Transition Assistance services and how we can help your HR team

As HR professionals, you’re not just responsible for managing employee benefits and payroll. You play a critical role in guiding employees through significant life transitions, whether they're leaving the company, entering retirement, or facing changes in their family life. One key area where you can provide meaningful support is helping employees navigate the complexities of insurance during these moments. Below are six common scenarios and how Heartwood Agency Group can provide transition assistance to enhance the employee experience while saving your company and HR team time and resources.

Employee Exit After Voluntary Resignation: When employees voluntarily resign, they’re often shocked by the cost of COBRA premiums to maintain health coverage between jobs. This can add stress to their transition. As HR professionals, providing personalized assistance with insurance options is a great way to show respect and appreciation for their contributions.

Offering information about COBRA and alternative coverage options creates a positive offboarding experience. Referring departing employees to a third-party licensed insurance consultant such as Heartwood, maintains their privacy, while also giving them a resource to bridge the insurance gap. HR can be the "hero" in this scenario by ensuring a smooth handoff without taking on the burden of insurance advice directly. This approach helps maintain a strong relationship with former employees, making them ambassadors for the company in the future.

Offboarding After Involuntary Termination: Offboarding employees due to involuntary termination is always challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to create a positive outcome. Being supportive can reduce hard feelings and even prevent future negative actions.

One of the most immediate concerns for terminated employees is the loss of health coverage, especially when COBRA is too expensive without a regular paycheck. Providing information about affordable alternatives can alleviate some of their anxiety. If a severance package is involved, offering transitional insurance assistance as part of the deal can soften the blow and show compassion. Handling the offboarding process with care and grace not only helps the individual but also reflects positively on the company.

Retirement: Retiring employees, especially those eligible for Medicare, often need help understanding the complexities of Medicare and supplement plan options. Early retirees may need a bridge plan until they qualify for Medicare. When HR refers retiring employees to specialists like Heartwood Agency Group, you’re demonstrating appreciation for their years of service by helping them make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Since Medicare can be confusing, successfully assisting employees during this process can create long-term loyalty and lead to valuable word-of-mouth referrals. Additionally, this kind of transitional assistance opens doors for insurance professionals to cross-sell other products that retirees may find useful.

Employees Working Past Age 65: More employees are choosing to work past the traditional retirement age of 65, making it essential for HR to offer them strategic options when it comes to healthcare. It may make financial sense for these employees to opt out of the company’s group health plan and enroll in Medicare with a supplement.

Arranging Medicare seminars before the company’s open enrollment allows employees to make informed decisions and gives HR an opportunity to reduce company healthcare costs. Employees feel well cared for, while the company may save money by not covering higher premiums for older workers. One-on-one consultations with Medicare specialists also ensure employees get the coverage that’s right for them while avoiding HIPAA complications for HR.

Dependents Turning 26: Under the ACA, adult dependents can stay on their parents’ health plans until age 26. As dependents approach this milestone, they often need guidance on finding affordable insurance options of their own. HR departments are typically notified when a dependent is aging off the plan, presenting an excellent opportunity to provide resources that ease the transition for both the employee and their child.

Offering a referral to a licensed insurance professional who can help the dependent find a suitable plan demonstrates that the company cares not only about employees but also their families. This strengthens the bond between employees and the organization, fostering goodwill.

Family Coverage: When employees have children, they’re often unsure whether to add the newborn to their company plan or seek individual coverage. Depending on the group plan’s family-tier premiums, individual coverage for the child might be more cost-effective.

By offering resources to help new parents explore all their insurance options, HR can alleviate some of the financial stress that comes with adding a new family member. Parents will appreciate the guidance, and HR strengthens its image as a supportive, family-friendly department.

If you have any questions or need more information about how Heartwood Agency Group can help your employees transition when it comes to health insurance, call us at 325-326-3638 or complete an online form at https://www.heartwoodagencygroup.com/transition-assist-contact.