ABOUT RAMHIC
The Retailers Association of Massachusetts Health Insurance Cooperative (RAMHIC) is the Association’s health insurance solution for our small business members. The program provides access to health benefit plans offered by BCBSMA, as well as a comprehensive package of free ancillary benefits typically reserved for larger businesses. This not only adds value to purchased health benefits plan, but also allows members to compete for, and retain, employees. RAMHIC also assists members and their employees reduce overall health care costs through wellness program financial incentives designed to create a healthier and more educated consumer of health care.
Member testimonials
Eligibility
As a small business group purchasing cooperative regulated by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance, RAMHIC has established rules which reflect both the governing law, and our vision for success. To join and retain membership in RAMHIC, businesses must meet the following criteria:
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Retail Industry Employer - must be an employer within the retail, restaurant or wholesale sectors of the retail industry,
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Member of Participating Trade Association - must be a member of either the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Package Store Association or Northeastern Retail Lumber Association,
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Small Business - workforce must consist of 50 or fewer eligible employees. Please note that this threshold does not necessarily refer to your total number of employees but rather your eligible employees only. Eligible employees are those who work 30 or more hours per week and who have been hired for an intended period of not less than five months.
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Wellness Participation - must promote the RAMHIC wellness program to your employees and their families and agree that 50% of the individuals covered by RAMHIC will participate in the wellness program. (Failure to maintain a participation rate of 50% may result in non-renewal at the next plan year),
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Sign Membership Agreement - must sign a RAMHIC membership agreement, which outlines the rules and potential administration and wellness program fees required by RAMHIC,
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Three Year Waiting Period - must not have withdrawn from or have been terminated from RAMHIC or another state-certified cooperative in the past 3 years.
Plan Options
All Blue Cross Blue Shield small group health plans are available for purchase through the cooperative.
How to Apply/ Request Quote
1. Contact Blue Cross Blue Shield or have your broker request a quote
- For groups of 2 or more with a broker call 1-888-723-4840 or email [email protected]
- For groups of 1 or non-brokered accounts call 1-800-422-3545.
2. Fill out the RAMHIC membership enrollment forms
- RAMHIC Agreement -- to be completed by all applicants.
- Qualified Association Membership Verification Form -- to be completed by current RAM or MassPack members.
- Join RAM online -- to be completed by businesses new to the Association.
- Membership in RAM is generally limited to businesses within the Retail Trade or Wholesale Trade SIC codes (5000-5999). Certain businesses with service sector SIC codes approved by RAM may be eligible to participate if they have a significant retail component to their business
3. Submit completed documents to RAM
All documents must be completed and submitted back to RAM via email at [email protected], by fax: 617-523-4321 or standard mail to 18 Tremont Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02108.
Healthy Actions Wellness Participation
Businesses enrolled in RAMHIC are required to promote BCBS’s Healthy Actions Wellness Program to employees enrolled in their health benefits plan. A wellness participation rate of 50% of the business’s covered employees is required to guarantee renewal. Click here to get started.
Financial Incentives
The program offers covered employees up to $300 in financial incentives for participating in the program—making it easier for employers to participation requirements. In addition, the program provides employers the opportunity to earn additional year end savings (up to 7.5%) based on the percentage of covered employees participating in wellness. Click here to learn more.
Promotional Materials
BCBSMA's Healthy Actions: instructional flyer for employee registration
Free Ancillary Products
With purchase of a BCBS Health Plan through the cooperative, your eligible employees will also receive the following free benefits courtesy of RAM. Note that program eligibility varies, please see below Benefit Summaries for details.
- USAble Hospital Care Plan: provides coverage for employee hospital stays.
- USAble Group Term Life: provides $10,000 life benefit to employees.
- USAble Accident Plan: provides coverage for off-the-job accidents
- Blue 20/20 Vision:
- Employee Assistance Program from New Directions: provides your employees, and their household members, with confidential access to professional counselors, valuable information and assessment tools designed to assist them with a variety of topics, including anxiety, depression, relationships, substance abuse, domestic violence, child care, eldercare, financial and legal concerns.
Health Financial Accounts from Health Equity: pairing a health financial account with your health plan can help you control your company's costs while supporting your employees in managing their health care dollars.
- Available products include Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements, and Flexible Spending Accounts.
- RAMHIC covers all required administrative fees -- participants are responsible for funding the accounts.
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