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News Room: News & Announcements |
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Software Association of Oregon Offers Major Benefit Plan
Thursday, January 29, 2009
JANUARY 29, 2009
In the face of unprecedented economic downturn, a key Oregon industry group manages
to develop significant benefit package for its members.
The Software Association of Oregon (SAO) announced today that it is partnering with
Regence Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Coordinated Resources Group to offer its
technology members a major healthcare and benefits package. The plan not only offers
competitive pricing, with full benefits at rates 5% below the Regence direct rate, but
provides real coverage options for a growing business segment not usually eligible for
group plan pricing: single employee companies.
"We are seeing a transformation in the workforce and we found a partner in Regence
Health that is willing to work with us to meet their needs,” said Harvey Mathews,
President of the SAO. "More talented high-tech workers are finding it advantageous to
start up a business during this downturn or become independent contractors/sole
proprietors. Unfortunately, health care coverage for sole proprietors and small business
has been limited and restrictively expensive. While other insurance companies took a
pass, Regence Healthcare worked with us to put together a plan to fix these problems,
and we are proud to partner with them.”
The plan offers multiple options for single employee companies, such as sole
practitioners and independent contractors, companies with two or more employees, and
includes one plan specifically designed for companies with rosters of 50 or more
employees.
In addition to medical, dental and vision coverage, all plans offer options for prescription
coverage and alternative care, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurances,
and membership in The LifeBalance Program, a wellness-based incentive program
offering recreational, cultural and wellness options throughout the region.
"This plan is one of the most important moves by SAO in years. Rising healthcare costs
are one of the biggest concerns for small tech companies like mine,” stated Steve
Schroedle, president of locally headquartered VeriLAN and Chime Software.
The plan is available to all technology companies based in Oregon or the contiguous
counties of Washington.
"Another trend this plan recognizes is the virtualization of the workforce,” said Mathews.
"Talented high-tech workers can operate from their home anywhere in the world; we
have seen an influx of these workers from Astoria to Portland due to Oregon’s many
attractive features. The SAO Healthcare plan covers the entire state to reach out to the
growing virtual workforce.”
Open enrollment ends February 20th for all companies interested in joining the plan with
an effective start date of March 1st. However, eligible companies may join by the first
day of any month through the end of 2009.
The SAO Healthcare Plan is the result of work done by a committee comprised of SAO
member company representative and SAO staff. It follows several months of
deliberation, review and analysis, including an online survey sent to the association’s
entire membership of over 450 technology and associate companies across the state.
David Mays, Director of Portland-based Doern Group, who served on the SAO
Healthcare Services Committee said, "I am very pleased that SAO went to bat for the
sole proprietors and independent contractors for this plan. There really are no good
options for us out there.”
"This plan is an important initiative in broadening health care coverage to the small
employer and sole proprietor market, providing access to coverage for those in the high-
tech sector,” said Faith Dubin, Senior Manager of Worldwide Benefits and
Compensation for Serena Software and a member of the SAO Healthcare Services
Committee. "Not only will the competitive pricing of the plan benefit them, but it will
reduce the time and headache for many of the companies who don’t have in-house HR
staff to handle these important matters for their employees.”
"The software and tech community in Oregon has been pretty resilient to the downturn in
the economy over the last 6 months, mainly due to the privately-backed and organically
grown structure of most technology businesses here,” said Ryan Buchanan, CEO of
Portland-based eROI. "While the economy will continue to be a challenge in 2009, I am
optimistic that Oregon software companies will survive and even prosper with the
additional support of benefits like this Healthcare plan by SAO,” said Ryan Buchanan,
president of Portland’s e-ROI.
For more information regarding the SAO Healthcare Benefits Plan, go to www.sao.org.
Learn more at our Group Insurance Website.
For questions, please contact Kelly Dozier at Cordinated Resources Group.
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