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wellness plans

Wellness Plans That Can Benefit Employers and Employees

A properly structured wellness plan can help employers create potential payroll tax savings while giving employees access to valuable wellness benefits and the opportunity to increase their take-home pay. For companies using level-funded health plans, improved wellness participation may also help reduce claims and potentially increase future premium credits or surplus refunds.

Employer Tax Savings Potential

The plan may help reduce certain employer payroll tax obligations when structured and administered properly.

Employee Take-Home Pay Opportunity

Employees may be able to increase net take-home pay while gaining access to wellness resources designed to support healthier lifestyles.

Claims Reduction Strategy

Better wellness engagement may help reduce avoidable claims over time, which can be especially valuable for level-funded health plans.

How a Wellness Plan Can Work

Wellness plans are designed to encourage employees to actively participate in programs and services that support their health. When structured correctly, the program can create value for both the employer and employees.

1. Employees Participate

Employees engage with wellness services such as screenings, coaching, preventive tools, telehealth, or other approved wellness resources.

2. Payroll Strategy Is Applied

The plan may be integrated with payroll in a way that can create tax efficiencies for the employer and potentially improve employee net pay.

3. Health Engagement Improves

Increased use of wellness resources may help employees identify risks earlier, manage conditions, and make better health decisions.

Why This Matters for Level-Funded Health Plans

Level-funded plans reward employers when claims perform well. A wellness program that drives real employee utilization may help reduce avoidable claims, which can potentially improve renewal outcomes and increase the opportunity for return of premium, surplus refunds, or premium credits.

Lower Claims Pressure

Preventive engagement and better care navigation may help reduce unnecessary claim activity over time.

Better Renewal Potential

Lower claims may help support more favorable renewal conversations with carriers and administrators.

Surplus Refund Opportunity

When claims are lower than expected, some level-funded arrangements may provide return of premium or premium credit opportunities.

Wellness Benefits Employees May Value

Preventive Health Support

Tools and services that encourage early detection, screenings, and proactive health management.

Telehealth & Care Navigation

Convenient access to care support may help employees make smarter healthcare decisions and avoid unnecessary claims.

Coaching & Lifestyle Programs

Resources for nutrition, activity, stress management, chronic condition support, and overall wellness engagement.

How Atlas Benefits Helps

  • Review your current group health strategy
  • Evaluate wellness plan suitability for your business
  • Explain potential payroll tax savings opportunities
  • Help position the plan for employee education and utilization
  • Connect the wellness strategy to level-funded renewal goals

Utilization Is the Key

The strongest wellness plans are not just added to payroll — they are actively used by employees. The more employees engage with wellness resources, the greater the potential impact on health outcomes, claims experience, and long-term plan performance.

See If a Wellness Plan Could Work for Your Business

Atlas Benefits can help you review whether a wellness plan strategy may create value for your company, your employees, and your group health plan renewal.

Request a Wellness Plan Review

Tax savings and plan results may vary. Employers should consult with qualified tax, legal, and compliance professionals before implementing any payroll or wellness plan strategy.

A well-designed wellness plan can create meaningful value for both employers and employees by encouraging healthier lifestyles, potentially reducing payroll taxes, and increasing employee take-home pay. When paired with a level-funded health plan, strong employee participation may also contribute to lower claims, improved renewal outcomes, and the opportunity for greater premium credits or surplus refunds.

We may not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.