Health, Dental and Vision Benefits for Members
This year marked an exciting new beginning for CAGC members. Starting January 1st, CAGC began offering health, dental, and vision benefits to our members across both Carolinas. We have already seen these new insurance policies provide significant value to our members, as we are now covering hundreds of members who live across both states. Members are eligible to join the plan at any time throughout the year.
The goal is simple, provide the best employee benefits to our members at the lowest cost possible. We are off to a great start. As we continue to grow year over year, our strength and buying power will help us to keep premiums low.
We all know that there is no silver bullet for reducing the cost of quality healthcare, and costs have continued to climb each year creating a significant cost burden to our member companies and their employees. With the help of our benefits consultants, our hope is to beat the industry inflation trend by a few percentage points each year. If we can do that, members of CAGC will have a significant advantage in attracting and retaining the best employees.
Our insurance carrier, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, provides the largest provider network across both states. In addition, all of our participating members have access to our consultant and plan administration team at Cobbs Allen. No question is too big or too small for their team. From claims to billing to coverage questions, the team at Cobbs Allen provides boutique service with national scale to our members.
Health Plan Savings Can Off Set Membership Dues
Edison Cassels with Edison Foard conveys his first hand experience with the CAGC Health Plan.
"A Game-Changer for Contractors” is what Edison Cassels, President & Chief Executive Officer of Edison Foard called CAGC’s New Association Health Plan. Cassels went on to say, “Edison Foard takes pride in offering our Associates a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. A crucial element of this commitment is ensuring that our Associates and their families have access to top-tier healthcare coverage. In 2023, we faced a staggering 21% increase in our annual insurance premiums. In response, we explored various cost-reduction strategies, including potential cuts to program benefits.
"Fortunately, CAGC came to the rescue with the introduction of the CAGC Health Plan. This innovative program expanded our plan options from two to four, giving our Associates the flexibility to choose the coverage that best suits their needs. Moreover, instead of enduring a hefty premium increase, we experienced an impressive 22% reduction in premiums.
"The CAGC NC Health Plan not only enhanced our benefits offering but also delivered substantial cost savings, reaffirming our commitment to our Associates' well-being while maintaining financial efficiency. The savings for 2024 have offset the cost of our CAGC dues for more than five years. We highly encourage other members to consider this excellent plan and experience the significant benefits it offers.”
Open Enrollment & Mid-Year Eligibility
Open Enrollment for the CAGC Association Health Plan for NC and SC will be November/December, but you do not have to wait until then to join the plan or get more information. Members are also eligible to join mid-year at their own policy’s renewal date. Be on the lookout for more information as we approach the fall, but you can always find information on our website at www.cagchealthplan.com or by reaching out to Matt Cate at Cobbs Allen, mcate@cobbsallen.com.