The Department of Financial Regulation Approves Two Association Health Plans in Vermont

Healthcare.jpg

Late last week, the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation announced it had approved licenses for two Vermont-based associations to offer 2019 health plans to sole proprietors and employers with 100 employees or less. The Associations are:

Both associations are offering multiple plans designed to complete with the Exchange's Gold and Silver metal level plans. These plans, also known as Association Health Plans (AHPs), cover all the Essential Health Benefits and state mandates. The premium rates for these plans are, on average, less expensive than the Exchange rates.

The Richards Group is happy to provide its clients with a customized benefit analysis and model potential cost savings by enrolling in either one of these AHPs for 2019. If you haven't already heard from your Account Manager, please let us know.

The Richards Group named Best Employee Benefits Firm in Vermont

BOB-2018-THE-Richards-Group.png

The 2018 Best of Business Award winners have been announced by Vermont Business Magazine and The Richards Group has won as Best Employee Benefits Firm. This awards program celebrates the best Vermont companies in business-to-business categories.


“We’re very proud to be named Vermont’s Best Employee Benefits Company,” said Tom Scull, Vice President of Employee Benefits at The Richards Group. “Many of the surveyed readers of VBM are clients and know first-hand how important employee benefits are to a company. To be named a stand-out business in our field of expertise, a business that provides best-class customer service, a business who is known for going above and beyond, and a team of experts who pay close attention to detail demonstrates our success. Congratulations to our team of employee benefits experts and thanks to our clients for the recognition.”

The Richards Group’s Employee Benefits and Human Resources practice employs a ‘360 Degree’ strategy that focuses on employee benefits in the broadest sense of the phrase. We provide unique attention designed to meet each individual client’s needs and understand the challenges that HR leaders balance between maintaining a healthy workforce and fiscal responsibility. To that end, we provide clients with plan design and budgeting strategies, wellness expertise, leadership and training, robust technologies and compliance insights. We take a holistic approach to ensuring you have a healthy, engaged and dynamic workforce.

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867. The firm currently has over 115 employees and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont” in each of the past 3 years by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.

The Richards Group Named One of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont

best_places_logo.jpg

The Richards Group was recently named one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Vermont, an award created by Vermont Business Magazine, the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Department of Economic Development, the Vermont Department of Labor, and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – Vermont State Council and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Vermont, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses.

“We’re proud to once again be acknowledged as one of the Best Places to Work in Vermont,” said Ben Taggard, VP of Wealth Management at The Richards Group.  “We have experienced strong growth, both organically and through acquisitions, and The Richards Group has created many new jobs throughout the region in recent years.  To be recognized speaks volumes about the culture that we all contribute to and the outstanding colleagues that we work with every day.”

“It’s valuable to have the survey and benchmarking data that this process provides,” added Peter Richards, VP of Commercial Insurance and Risk Management. “It shows where our strengths are as an employer and where we have opportunities to improve.  We know our success as a firm is based on our ability to attract and retain talented employees and this process provides good insight on how we can compete effectively in the job market.”

The Richards Group, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vermont, has provided local Insurance, Employee Benefits and Retirement Plan solutions to clients throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts since 1867.  TRG locations include Brattleboro, Bennington, Norwich, Middlebury, Rutland, Bellows Falls, Manchester, Burlington, Wilmington as well as Concord and Keene, NH.  For more information about the firm and our capabilities, please visit www.therichardsgrp.com.