Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) said it will offer an association health plan to its members, extending affordable health care to craft member spirits distillers in approved states.
In states where the association health plan is not available, DISCUS will connect distillers with available small-group options in their states.
“America’s craft distillers are critical to the vitality of the spirits industry in this country. And those small businesses — and the men and women they employ — deserve good health care and the feeling of security it provides,” DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger said. “That’s why DISCUS has leveraged its relationship with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to provide quality health care options at affordable rates to the fastest-growing segment of our membership – craft distillers.”
The plan, called NAM Health Care (www.namhealthcare.com), was developed to meet the unique health care needs of manufacturers. It will offer a portfolio of health benefits options insured by UnitedHealthcare. In states where these plans are available, businesses with 2 to 99 employees will be able to choose from a variety of PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and HSA (Health Savings Account) health plans.
Members will also have access to UnitedHealthcare’s Choice Plus care provider network of more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Under NAM Health Care, eligible member companies also will have access to supplemental benefits including dental, vision and life. UnitedHealthcare will work with any licensed and appointed agents who want to sell NAM Health Care.
Mercer will provide DISCUS small-business members that elect Mercer as their agent of record with consulting services regarding health benefit offerings and contribution strategies, marketing support to sign up and enroll their employees, plan administration and compliance consulting services.
NAM Health Care is an industry-based Association Health Plan (AHP) that’s fully ACA-compliant, administered by Mercer and sponsored by The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), of which DISCUS is an affiliate member. Medical, Dental, Vision and Life insurance are underwritten by UnitedHealthcare®. Plans are not available to member employers in all states.