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By Jim Gullo and Jessica VoelkerWith contribution from Sarah Anderson, Lee Fehrenbacher, Laura Peach, and Jena Vuylsteke
KPS Health Plans
When Carrie Wanner’s husband Mike was diagnosed with teratoma testicular cancer, she wasn’t fretting about insurance. When you get the cancer diagnosis the last thing you think about, or should have to think about, is how to pay for the premium, says the sales account manager at KPS Health Plans.
While the Wanners spent much of 2007 worrying through surgical procedures and chemotherapy sessions, they didn’t have to agonize about medical costs: KPS pays 100 percent of health care premiums for employees and their families.
For the Wanners, the peace of mind was a benefit they couldn’t put a price on. But they do know that without insurance, Mike’s out-of-pocket treatment costs would have exceeded $85,000.
Beyond generous health benefits, KPS offers pretax flexible-spending accounts, tuition assistance, online wellness programs, and a 401(k) matching plan, plus fun stuff like an annual bowling competition using frozen Cornish game hens.
Mike Wanner is back to mountain biking and snowboarding; and in a time when other companies are scaling back benefits, KPS is committed to keeping their employees and keeping them covered: “We’re a health-care industry,” says company communication specialist Lisa Holmer. “We believe in covering a community, so we need to begin at the start, and that’s internally.”
Business KPS Health Plans
Industry Health care
What they do Offer medical insurance plans to groups and individuals.
Job growth in one year 2 percent
Currently hiring in Health plan operations, patient care, medical
Number of employees 174
Founded 1946
Location Bremerton
Web site www.kpshealthplans.com
Published: April 2008