An employer contract decides how much you're paid, when, for whom and for how long. Read every term with your attorney, and use this checklist to make sure nothing that affects your money or your schedule is missing or vague.
Services
- What the membership includes, in plain words.
- What it doesn't include, and how extras are priced and paid. Here's how to handle extras.
- Any service levels you promise, like response times.
Who's covered
- Who's eligible: employees, dependents, part-time staff.
- Opt-in or opt-out enrollment.
- When coverage starts for new hires and ends for those who leave.
Price and payment
- Rate per member or per employee, and any bands or minimums.
- Invoice date, due date and payment method.
- Late payment terms, if your attorney says they're allowed.
- How and when prices change at renewal. More on renewals.
- Any broker fee, and who pays it.
The census
- Who sends it, in what format, and by what day each month.
- How far back changes can be made, like 60 days. More on retro changes.
Privacy and reporting
- What you'll report, and that it's totals only.
- That you won't share any individual's health information with the employer. More on privacy.
Term and exit
- Start date, length and whether it renews on its own.
- Notice needed to end it, and what's owed if either side ends early. More on early exits.
- What happens to employees' memberships when it ends.
What I'd do this week
- Run your current employer contracts through this checklist.
- Mark any term that's missing or unclear.
- Take the marked list to your attorney before the next renewal.
Common questions
Can I use the employer's contract instead of mine?
You can, but read it closely. Have your attorney review it either way.
Do I need an attorney for every contract?
Have one review your template. After that, review any contract that changes the standard terms.
What's the term most often missing?
Check the census deadline and how retro changes are handled. Both affect your billing.
Want your contract terms reflected in your books?
We reconcile every account every month and send your P&L and Balance Sheet by the 15th, so decisions like this start from real numbers. If that's what you need, apply to work with us.