Racine-based Johnson Insurance Services has created a private health insurance exchange for businesses.
The Johnson Insurance Marketplace is an online marketplace where employees can shop for health insurance using an employer’s defined contribution.
So far, United Healthcare, Humana, Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, Network Health Plan and WPS Health Insurance/Arise Health Plans have joined the exchange.
The carrier offers a choice of four to six insurance plans for each employee. Employees can compare plan costs and benefits from different tiers of coverage. They can also include dental, vision, life or disability insurance in their individual package.
“Our clients asked us to provide them with an alternate benefits model with advantages for both the employers and their employees,” said Mark Behrens, president of Johnson Insurance. “With Johnson Insurance Marketplace, we’re giving employers additional insurance choices and easy-to-use decision-making tools that both the employer and the employee can appreciate and value.”
Johnson Insurance, founded in 1985, is one of the largest private insurance agencies in Wisconsin. A member of the Johnson Financial Group, it has 160 employees and offices in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, Janesville, Eau Claire, Ripon, Hayward and Rice Lake.
Johnson Insurance will initially focus on rolling out the product for southeastern and northeastern Wisconsin employers, then to other parts of its footprint.
“Our private health insurance exchange allows employers to control the rising costs of health insurance by contributing a fixed amount,” said Michael Derdzinski, senior vice president of employee benefits for Johnson Insurance. “The benefits process for employers will now be streamlined, giving employees additional options and the flexibility to make their own insurance decisions based on their individual needs.”
