California employers who offer medical, dental, and/or vision insurance should include a handbook policy listing such company-provided benefits.

Policy Drafting Tips:

• Describe all available benefits;
• Define which employees are eligible, such as regular full-time workers;
• Refer to the official health plan documents for all detailed information regarding insurance eligibility, benefits, and other features;
• Advise employees to confirm coverage for treatments before incurring expenses;
• Reserve the right to modify, revise or eliminate currently-provided benefits; and
• Consider mentioning the date of the open enrollment period.

Take-Away:

Implement and regularly review your handbook to include a health care benefits policy if applicable.

We publish this series to educate employers on best practices for a well-written handbook that assists applicants, employees, and management alike. To purchase our 2023 template handbook – which contains the above policy and much more – and accompanying forms or for more information, please contact Office Manager Aimee Rosales at 626.583.6600 or email her at officemgr@tbowleslaw.com.

See also:

• Disorder Insurance – Workplace Policy Handbook & Forms for 2023 (March 2, 2023)
• Handbook Helper Episode 24 Personnel Records Policy – Preservation Salvation (April 27, 2023)
• Handbook Helper Episode 12 Prying Eyes – Employee Privacy Policy (September 30, 2022)

Cindy Bamforth
May 18, 2023