-By Jeff Stelnik

Jeff Steinik

It is a common belief in the supermarket industry that a company's operation is only as strong as its personnel. For supermarket and grocery chains, this means relying heavily on high- quality part-time and hourly employees to maintain consistent levels of customer service.

One of the industry's secret weapons for effective recruiting, hiring, and retaining of the best part-time and hourly workers available is the offering of a limited-benefit health plan. This is an employee-paid insurance plan that provides a broad range of coverage for day-to-day medical expenses. However, the majority of supermarket and grocery chains do not offer any coverage to their part-time or hourly employees.

Such plans differ from a traditional, comprehensive medical plan, which is mostly paid by the employer, and limited benefits plans are not meant to replace comprehensive plans; rather they serve to fill in coverage gaps.

In effect, limited-benefit health plans provide income protection for workers, rather than the asset protection provided by major medical plans. Limited-benefit health plans typically target uninsured hourly workers in high-turnover industries, and typically cost an employee only one to two hours of his or her weekly wage—or about the same amount as a ticket to the movies.

The plans are designed to be affordable, easy to understand, and easy to use. For many part-time and hourly supermarket employees, a limited-benefit health plan is the only affordable option that would provide them with coverage for their everyday medical needs.

Of course, not all limited-benefit health plans are created equal. A plan with real value should include coverage for doctor visits and common health conditions, including prescription, outpatient, accident, and maternity benefits.

For many workers on a limited-benefit health plan, it is their first time having access to health care insurance, so the plan is designed for ease of use and teaches them how to become responsible health care consumers. By focusing on preventive care and wellness exams to identify potential health issues, employees proactively receive proper treatment and medical direction, minimizing unscheduled absences or working when sick and contagious.

Recruit, retain, reap rewards

A limited-benefit health plan can help you recruit and retain talent. With turnover a constant issue facing all supermarket managers and executives, the ability to offer an affordable health plan that covers an employee's routine medical expenses definitely will separate you from competitors.

Making a limited-benefit health plan available establishes continuity and validity from an employer. Employees with a health plan feel more appreciated by their employer, and in turn demonstrate loyalty and are more likely to stay longer. The expenses saved in turnover and training of new employees are tangible financial advantages employers experience when offering a limited-benefit plan.

Once the plan is implemented, you will notice that employees are more effective on the job and their performance is enhanced. Production levels increase when employees have the security and peace of mind a benefit plan provides them and their family members.

The implementation of a limited-benefit health plan should be designed with the employer in mind. With busy human resources and benefits departments, the administration process is often as important to the employer as the actual cost of the plan to the employee. A turnkey enrollment process that interfaces with current systems and requirements allows the employer to focus on important business activities instead of repetitive administrative tasks.

Although some upfront effort is needed by the employer, ongoing time and effort is generally minimal. It is critical that you join forces with a vendor that has a proven history of employer-focused service.

It feels good to be part of an industry that is sincerely taking action on helping the working uninsured, a constituency of 47 million people across this country. Limited-benefit health plans provide a real health care solution for the working uninsured and their families, while greatly assisting the operational stability of your supermarket business by attracting the most qualified employees possible.

Jeff Stelnik is president of CIGNA Voluntary, located in Phoenix. He can be reached at (602) 749-7539 or at Jeff.Stelnik@cignavoluntary.com.