Gap Insurance, also known as Supplemental Limited Benefit Medical Expense Insurance, is a benefit that helps to cover the exposure your employees have until they reach the maximum benefit based on that plan design. Most employers either choose a plan that will pay providers until the employees reach their medical deductible or maximum out of pocket.

What specific benefits does gap insurance provide?

The specific coverage that most gap insurance plans provide is separated into two categories (riders such as labs, in-office treatment, etc. can be added). The categories are:

• Inpatient Services- including hospital stays, inpatient surgeries, and physician’s in-hospital charges.
• Outpatient Services- including diagnostic exams, and other outpatient treatment of injury and sickness, provided the service is performed in a hospital, outpatient surgical or emergency facility, a diagnostic testing treatment facility, or similar facility licensed to provide outpatient treatment.

How does gap insurance work?

Gap insurance may be used to coordinate benefits with your employees’ primary insurance for inpatient, outpatient, and physician services. Benefits may be paid to the medical provider or directly to your insured employee, depending on the plan you choose. Premiums for gap insurance plans vary, according to the specific benefits you choose, but they are generally low enough that the combination of primary insurance and gap insurance will be less expensive compared to primary insurance with a lower deductible.

For employees who have relatively low deductible and copay amounts, gap insurance may not be needed, however these low deductible medical policies are not affordable for everyone, particularly small businesses. When out of pocket maximums are higher than employees can comfortably manage, gap insurance is a necessary protection that can keep them from financial disaster. Most workers who have a high deductible, high copay plan can have an out of pocket maximum over $5000. This can cause an insurmountable and unexpected financial hardship for many people and their families unless they have gap insurance to cushion the blow.

Offering an additional benefit to your workers can be seen as an investment in the performance of your company. According to Business.org, a website designed to help business owners and decision makers grow their businesses, the following are the top reasons to offer benefits to incentivize employees:

1. Increases Appeal

2. Minimizes Turnover Rate

3. Better Morale

4. Healthier Employees

5. Better Job Performance

When it comes to a group medical insurance plan, there are a lot of factors that decide the amount of coverage you may or may not want to provide to your employees, better yet, what you may or may not be able to afford. Rates seem to increase year after year, and in order to offer your workforce an attractive benefit package, you may have to get creative. That’s where gap insurance comes in, and we are here to help! Our insurance specialists are up to date with industry regulations and trends to help you and your business, and they are only a phone call away! Contact us today at 954 828 1819 or visit us online at mhginsurance.com.

To say that the past couple of months have been stressful would be an understatement. With what is currently going on in the world, stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues have been affecting seemingly everyone to an extent. Fear of the unknown and what tomorrow may hold, loss of jobs and income, closing of schools, and being forced to stay indoors are all factors in what is likely affecting most people. Unfortunately, we are no experts on the trajectory of this pandemic, so we can’t say when or if things will be getting back to normal, but when it comes to your mental health, don’t wait for when or if, do it now!

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and with so many factors that may be affecting it out of your control, it is incredibly important to take control of your situation and make the best of it. There are several things you can be doing every day to help you stay strong mentally and keep from experiencing common issues such as anxiety and depression. Now, these tips should not be used instead of prescribed medication, and it is important to mention that if you are finding that nothing is helping you with your issues, to seek medical advice about how you can help yourself.

Meditate

I know what you are thinking, not everyone can sit in a quiet room for an extended time with the kids home from school and having to help them with their online studies, but it is important for you to be able to be alone with your thoughts. According to Everyday Health, “research suggests even brief meditation sessions can make a difference in managing stress” Try to take some time for yourself, relax, focus on your breathing, and clear your mind, you will be amazed at how good feel after the fact.

Exercise

While most people think of the physical benefits that exercising can have on your body, not many think of the mental benefits too! When you exercise, your body naturally releases hormones that make you feel good. In addition to the natural feeling, exercising will make you feel better about yourself, whether accomplishing a goal, looking better in the mirror, or just feeling better overall, having daily physical activity is crucial to your overall mental health. Exercise can directly impact depression and anxiety, as stated in this article from the Help Guide, a good place to visit for tips and help with mental wellness.

Sleep

Sleep is something that most people don’t get enough of. How many hours do you sleep every night? Did you know that during sleep is when your body recovers and heals itself? Maybe if you thought of it that way, you would make sure you got a full night! In fact, this recent Harvard study talks about how sleep deprivation and sleep disruption can negatively impact your mental health.

Go Outside

Many of us are stuck at home and forced to stay indoors, but if you are able to go outside, take advantage! Vitamin D is great for your overall health! Take a walk around your neighborhood or relax in the backyard. Catch some rays and let nature help brighten you up. Research even shows the positive impact of outdoor activity on your overall mental health. Read more about it here!

Stay Busy

If you are staying home through all of this, and find yourself bored, find something to do to keep yourself busy! Whether reading books, working on home projects, doing some spring cleaning, or taking this time to work on you, it is important to stay busy, and keep your focus on something.

Mental Health and Wellness is important for everyone, especially if you are a seafarer who may not have access to the help and assistance programs that those who aren’t at sea do. If you are a seafarer and need some help, check out SeafarerHelp, a free, confidential, multilingual helpline for seafarers and their families, available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year!

With the spread of COVID-19 causing global concern, rest assured that all of us at MHG are here and ready to answer your insurance questions and concerns relating to the virus. For specific information on how COVID-19 affects your insurance coverage, please call us or visit your insurance carrier’s website.

With so many of us stuck in our homes, or indoors in general, it can be hard to find the motivation, or even the tools to get a good workout in. For those of us looking to maintain our figure, or even drop some pounds while we are quarantining, it is important to try to stay active. Better yet, it is important for everyone to stay active, as exercising can help with stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental challenges associated with what is currently going on.

Calisthenics are a great way to get into or stay in shape. In fact, many people use calisthenics as their normal exercise routine. By using different exercises to target each muscle group, you can have a full body workout without leaving your home or your yard, in a short amount of time.

1. Upward and Downward Facing Dog- This is a common yoga exercise and is a great way to get your body warmed up before a workout or cooled down following one. Lay flat on the ground face down. Take a deep breath, push your hands against the ground to push your chest up while keeping your legs flat on the ground. Hold the pose for several breathes. On the last exhale, lift your bottom up to form a 90-degree angle with your body while keeping your feet and hands flat on the ground and your head between your arms. Stay in that pose for several breathes. On the last exhale, bend your knees to the floor so that your knees are under your hips and your hands are under your shoulders.

2. Planks- Planks are one of the best exercises you can do to work out your core. Lay face down on the floor. Prop yourself up with your forearms and keep your elbows directly below your shoulder. Remember to keep your body straight. For beginners, try using a straight arm with your hands directly underneath your shoulders.

3. Wall Sits- This is a great way to focus on your lower body as well as your core. Find a wall, then squat down into a sitting position with your back against the wall and your legs in 90-degree angles.

4. Mountain Climbers- Ready to get your heart rate pumping? Mountain climbers are a unique exercise that can get your heart rate up and work out your entire body without needing machinery or a large space to move around. Start in a push-up position and alternate bringing your knees to your chest.

5. Push-ups- This classic exercise focuses on your upper body strength and your core. To work out different muscles doing this exercise, try doing them on an incline and decline as well.

6. Sit-ups/ Crunches- This is another classic exercise that targets your abdominals. To increase difficulty try doing them with your legs up at a 90-degree angle. Or you could try air bike crunches where you alternate touching opposite elbows to knees.

7. Squats and Lunges- This exercise really targets your thighs and your gluteal muscles. Remember to keep your feet shoulder width apart and keep your heels flat on the ground when squatting.

For lunges, step forward with one leg lowering your hips until both legs are bend at 90-degree angles. Make sure your front knee is directly above your ankle and your back knee doesn’t touch the floor. Rotate legs.

8. Leg Lifts- As you may have already noticed, many of these workouts focus on your core, and leg lifts are one of the best ones you can do. Lay flat on your back and lift your feet 6 inches off the ground. For a change you could also try switching your feet from opened to closed every 10 seconds.

9. Burpees- Burpees are a great exercise that workout the whole body and even gets your heart rate up! Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, then bend your knees and lower your body into a squat. Place your hands on the floor and shift your weight onto them, then jump your feet back and get yourself into a plank or pushup positions. Then jump your feet back to land just behind your hands and rise up to jump explosively in the air. Repeat!

10. Tables- Sit down with your hands and feet on the floor. With your arms behind you, prop yourself up by lifting your hips as high as you can, and squeezing your glutes and shoulder blades as hard as you can.

There are several different ways to approach these exercises, you could try doing each one until exhaustion, breaking them up into different repetitions and sets, or a mixture of both. There are a ton of other non-weight exercises you can do; however, everyone is different, and some may find other exercises more successful than others. Try looking up other exercises and make a workout guide that fits you and your needs best.

With the spread of COVID-19 causing global concern, rest assured that all of us at MHG are here and ready to answer your insurance questions and concerns relating to the virus. For specific information on how COVID-19 affects your insurance coverage, please call us or visit your insurance carrier’s website.

In this ever-changing world, new threats and risks surface seemingly every day. Can you guess what one of the biggest threats to your business is? It’s not looting, and definitely not slander, it’s Cyber Breach! Years ago, a big topic was identity theft, and people having their credit cards compromised. As those issues are still common today, there is a much larger issue at hand. If a company has a breach, millions of customers could be at risk instantly, whereas before, people had their private information breached one by one. Can we go back to the old days?

Companies have begun investing heavily in security and creating in-house security teams to protect themselves from having their private information hacked. With millions of people affected by cyber breach across the world, it has become a common issue for businesses. According to Forbes, in 2019, personal account information surfaced on the dark web resulting from the data breach of Facebook and Instagram, exposing over 400 million user’s personal information.

How do I know if my business is at risk?

Many people think that a cyber breach can only affect businesses that have online stores, or sell a product or service through a website, however, that is not the case. Your business is at risk if it handles sensitive computer data such as credit card information and bank account numbers. Whether online, or in a computer system, information just isn’t safe anymore. Hackers are able to bypass security software and can get into your company’s servers to access all the information they want, at times getting through the best security available.

Unfortunately, these days having the best security software and team cannot guarantee the safety of your business. Although they are good investments to have, because they can make it quite difficult for a hacker which may make your company less of a target.

How will it affect my business?

A breach can cause an extensive threat to your financial stability. No matter the size of your business, federal law now requires you to notify every one of your customers affected by the breach. You may need to pay for extensive damages across your business. If you are one of the companies that has their business breached it may be necessary to hire a PR firm for damage control, forensic services to find out the extent of the breach and make the necessary security changes, legal services to protect you from individual and class action lawsuits, etc.

Hackers can also gain access to your employee’s information through email, and begin to contact others through that email address. This can create a massive headache for your company. Imagine an executive asking someone within the company for money in an emergency situation. Before you know it, your company just lost tens of thousands of dollars. It is critical to define certain protocols that offer an additional layer of protection. Requests for money transfers should be approved by more than one person and confirmation should be done in a secure manner or in person if possible.

How can I protect my business?

Until a few years ago, there was no insurance available to cover cyber liability. Businesses used Commercial General Liability Insurance to obtain coverage for bodily injury and property damage from accidents on their property or in their business, yet this does not protect them from any of the financial losses that can happen from failure to protect the private information of its customers.

Insurance companies now offer stand-alone policies to protect your business from many of the financial pitfalls that were stated earlier, that come with a cyber breach. Prices for these policies vary. Considering what they are protecting, it is well worth looking into the coverage. The application process can be quite simple depending on the need. Because the insurance company must know many details about spy ware protection, internet usage, etc. it is a good idea to work with your IT team when shopping for Cyber Liability coverage.

If you own a business, and are looking for protection against a cyber breach, MHG Insurance Brokers would be happy to assist you. Contact MHG Insurance Brokers today at +1 954-828-1819 or +44 (0) 1624 678668 or visit us online at mhginsurance.com.

As you may have heard, we are currently experiencing a global pandemic from COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. Across the world, countries and cities are being locked down to help prevent the spread of this virus, forcing many to be laid off or have to work from home, if their job allows. If you are one of the fortunate ones who are able to work from home and are staying home in these unprecedented times, you are doing your community a great service by doing your part to help stop the spread.

Many may think that working from home is easy, however, there are several challenges and issues that can arise, especially when working from home for an extended period, which looks to be the case for many. The following are some tips to better help develop a routine to make the most of your time, and to help limit distractions when working from home.

Get Ready in the Morning

Yes, one of the many benefits people may think of when working from home is that you get to stay in your pajamas all day. While everyone loves to have a lazy day, it is recommended to develop a routine. Try getting ready in the morning as if you were heading into the office. Take a hot shower, brew a cup of joe, or catch up on the latest news. Whatever your routine was before, try to mimic it the best you can.

Dedicate a Space

In addition to developing a solid and healthy routine, it’s important to create a dedicated space for your work. Set up your computer or lap tap, office phone, and whatever other supplies you need in order to creative an effective “home office”. Also, pick some place that will limit distractions, perhaps set up at the dining room table rather than in the living room? Whatever space works best for you, and will help you feel like you are clocking in.

Take Breaks

A lot of people don’t realize how many breaks they take at work, and while many supervisors may not want to hear it, frequent breaks are proven to be imperative for efficient work. Getting up from your desk and going to chat with a colleague or gathering around the water jug is something that you won’t have to opportunity to do. Make a note to take a break every so often. Pick a few times throughout the day to get up and walk around the house. If you have a dog, I’m sure they won’t let you forget to go on a walk.

Keep the Kids Busy

As the majority of schools are closing, you may be working from home with a few added responsibilities. Kids, especially younger ones, require a ton of attention, and it can be hard to get anything done if you are constantly having to keep them occupied and entertained. Try to come up with some activities that will keep them busy and inspire them to entertain themselves. Whether it’s putting on a movie, reading a book, or playing some board games, try to come up with some ideas to help keep them engaged.

Exercise

Last but certainly not least, being stuck inside all day can cause some mental challenges. Ever hear of cabin fever? Depending on where you are and what rules are being instituted in your country or city, go outside for a walk or run and get some physical activity. If you can’t leave your home, come up with an exercise routine for you to do every day. Exercise and physical activity is a great way to help battle the depression or other issues that may arise from being isolated and quarantined, and not to mention, it will only help you and your health!

With the spread of COVID-19 causing global concern, rest assured that all of us at MHG are here and ready to answer your insurance questions and concerns relating to the virus. For specific information on how COVID-19 affects your insurance coverage, please call us or visit your insurance carrier’s website.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has brought a lot of changes in the health insurance industry. Depending on who you talk to some of these changes can be good or bad. One thing that is usually universally agreed upon as a positive change is that insurance companies are no longer allowed to deny you coverage if you have a pre-existing condition. Another positive is that plans considered to be creditable coverage offers preventive care at no cost to the member! Health is wealth and taking preventive actions to ensure you stay healthy is the best way to avoid an illness or an issue in the future. Also, it is important to note that preventive services will only be fully covered when seeing a doctor or medical provider that is in your plan’s network.

What is preventive care?

Preventive care is typically a procedure that is done to detect or prevent an illness or condition. Preventive health care can be anything from screening for diseases such as diabetes to screenings and counseling for alcohol misuse and tobacco use.

Breakdown

Preventive care is typically broken down into three groups, adults, women, and children. Depending on your age and/or gender, different procedures can be considered preventive care. For example, children have certain screenings to test for conditions that aren’t needed as an adult, such as an autism screening. Further, while adults are able to be covered for certain preventive services, women may need some services that are not needed by men for procedures such as a Pap smear. For more information on what procedures are deemed preventive care for each group, visit HealthCare.gov.

Why is preventive care important?

Just because you feel 100% healthy, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be taking advantage of regular check-ups. Part of staying healthy is catching issues before they arise or early enough to correct them. There are many conditions that don’t offer early symptoms such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The only way to see if they are at healthy levels is to check them regularly. We can’t stress enough that everyone should be using preventive care!

Some things to be aware of

While receiving preventive care should be free thanks to the Affordable Care Act, there are some things you should still be aware of. First, if something is found during your screening, any treatment you receive to help your condition won’t be “free”. You will be required to pay for further treatments according to your insurance plan. Also, in some cases there must be a valid reason to receive fully covered preventive services. You either must be due for one, like women 40 and over receiving a mammogram every 1-2 years (per HealthCare.gov) , or a doctor must prescribe it.

For more information about job based benefits, read our previous blog, What You Need to Know about Company Sponsored Insurance Benefits ”. Sometimes there are things in your plan that you don’t understand, or words that you have never heard before. Your well-being is important to us, and part of that is making sure you are properly taken care of. Our insurance specialists have the knowledge and experience to assist your group in finding the best Employee Benefits plan for your budget. If you are interested in purchasing a disability plan, health insurance, or life insurance, contact us at mhginsurance.com or call us at +1 954 828 1819.

You know the saying, “New year, new me!” Well it’s that time of the year, everything is fresh, people are motivated, and many of you have just begun a new benefit year in terms of your insurance as well. So why not take some time to figure out how to make the most out of your insurance benefits, the same way you would try to make the most out the year when it comes to vacations, starting new habits, or even just trying new things. Here are some tips to follow to better help you start your benefit year off right. Keep in mind the tips below are only for those times when seeing a medical professional can be planned in advance, if you are sick or in need of medical attention, please consult your physician immediately.

Read Your Policy

Reading your insurance policy may not be your first priority, but without reviewing your benefits, you might be missing covered benefits you can take advantage of. A big one is knowing the doctors in your network, depending on your coverage, some providers might be categorized in a special group which allows you to pay less. Check if you have dental and vision insurance and what is covered, there can be some benefits that are completely free of charge to you, even covering multiple visits throughout the year.

Do You Have a Rewards Program?

Most health insurance companies now offer a rewards program to help motivate people to live a healthy lifestyle. Get yourself involved as soon as you can so you can start earning rewards for things you do every day like walking, logging meals, weighing yourself, etc. Also, these programs can offer points for visiting the doctor, getting your teeth cleaned, getting a flu shot, and taking other preventable measures.

Plan Your Year

As stated before, once you understand your insurance coverage, you will have a better understanding of how to plan your year. Yes, you should always expect the unexpected, no one plans to catch a cold, but by understanding your benefits you can use providers that will cost you less. When it comes to making doctors’ appointments, your benefit year should be taken into consideration. For example, if you are in need of a procedure that is medically necessary but you have been putting it off, would it make more sense to have it when the year is fresh, or when you have reached closer to your max out of pocket, typically later in the year? Sometimes timing can be important and can be the difference from having to pay thousands versus having to pay nothing.

Avoid the Mad Dash

I don’t know if you have ever been to a medical facility at the end of the year, but more than likely they are slammed with people trying to use the last bit of insurance before the new year starts. By planning your year ahead, you can do what you can to try and avoid the headache of having to wait hours, or deal with nurses and doctors who are understaffed or stretched too thin. Most medical plans now include telemedicine which can be used in the convenience of your home using a smart device, if you need a prescription the telemedicine doctor will prescribe what you need at the pharmacy of your choice. In some cases, telemedicine can be free.

MHG Insurance Brokers comprises of a team of experts who specialize in Employee Benefits. We have unique relationships with carriers and are sometimes the first to know the plans they offer. We have a 5-star Google review rating, and an outstanding 96% client retention rate in the Life and Health Division (Employee Benefits). Our team of experts can complete a full analysis of your current plan’s offerings, and if needed, recommend a package that will enrich your benefits while keeping cost at a minimum. If you do not have a group plan in place, we have you covered! Our team can provide a proposal for your group which may be less than you anticipate. If you are interested in purchasing coverage for your team, feel free to contact us at 954-828-1819 or visit our website at mhginsurance.com.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (SEPTEMBER 5, 2019) – MHG Insurance, the cruise industry’s authority on crew benefits, has released the 2019 Cruise Industry Benefits and Trends Report. The report provides a glimpse into the benefits provided to officers and crew at some of the world’s leading cruise lines.

At the center of the report is the highly anticipated benefits matrix which contains a snapshot of what the cruise industry is doing today in terms of benefits provision. The matrix examines four categories including: medical insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and retirement savings. Coverage details for each benefit are highlighted and lists which group receives them - all in an anonymous format.

Topical articles and trends affecting the industry, such as the anticipated growth across all segments and the introduction of LNG technology and the possible impact on crewing, are also profiled. Guest contributors, Paul Morter, founder of UK based Block 524, takes an in-depth look at retirement savings plans and their importance in a successful attraction and retention strategy while Caitlin Vaughan, Project Manager at the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), discusses crew mental health at sea.

“Staff attraction and retention set the most successful cruise lines apart from the rest,” said Lyall Duncan, MHG’s Cruise Division Director. “Seafarers may have been plentiful in the past, but with the recent and continued expansion over the next several years, it may prove harder to find and keep qualified officers and crew. We’re pleased to be able to provide our clients with this report so that they can determine which benefits and perks are necessary to be competitive.”

MHG Insurance continues to be at the forefront of developing innovative insurance solutions and products to meet the changing needs of the cruise industry, businesses, and individuals around the world. To receive a copy of the Cruise Industry Benefits and Trends Report or to schedule an appointment to review the report and discuss your benefit strategy, please contact MHG Insurance at +1 954-828-1819 or pr@mhginsurance.com.

About MHG Insurance

Established in 1991 in Miami, Florida, MHG Insurance is an independent, global, full-service insurance brokerage and consultative facility. Through its extensive relationships with international underwriting markets, MHG develops and provides a full range of employee benefits, risk mitigation programs, business insurance and financial services all supported by comprehensive attention to service support for all of our clients. In the marine community, MHG is well known for its expertise in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) and developing MLC-aligned crew insurance solutions. For more information about MHG Insurance and the services we provide, please visit mhginsurance.com

Let’s face it group insurance plan comes at a price, and there is a reason many smaller businesses with less than 50 employees elect not to offer a group plan since it is not required. However, not having a plan in place immediately makes your business less competitive when it comes to attracting the best talent to help you succeed. So, what if I told you that there are several options out there that can help you save money when it comes to offering your employees insurance benefits?

Fully-Insured vs. Self-Insured/Level Funded

Most groups with less than 100 employees are covered through Fully-Insured plans as it is the most traditional method of coverage. The premium paid to the insurance carrier is a fixed rate for the year based on the number of employees enrolled. The carrier is responsible for paying all claims while the covered member is responsible for paying copays, coinsurance and deductibles based on the plan benefits. Fully-Insured rates are based on the demographic make of the group (census), changes to that census, comparative rates within a geographic area and industry, and to a smaller degree the claims experience of the members. Any group with 2 or more employees will qualify for Fully-Insured plans (Groups with two employees cannot be a married couple).

Level Funded plan options are becoming increasingly common as more carriers are offering them, and more employers are seeing the advantages. Let’s be clear, not all groups qualify; acceptance is mainly based on the employees’ medical claims history, and carriers require a minimum participation higher than Fully-Insured. Level Funded plans are filed with the Department of Financial Services as “Self-Funded”. A true Self-Funded plan has an arrangement where the employer provides health care to the employees using the company’s own funds. Level Funded follows the same concept, but there is a stop loss in place for each employee on the plan to prevent any liability for the employer. A portion of the premium paid on a Level Funded plan is saved in a funding “pool” which is used to pay claims. After an employee uses a certain amount of the claims fund (amount varies depending on the carrier) stop loss kicks in and the carrier takes over the payment of claims for that employee for the remainder of the year removing that exposure from the employer’s remaining funding pool.

What Are the Advantages of Level Funded?

On average a business spends 7% to 9% of its budget on employee health care. If your group qualifies for Level Funded plans, it is possible that the rates may be better than Fully-Insured when comparing similar plan options. Yes, you can get money back at the end of the year! Carriers typically offer the group a specified percentage of the unused amount left from your funding pool at the end of the year. The reimbursement percentage varies depending on the carrier, and in some instances can be as much as 94%, which can be a significant amount. Carriers may also include additional features on a Level Funded plan not included on Fully-Insured options.

Are There Any Shortfalls on a Level Funded Plan?

Level Funded plans follow the federal mandate as it relates to continuation of coverage. Groups with 20 or more employees will be eligible for federal COBRA. Most Level Funded plans will not administer State Continuation (mini COBRA) for employers with less than 20 employees, this means these employees will not be eligible to continue coverage upon leaving employment.

Another area that may affect some employees is dependent coverage. In some states, such as Florida, Fully-Insured plans will allow dependent children to be covered up to age 30, while Level Funded plans will remove dependent children at age 26, which is the federal mandate. In addition, some benefits offered on Fully-Insured may not be offered on Level Funded.

What Option Is Best for Me?

MHG Insurance Brokers is a powerhouse team of experts specializing in Employee Benefits for small to medium sized groups. With a stellar 5-star Google review rating and an exceptional 96% client retention rate in our Employee Benefits Division, we possess the expertise the expertise to conduct a comprehensive analysis of your current plan's offerings. Our goal is to recommend a customized Employee Benefits package that maximizes your benefits while minimizing costs. Even if you don't currently have a group plan, we've got you covered! Our team can present a proposal for your group that may pleasantly surprise you. If you are ready to secure top-notch Employee Benefits, reach out to us at 954-828-1819 or visit our website at mhginsurance.com.

Each year at SeaTrade we reminisce about how much cruising has grown since its inception, but this year, the industry is on the cusp of one of its most massive growth spurts yet. In addition to the ongoing and constant introduction of new tonnage by the mass market heavyweights, this year multiple new players are about to introduce ships into service in the premium, luxury and expeditionary cruise sectors. Cruising always offered different options to the public however the pending industry growth and expansion of riverboats, luxury, expedition and other cruise experiences means that the future of cruising is all about diversity.

The technology, innovation and imagination of the industry continues to startle and amaze. Cruising has moved beyond baked Alaska, buffets and shuffleboard to tattoos, rollercoasters and polar expeditions! Indeed, today a cruise exists to suit every preference and (almost) no destination is out of reach. The wealth of cruising options available to the public is immense. Big ship, medium ship or small ship? Alaska, Asia, Europe, Galapagos, Antarctica or a world cruise? Family fun, reunion or romantic getaway? Theme cruises? Broadway and Vegas style entertainment? The cruise industry continues to diversify and grow and so does the consuming public’s choices and options for cruise experiences.

Notwithstanding all the enticing bells, whistles, gimmicks and innovations, every new cruise ship still requires officers and crew to serve its guests and safely operate the vessel. As cruise industry technology continues to advance, the need for certain specialized training amongst the crew increases. Training and investing time to educate crew is not an inexpensive matter. For every new LNG powered vessel and innovative technologies in bow thrusters, propulsion & emission systems mean additional training and certification amongst the crew is needed. The newest generation of cruise ships crosses the spectrum of small mega-yachts to multi-thousand passenger-ships akin to a small city. For a seafarer, this diversity implies totally different work spaces, conditions and operations, thus different training.

With the expansion of the luxury sector, this creates a demand for crew that can provide superior service. Luxury brands tend to attract a repeating loyalty base of customers who acknowledge and expect consistent superior service. Many luxury operators focus on the guest-crew ratio, aspiring towards one crew member per paying guest. However, this means that these seafarers must often do multiple tasks to make up for the lack of other crew. Not every crew member is capable of delivering high-end 5- or 6-star service. To this end many luxury operators have their own schools or programs devised to provide specialized service training for certain crew to meet the high demands of its customers.

Perhaps the biggest pending expansion in the cruise industry is within the expedition sector. Traditionally these types of voyages were entirely destination driven but bare bones minimal so far as service and cuisine. The new expedition ships boast 5- and 6-star service complete with helicopters, submarines, decompression chambers and expedition leaders. The high degree of technology, service & innovation encompassed in these new vessels combined with specialized polar navigation rules and remote, isolated and longer itineraries implies a further need for specialized training and certification amongst crew.

All the above implies that as the cruise industry continues to grow and diversify the training and education of seafarers will also diversify and as a result continue to be more complex and costly. Accordingly, cruise operators should look to protect the substantial investments they are making in their crew in order to train them for these diverse cruise experiences. The LNG engineer, the personal butler and the expeditionary team leader are all seafarers, each with a unique skill set relative to the vessel they are employed on. Having to replace any of these jobs can be challenging. Accordingly, each of these crewmembers should be viewed as an asset to be protected and retained.

As part of any employee retention strategy, the offering of employee benefits should be highly considered. Indeed, many existing cruise companies have taken their obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention (2006) seriously and already provide some crew with a basic benefit package that includes insurance and retirement account(s). The new entrants into cruising should definitely take note. The diversification of the industry will require diversification of crew. Competition for competent and diverse crew will only increase over time but providing a menu of benefits to your crew can help to ensure that they remain happy in the job, and able to contribute to the company’s future successes.

MHG offers a diverse package of benefits for seafarers. Come and see us at Seatrade, Booth 2349!