LIG Solutions, a division of Lighthouse Insurance Group, and PeopleKeep, Inc., provider of personalized benefits for small businesses, announced a partnership to provide complementary health benefits options to the members of associations, societies and other affinity groups across the United States.

Professional societies, associations and affinity groups play an important role in the U.S. economy and they help to amplify and advocate for the concerns and priorities of their members. One of their biggest concerns is health care—how to get cost effective coverage for medical care and how to address the increasing costs of that care, the announcement explains.

“Health insurance is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and neither should be the member benefit programs offered by associations, societies and other affinity groups. Broadening the membership benefits available to member organizations to include not only health insurance coverage options but, health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) lets us better meet those differing needs,” explains Tim McNichols, director of business development for LIG Solutions.

“PeopleKeep and Lighthouse Insurance Group share a common goal of helping small businesses care for their employees by offering health benefits that work for the business and its employees and their families,” adds Victoria Hodgkins, chief executive officer of PeopleKeep, Inc.

PeopleKeep’s work with LIG Solutions through their professional association program enables the two partners to share their respective expertise in health reimbursement arrangements and individual health insurance in a new way. Small businesses and their employees learn about health benefits through their association, society or affinity group. If employers decide to provide a qualified small employer HRA (QSEHRA) or an individual coverage HRA (ICHRA) through PeopleKeep, their employees can then work directly with Lighthouse Insurance Group to access cost effective individual health insurance policies that fit their needs both from a health standpoint and financially with one easy to use turn-key solution. 

“With the upcoming introduction of the Individual Coverage HRA on January 1, 2020, now is an opportune time for health benefits providers to adopt new approaches to outreach, education and fulfillment in the individual insurance space,” notes Hodgkins.

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury estimate that when the newly approved individual coverage HRA is fully adopted, it will benefit approximately 800,000 employers, including small businesses, and more than 11 million employees and family members, including an estimated 800,000 Americans who were previously uninsured.