Owner of Kennewick’s In4ormed Benefits Solutions says more clients seeking to offer ancillary benefits

For as long as Jolene Johnson can remember, she’s had an entrepreneurial spirit.

In high school, she worked alongside her parents at the RV park they owned on Snoqualmie Pass, but she learned quickly that she loved helping people much more than sitting behind a desk doing accounting work.

Johnson received a double certification in business management and business accounting from Yakima Business College and became an independent contractor selling blinds for her sister’s company.

“Then my husband (Joe) and I started our own boat dealership and jet boat manufacturing company,” she said.

Toward the end of 1999, people stopped buying high-ticket luxury items, including custom-built jet boats. Shortly after they decided to close shop, Jolene had the opportunity to get into the insurance industry as a voluntary benefits representative.

“When I got into it and started learning about it, I realized so many business owners don’t know some of the products and services that they could be taking advantage of,” she said. “Going from a business owner to an insurance agent that could help other business owners put policies in place to help employees—it just got me going. I understand the challenges they face from my experience being in their shoes. The pre-tax savings, the ancillary benefits, all the benefits a broker can bring to the table.”

In 2015, Johnson decided to branch out on her own and started Kennewick’s In4ormed Benefits Solutions to connect business owners to insurance options, including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, medical bridge, accident, cancer, life and critical illness.

“When I first got started, I worked with individuals and small businesses,” she said. “Now, most all of my business is from business owners and human resource reps.”

When it comes to spending money on different benefit options, Johnson said there’s no one-size-fits all answer. However, most people want financial protection, especially because health care costs are the No. 1 reason for bankruptcy. Johnson said more than ever, prospective employees are considering benefit packages before accepting a job offer.

“It used to be, ‘How much do I get paid?’ Now it’s ‘What do you have to offer benefit-wise?’ ” Johnson said.

While benefits packages can affect an employer’s recruiting and retention rate, Johnson said offering a generous medical plan is not always financially feasible for small mom-and-pop shops. That’s where voluntary products—known as ancillary benefits—can help business owners meet the needs of their employees.

“For example, Colonial has a medical bridge plan, so one strategic idea is to raise the deductible and marry it with a bridge plan. Most people seriously sick or injured end up in the hospital, and a bridge plan can pay cash to help fill that deductible gap for your confinement,” she explained, adding that gap coverage can provide peace of mind. “I also enjoy consulting with businesses who have never offered medical benefits before. I have a lot of compassion for them. If we learn group medical plans are still too far out of reach for their budget, we can look at offering an array of other plans and products that fit their current needs and budget.”

Johnson said the first step in helping an owner is to get to know their business and employee needs. Then she puts together a proposal with a variety of options.

“Companies are desperate for advice, creative ideas or alternative strategies to avoid passing on annual premium increases and ultimately delivering more negative news to their employees. I’ve heard that for so many years, and that’s the trajectory companies seem to be on. And now more than ever, there’s policy and plans and opportunities that they don’t need to be in that rut.”

Technology also has helped improve access to benefits, she added, explaining that companies can sign up their employees digitally, saving already overburdened human resource staff time and energy.

“That’s the future of benefits for smaller businesses—everything online. Poor HR people are so overworked and burdened by having to do everything by paper and collecting paperwork,” she said. “I have the technology to ease some of that burden. Colonial has a platform I can offer my clients to help their HR people keep track of their employees’ details, including enrolling in their medical benefits and Affordable Care Act reporting. This not only saves valuable time, but these tools simply are necessary.”

There’s also been an influx of new ideas and policies that are helping the industry she said, including direct primary care. While it’s not health insurance, Johnson said it’s an important step to help employees have access to primary care when health insurance is out of reach.

“It’s a method of accessing primary care for a fixed monthly fee. It’s not health insurance, it’s just access to it. A monthly fee to a client, and you get your primary care needs met. The focus of health care is returned to the patient and their families versus it’s visit-focused care,” said Johnson, who added that’s why 70 percent of people go to a doctor at the primary care level.

“So with that, if people have a high deductible, if they know they have to pay for that cold or flu, they’ll probably suffer through it. But if they have direct primary care and they’re paying a low-monthly fee, they can walk in and get their needs taken care of, and it’s better for their health.”

Johnson said the cost is about $100 a month. The program operates in the same fashion as a gym membership in that clients can go an unlimited number of times for their primary care needs.  She works with a company called EverMed who contracts in the Tri-Cities with Total Care Clinic and a couple of Trios locations but expects it to expand as more members come on.

Telemedicine, a 24-hour-doctor phone line, is also another service that companies can consider when building a benefits package. Trios Health and Kadlec Regional Medical Center offer the service.

“Colonial offers it with our new clients that have 10 or more employees, if we’re able to sit down with 75 percent or more of their people and to educate them. That’s a free perk,” she said. “They can enhance their employee benefit package without any premium cost, and their employees can use these complementary resources for free.”

In4ormed Benefits Solutions: in4ormedbenefits.com; 509-366-9305.