Your benefits plan,
built around you.
Your employer has moved to an ICHRA — an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement. This is a different kind of benefit, and it's worth understanding because it gives you something a traditional plan never could: a real choice.
Instead of enrolling everyone in one company plan, your employer sets aside a fixed monthly allowance for each full-time employee. You use that money to purchase your own individual health insurance — one that fits your doctors, your family, and your budget.
Three things happen
every month.
1. Your employer deposits your monthly allowance. That money is set aside for your health coverage — tax-free.
2. You pay your health insurance premium. Depending on your employer's setup, this comes out of your paycheck or you pay the carrier directly.
3. You submit for reimbursement. Upload proof of payment through the benefits platform and get reimbursed — up to your allowance — tax-free.
What changes —
and what gets better.
| Traditional Group Plan | Your ICHRA | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan choice | One plan for everyone | You choose your own plan |
| Doctor network | Employer's carrier only | Any carrier — keep your doctors |
| Plan ownership | Ends when employment ends | Your plan — you keep it |
| Tax treatment | Employer share is tax-free | Reimbursements are 100% tax-free |
| Family fit | Same plan for the whole company | You select what works for your family |
| Premium control | Fixed, no flexibility | Offset by your monthly allowance |
What to do,
in order.
All full-time employees are eligible. Complete these steps before your enrollment deadline — your deadline and monthly allowance are in your Welcome Email from your employer.
Straight answers.
| Can I keep my current doctor? | Yes — if you choose a plan that includes them in-network. Choosing your own plan is the whole point of an ICHRA. |
| What if I miss my enrollment deadline? | You may have to wait for the next open enrollment or a qualifying life event. Do not miss your window — this one matters. |
| Are reimbursements taxable? | No. ICHRA reimbursements are 100% tax-free as long as you are enrolled in a qualifying health plan. |
| What happens to unused monthly funds? | Unused allowances typically do not roll over month to month. Confirm with your HR team on your employer's specific plan design. |
| What if I leave the company? | Because the plan is in your name, you keep it. You'll be responsible for the full premium once reimbursements stop — but you don't lose coverage or start over. |
| Who helps me pick a plan? | Tess McCoy at Hotchkiss Insurance. You are not navigating the individual market alone — that's exactly what she's here for. |
| Can I cover my family? | Yes. When you shop for your plan, you can select family coverage. Your allowance applies toward your total premium. |