Launch HN: Savvy (YC W20) – Give employees tax-free cash for health insurance

Post by thedance » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 6:32 PM UTC

jonas21 wrote: post #32

thedance wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's true but it's also true that the plans need not cover maternity. There are tons of ACA plans that don't. And in "markets" with one player they can just name their price. None of this is your fault of course.

Are you sure about that? healthcare.gov seems to suggest otherwise [1] > Maternity care and childbirth — services provided before and after your child is born — are essential health benefits. This means all qualified health plans inside and outside the Marketplace must cover them. [1] https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-im-pregnant-or-plan-to-ge...

Post by freenergi » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 6:34 PM UTC

Post by tptacek » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 6:39 PM UTC

thedance wrote: post #41

jonas21 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure about that? healthcare.gov seems to suggest otherwise [1] > Maternity care and childbirth — services provided before and after your child is born — are essential health benefits. This means all qualified health plans inside and outside the Marketplace must cover them. [1] https://www.healthcare.gov/what-if-im-pregnant-or-plan-to-ge...

There are plans that are exempt from ACA's "requirements" because of course there are, and the current administration has used its rules-making powers to expand such exemptions. These are not limited to backwater states with evil administrations. At this very moment there are plans on California's ACA market that are exempt and do not cover maternity.

Post by novok » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 6:50 PM UTC

kevc wrote: post #44

unlinked_dll wrote: post #39

> For employees, we provide an in-app marketplace with access to every individual health plan, as well as vision and dental options. Employees can speak with licensed brokers every step of the way. I really want to like you for taking a stab at solving this problem because it's a serious one for startups and small businesses, but I can't as long as you keep this approach. Shopping for insurance (even through a broker…

What do you envision is the best way to do this? Our approach is to present employees with a few options upfront that, behind the scenes, have been recommended by a broker for them. They can speak with their broker if want help understanding and selecting one of the recommended plans, or look at the wider market if nothing suits them. We try to streamline the experience as much as possible, and put in a lot of work b…

Post by thehappypm » Mon, Mar 09, 2020, 6:56 PM UTC

eganist wrote: post #21

kevc wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are really focused on providing this as an "on-ramp" for small employers. Providing large employers an "off-ramp" isn't a use case we have seen much interest in. However, there is an interesting historical precedent with retirement plans, which suggests that there can be systemic benefits that come when employees have more control. Pre 1978, employers offered pensions as a retirement benefit, and like health insur…

I see your point, but to highlight a critical point of comparison: that's emblematic of the risk to healthcare. Pensions were an actual benefit to employees, largely subsidized by employers and taking into account various employment factors e.g. length of employment, salary, etc. With the advent of 401k, that expense was shifted almost entirely to the employee save for a remaining "match" benefit that the employer st…