Employees consistently rank company health insurance as the most important of all their benefits. Not surprisingly, U.S. businesses spend hundreds of billions of dollars on company health insurance programs every year.

But as premiums continue to rise, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to manage the costs. Small businesses in particular are faced with the tough choice of stretching their budgets to absorb the expense or passing some of the burden to employees.

The three most popular types of company health care plans offered to employees today are HMOs, PPOs, and point of service plans (POSs). The landscape has changed considerably in the last few years – conventional indemnity plans have almost vanished, and consumer-driven plans have widely taken hold. Some businesses offer only one option, while others – particularly those with a large, diverse group of employees – offer two or more.

It can be tough to figure out which plan is best for your company. Because there are so many variables at work, some companies reevaluate their health care options every year. Premiums change annually, your employee base could change, and state and federal rules affect costs and coverage in unpredictable ways. But because company health insurance is so important to your employees and such a huge expense for your business, it’s worth taking the time to make the right choice.

This BuyerZone Health Insurance Buyer’s Guide will walk you through the various types of coverage, describe how to shop for a plan, and give you some tips on getting the most out of your company health insurance coverage. Then when you’re ready, we can put you in touch with health insurance vendors or brokers in your area – free.