Paul Goebel Group Insurance Agency - Health insurance cost cutting #1 issue for Michigan business owners

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(Business Wire)--
Agents are putting in long hours to create unique solutions to the number one
business cost concern - employee health care, as the economy remains slow.

Mike Slaughter, Director, Employee Benefits, spends long days on the road
meeting with Michigan businesses developing new solutions to the age-old problem
of rising employee health care costs.

Slaughter said, "My job is to review current health insurance and find solutions
to the cost of coverage. In the past, when the Paul Goebel Group would make cost
saving recommendations, business owners were reluctant to make changes. Today
however, it is a totally different story. Each Michigan business is different so
we have been staying up late designing customized insurance solutions that
minimize the effect on the employees and at the same time provide solid cost
savings to the business owner."

Paul Goebel Group offers five very basic health insurance cost saving
recommendations for Michigan businesses to consider:

1. Consider reviewing your current health plan design. If you have a PPO plan,
take a look at an HMO plan.

2. Raise the deductible - Raising the deductible offers the greatest per
dollar/per employee cost saving with the lowest effect on the company workforce.

3. Stress wellness lifestyles - Look at health and wellness programs through the
local YMCA. Encourage your employees to workout. Replace the soda and candy bars
with more healthy choices in the vending machines.

4. Increase employee`s share of health premium - If the company is paying 75%,
they may want to consider only paying 50% of the monthly health premium.

5. Raise employee co-pays - This is the toughest choice because you want your
employees to visit their physician`s office as a preventive measure.

Slaughter added, "Paul Goebel Group insurance specialists are finding that no
Michigan business owner wants to restructure and redistribute the health care
cost coverage mix but the current times are driving tough choices. I do take a
great deal of satisfaction in developing insurance plans that improve the
business cash flow and at the same time, still offer good health benefits to
Michigan`s workforce."

Paul Goebel Group www.paulgoebelgroup.com

Paul Goebel Group
Rick Kamel for interviews or questions (312) 775-8399

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