Looking for a Washington Paid Leave voluntary plan? That is a different program: a private plan an employer can use in place of the state Paid Family and Medical Leave program. See our Washington Paid Leave guide for employers. This page covers voluntary and supplemental insurance benefits that employees can choose, such as accident, hospital and critical illness coverage.
Why offer voluntary benefits?
With deductibles rising and medical costs climbing, employees need more protection than a standard health plan provides. Voluntary benefits are a smart, affordable way to build a stronger benefits package, with options from carriers including Aflac and LegalShield.
Convenient payroll deduction
Premiums come out of each paycheck, and eligible plans can be offered pre-tax through a Section 125 plan, lowering taxable income for employees and payroll taxes for you.
Offsets high deductibles
Cash benefits paid directly to employees help cover out-of-pocket costs from high-deductible medical plans, without changing the medical plan itself.
Employee-paid or employer-funded
Employees can pay the full premium themselves, or you can contribute part or all of the cost. You choose what fits your budget.
Available for groups of 3 or more
Voluntary benefits are open to small businesses. You only need 3 or more employees to qualify for group rates.
Watch: how voluntary insurance works
In under four minutes, follow Bob, who breaks his leg on a hike and misses three months of work. His medical plan covers the hospital bill, but not his lost paycheck or the other costs that pile up. See how voluntary accident, hospital and disability coverage pays cash directly to him.
Featured voluntary benefits
Washington Insurance Brokers offers a full suite of voluntary benefits from top carriers, all available to groups of 3 or more employees.
LegalShield
Gives employees access to a dedicated law firm for personal legal matters, including family law, traffic issues, and estate planning, for a low monthly fee. Legal protection employees can actually use.
Employee-paid optionIDShield
Identity theft protection and restoration. Monitors credit, the dark web, and personal information, and provides a licensed private investigator to restore an identity if it is compromised.
Employee-paid optionAccidental Injury
Pays cash benefits directly to employees for covered accidental injuries, including emergency room visits, fractures, dislocations, and hospital stays. Helps with costs a medical plan may not fully cover.
Offsets high deductiblesHospital Indemnity
Provides a fixed daily or per-admission cash benefit when an employee is hospitalized. Works alongside any health plan to help cover deductibles, copays, and everyday expenses while an employee is out of work.
Offsets high deductiblesCancer Indemnity
Pays lump-sum or ongoing benefits after a cancer diagnosis, helping with treatment, travel to specialists, and lost income during one of life’s most challenging times.
Pre-tax eligibleCritical Illness
Provides a lump-sum cash payment after diagnosis of a covered critical illness such as a heart attack, stroke, or organ failure. Employees use the money however they need, from medical bills to the mortgage.
Pre-tax eligibleDental
Standalone dental plans with preventive, basic, and major coverage. Offer it as an employee-paid benefit or contribute toward it. A highly requested benefit that helps attract and keep talent.
Employer or employee fundedVision
Coverage for eye exams, prescription lenses, and frames or contacts. Easy to add as a standalone voluntary benefit and popular with employees of all ages.
Employer or employee fundedDisability Insurance
Short-term and long-term disability plans replace part of an employee’s income if they cannot work because of illness or injury. One of the most overlooked yet important benefits for any workforce.
Pre-tax or after-tax optionsKey facts about voluntary benefits
Tax savings
When eligible premiums are deducted pre-tax, employees lower their taxable income and employers pay less in payroll taxes.
Fills the gap
Cash benefits help offset the rising out-of-pocket costs of high-deductible health plans.
Flexible funding
Employee-paid, partially funded, or fully employer-sponsored. You decide what works for your budget.
Groups of 3 or more
You do not need dozens of employees to offer meaningful voluntary benefits at group rates.
Changing medical plans, for example moving off an association plan such as the BIAW Health Insurance Program? Voluntary accident, hospital and critical illness policies are separate from the medical plan, so they don’t have to change when it does. See BIAW health insurance alternatives.
Washington Insurance Brokers is an independent broker, not affiliated with or endorsed by BIAW, its local associations, its administrators, or its insurers.
Questions about voluntary benefits?
Talk with Brandon Hoobler, founder of Washington Insurance Brokers and a licensed Washington insurance broker (WA OIC #824207), working in insurance since 2009. Call (206) 653-9636 or request a quote.
Talk to a benefits specialist
Build a better benefits package today
We will help you choose the right mix of voluntary benefits for your Washington team at no cost to you. Most voluntary benefits cost your business nothing to offer.
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