experience delivering intuitive tools that cut through insurance complexities while providing fast access to quality medical care anywhere across the country.
Let‘s look at why your team will appreciate Sana‘s people-first benefits…
$0 Virtual Visits for Medicine & Mental Health
All Sana members get unlimited $0 telehealth consults powered by recognized leaders PlushCare and Ginger.
That means 24/7 access to doctors, therapists, psychiatrists, dermatologists, and other specialists via phone or video chat regardless of location.
Typical out-of-pocket telehealth fees get waived under Sana allowing employees to conveniently get diagnoses, treatment plans, prescription orders, referrals, and labs without taking time off work.
Freedom to Choose Any Provider
Sana does away with restrictive networks allowing employees the flexibility to visit any trusted hospital or doctor local to where they live or when traveling without added charges.
See specialists out-of-state without referrals or pre-approvals. Access award-winning care across leading health systems like Cleveland Clinic or Mayo without network barriers.
And if an employee moves, existing provider relationships stay intact since Sana operates nationally.
Transparent Deductible & Coverage Tracking
No more uncertainty around what‘s covered or how much remains towards meeting an annual deductible.
All Sana members get access to an easy-to-use online dashboard and mobile app detailing remaining out-of-pocket obligations, per service copays, prescription costs, and other essential coverage information.
Ditch insurance confusion and gain peace of mind through spending visibility in one place.
Supporting Wellbeing Beyond Healthcare
Sana partners like Maven provide $0 access to telehealth coaches across women‘s health, maternity, adoption, surrogacy and egg freezing. Ginger offers dedicated mental health services while ClassPass contributes flexible fitness studio memberships supporting employees‘ comprehensive wellbeing.
Breakdown of Sana‘s SMB Health Plan Options
Rather than litanies of cryptic acronyms deciphering networks and limitations, Sana delivers comprehensible benefits tailored to company size and priorities around choice, affordability and virtual access.
Let‘s compare the options…
Best for small businesses with under 20 employees seeking a tax-advantaged way to pay healthcare expenses paired with catastrophic protection once deductible is met. Compatible with Health Savings Account contributions.
- Deductible: $2,800 individual / $5,600 family
- 100% coverage after deductible
- $0 for preventative services & telehealth
- $0 primary care visits prior to deductible
Delivers foundational in-network protections through established copays ideal for companies just starting to offer benefits.
- Deductible: $5,000 individual / $10,000 family
- 60% coinsurance
- $20 PCP / $50 specialist / $50 urgent care visits
- $50 chiropractic & acupuncture visits
- $5 generic / $15 preferred brand Rx
- Add $0 virtual care & fitness for $5 per person
Enhanced coverage balancing richer insurance with optimal cashflow flexibility for growing SMBs.
- Deductible: $3,000 individual / $6,000 family
- 70% coinsurance
- $1,000 out-of-pocket maximum
- $30 PCP/ $50 specialist visits
- $100 ER copay then 20%
- 30% lab services & x-rays
- $20 generic / $40 preferred brand Rx
- Coinsurance: 80% for Premium, 90% for Superior
- Lower annual deductibles
- $0 virtual care & fitness access
- Rx copays start at $10 / $30
- Domestic partner coverage
All Sana plans prioritize member freedom to see any provider nationally, virtual access, value-driven care, and intuitive coordination delivering straightforward benefits without the typical limitations or surprises.
What SMB Owners & Employees Are Saying About Sana
Don‘t just take my word on how Sana simplifies healthcare benefits for SMBs. Here‘s direct feedback from other business leaders and staff members on their experiences:
"We switched from a corporate health plan to Sana this past year and saved over $60k without reducing coverage. Even after doubling my company‘s per person allocation we’re still paying less.”
Allen S. – CEO, Georgetown Marketing Agency
"I love the fact there‘s no penalty or extra charges to see my OBGYN or other doctors who may be out-of-network. Sana lets me stick with specialists I‘ve trusted for years."
Stacey P. – Billing Manager, Austin Law Firm
“Being able to video chat with a doctor 24/7 without needing an appointment has been so convenient as a working mom of three kids. I probably use the PlushCare telehealth benefit through Sana twice per month on average."
Wendy V. – Account Manager, Louisville Advertising Agency
Is Sana Benefits Right for Your SMB‘s Health Plan?
Sana empowers small and mid-sized businesses to take control over rising healthcare costs through transparent pricing, utilization oversight tools, and unrivaled access to telehealth and leading specialists nationally.
If you want to:
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Simplify providing quality health insurance without limitations or surprise fees
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Access customizable plans matching your priorities and budget
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Give employees unrestricted choice around trusted doctors
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Stay focused on strategic priorities vs plan administration
Then Sana merits strong consideration as your SMB health benefits partner.
Get Your Free Quote to save an average of 20% over typical corporate options while keeping your team happily covered. It takes less than 5 minutes and there‘s no obligation to buy.
The typical group health insurance market neglects the unique needs of SMB employers and staff members alike driving suboptimal experiences all around.
Sana Benefits flips the script through plans catering specifically to small and mid-sized companies who require unrestricted access minus hidden costs and hassles.
This Sana review outlines how their people-focused design, intuitive coordination tools, and cost transparency provide breaths of fresh air to owners, employees, and even providers themselves.
If you need straightforward, affordable health benefits maximizing choice and virtual access while controlling expenses, Sana merits consideration. Simply request a tailored quote outlining potential savings for your SMB.
