Employee Benefits

“We can’t afford benefits.” I hear this from Washington business owners almost every week. It is usually said with some regret, because the same owners tell me in the next breath that they are struggling to hire, or that a good employee just left for a company with health insurance. Here is the honest answer…

Voluntary benefits give Washington employees access to legal protection, identity theft coverage, accident insurance, hospital indemnity, and more — often at zero cost to the employer. Pre-tax, flexible, and available for groups of 3+.

Last reviewed: October 16, 2026. Written by Brandon Hoobler, licensed Washington insurance broker. There is no flat statewide price, but the best benchmarks are clear. Nationally, employer coverage averaged $9,325 a year for single coverage and $26,993 for family coverage in 2025, according to KFF. For 2027, the nine insurers in Washington’s small-group market have…