According to the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), to start on the right foot in 2024 your small business should

  • Focus on managing your human resources because labour markets will continue to be tight as a result of Canada’s ageing population
  • Look to technology to improve your productivity during the current high interest rate period
  • Expect interest rates to come down and your business to pick up as a result.

If you’ve got plans to grow your business and your team in 2024, remember that it may be time to consider a new health insurance plan to fit your team’s needs.

Digging into your benefits toolbox

According to Benefits Canada’s The 2023 Future Of Work Survey, if you want to attract new employees or keep the employees you have, it may be time to beef up the health benefits you offer. More than a quarter of employers surveyed saw improving healthcare benefits as the most important tool they could use in the future and a vital objective for their team’s financial well-being.

As employees continue to feel the squeeze of the high cost of living and inflation, employers are stepping up their health coverage support, recognizing that every little bit counts in this challenging economy.

Employees, and prospective employees, have multiple health and well-being needs and they appreciate when their employers make it easier for them to take care of themselves through health benefits and other programs, such as paramedical coverage, mental health supports and well-being tools.

As an employer, providing a solid health benefit plan demonstrates that you value employee health and well-being through tangible actions and set the foundation for a better employment relationship, better employee health and better work productivity.

GMS knows small business needs

GMS introduced health insurance coverage for health care related costs not paid for by your government health plan, such as prescription drugs, ambulance services and private duty nursing beginning in 1949. By focusing on wellness first, the individual and small group health benefits plans GMS offers provide individuals with the access to care that ensures they are living their lives to the fullest and have coverage for care when they need it.

As an insurer, GMS is innovative in smart ways, always thinking about the customer first. They are easy to deal with, positive and fair.

The Group Advantage Plan will grow with you

To simplify the selection and reduce the cost of your group benefits package, GMS offers Group Advantage (GA), a health and dental plan specifically designed and attractively priced for small to medium sized businesses with 3 or more employees.

Your coverage can be as comprehensive or affordable as you like – simply choose the health and/or dental plan that best suits your needs and calculate your monthly premium. No need to wait for a quote! Best of all, Group Advantage plans are designed with premium stability in mind, which means you won’t see a big premium hike when your plan renews.

You can choose one of three health plan options and if you’d like, one of three dental plan options. Choose from Silver, Gold, and Platinum health plans to cover health, vision, and prescription drugs, and add on dental care coverage ranging from routine and basic, to major procedures and orthodontic services – and deliver an assistance plan to your employees.

The plans cover services provided by acupuncturists, podiatrists, chiropodists, chiropractors, clinical psychologists, massage therapists, naturopaths, speech therapists and physiotherapists – many of the healthcare professionals your team needs to stay productive.

Each Advantage group health insurance plan was created to make life easier for you and your employees who can send their claims online and sign up for direct deposit, so they can get their money back faster. And, pharmacies, dentists as well as health and vision practitioners can directly bill GMS for covered expenses, so there is no need for your employees to submit a claim.

Each benefit package provides different levels of comprehensive and affordable health, dental and life coverage.

Every Group Advantage Plan includes The Employee And Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

To help you attract employees and make wellness a priority, EFAP provides to your employees:

Anytime Access to Online Resources

interactive tools, health and wellness assessments child and elder care resource locators e-learning courses a dynamic library of health, life balance and workplace articles personalized content recommendations

Over-the-phone Lifestyle Coaching

nutritional coaching, smoking cessation and jumpstarting wellness career coaching and shift-worker support retirement and post-retirement planning elder and family care, relationship solutions, grief and loss legal advice and financial consultation

Confidential Counselling Services for Employees and Their Dependents

relationship or family concerns anxiety, depression, and grief, addictions or coping with health issues

These services can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Every Group Advantage Plan delivers an extra advantage for you

Any health and dental premium you pay on behalf of your employees may be a tax-deductible expense.

Unlimited emergency medical travel coverage is included for up to 30 days is included in Advantage plans for employees up to age 80 – if your team needs to travel.

These off-the-shelf plan designs makes the application process simple so you can get back to business with no major interruptions. There are no medical questions, and your plan can be up and running within a few short weeks!

Let SBIS help you as your business grows

Discover GMS health insurance today by calling us at SBIS. 1-800-667-0429 or 416-601-0429. At SBIS, our business hours are Monday to Friday 8:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. eastern time. We are happy to help you through the application process. Just fill out our Group Quote Form and someone will be in touch. And if this plan isn’t just what you are looking for, we have a wide range of other options for you.