--- title: Asking the right questions - employee benefits description: Are you asking the right questions? Better understand the cost of providing an employee benefits plan by answering a few basic questions. image: https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/Hand%20raised_question_2.jpg --- [![MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1](https://blog.equitable.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1.png?width=210&height=35&name=MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1.png "MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1")](https://info.equitable.ca/myflex-benefits?hsLang=en-us) - [The myFlex Difference](https://info.equitable.ca/myflex-difference) - [How myFlex Works](https://info.equitable.ca/myflex-how-it-works) - [Decision Tool](https://info.equitable.ca/my-flex-decision-get-started-new) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3012629/e221f2f2-a7c0-402b-a4d5-8b7cfcba56bb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3012629/e221f2f2-a7c0-402b-a4d5-8b7cfcba56bb) - [English - United States](https://blog.equitable.ca/asking-the-right-questions-employee-benefits) - [Français - Canada](https://blog.equitable.ca/fr-ca/asking-the-right-questions-employee-benefits) - [The myFlex Difference](https://info.equitable.ca/myflex-difference) - [How myFlex Works](https://info.equitable.ca/myflex-how-it-works) - [Decision Tool](https://info.equitable.ca/my-flex-decision-get-started-new) [![MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1](https://blog.equitable.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1.png?width=210&height=35&name=MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1.png "MyFlex-Benefits-Wordmark_EN-ClearSpace-1")](https://info.equitable.ca/myflex-benefits?hsLang=en-us) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3012629/e221f2f2-a7c0-402b-a4d5-8b7cfcba56bb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3012629/e221f2f2-a7c0-402b-a4d5-8b7cfcba56bb) - [English - United States](https://blog.equitable.ca/asking-the-right-questions-employee-benefits) - [Français - Canada](https://blog.equitable.ca/fr-ca/asking-the-right-questions-employee-benefits) [![Equitable-Logo-TM-Horizontal-White-RGB-800px](https://blog.equitable.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Equitable-Logo-TM-Horizontal-White-RGB-800px.png?width=120&height=30&name=Equitable-Logo-TM-Horizontal-White-RGB-800px.png "Equitable-Logo-TM-Horizontal-White-RGB-800px")](https://www.equitable.ca/) ![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/Hand%20raised_question_2.jpg) [Employee needs](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/employee-needs) | [Understanding the Marketplace](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/understanding-the-marketplace) | [Cost](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/cost) | 1 min read # Asking the right questions - employee benefits Written by [Equitable Life](https://blog.equitable.ca/author/equitable-life) Dec 18, 2017 2:34:00 PM   ![Question about employee benefits](https://blog.equitable.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Hand%20raised_question_2.jpg?width=724&name=Hand%20raised_question_2.jpg "Question about employee benefits") After establishing a [benchmark for employee expectations](https://blog.equitable.ca/understanding-employee-needs-employee-benefits?hs_preview=lCHOWWFj-5268143175&hsLang=en-us), you need to understand the role and cost of providing or changing the employee benefit plan coverage you provide. Answering a few basic questions can help: - What is the reason you are offering or plan to offer an employee benefits plan? - What will the program’s primary goal be? (Competitiveness, attract and retain talent, increased productivity, provide protection to employee) - Will/does coverage meet your current employee needs? - Will coverage meet the emerging and changing needs of future employees? (Demographics, health needs, age, diversity, expectations) - What should your annual budget be for providing coverage? - Do/will employees understand their benefits and what is being offered to them? - How often should plan design/cost be reviewed to ensure that it meets the needs of a changing work force and rising health care costs? While some of the answers to these questions may require the assistance of an advisor, this exercise will allow you to start developing an employee benefits strategy today. [![Find out which style of benefits plan is right for you with our 2-step decision tool](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3012629/51be2d05-7a3e-431c-b6eb-4bbc259c39a7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3012629/51be2d05-7a3e-431c-b6eb-4bbc259c39a7)     ![Benefits for small business.jpg](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/Benefits%20for%20small%20business.jpg) Previous Story [← The right partnerships are key to your employee benefits strategy](https://blog.equitable.ca/how-to-develop-an-employee-benefits-strategy?hsLang=en-us) Next Story [Four ways to make your employee benefit plan more affordable →](https://blog.equitable.ca/four-ways-to-make-your-employee-benefit-plan-more-affordable?hsLang=en-us) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Employee needs [![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/Carly%20Holm%20-%20resized.jpg)](https://blog.equitable.ca/benefits-flexibility-humani-hr?hsLang=en-us) [Employee needs](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/employee-needs) ### [For Humani HR, it’s all about flexibility](https://blog.equitable.ca/benefits-flexibility-humani-hr?hsLang=en-us) Jul 6, 2022 11:31:07 AM | 2 min read [![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/GettyImages-596374144.jpg)](https://blog.equitable.ca/benefit-trends-to-look-for-in-2022?hsLang=en-us) [Attracting top talent](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/attracting-top-talent) ### [Benefit Trends to Look For in 2022](https://blog.equitable.ca/benefit-trends-to-look-for-in-2022?hsLang=en-us) Feb 9, 2022 10:06:45 AM | 3 min read [![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/Business%20Cafeteria%201200x675.png)](https://blog.equitable.ca/group-benefits-plans-fixed-menu-or-cafeteria-style?hsLang=en-us) [Employee needs](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/employee-needs) ### [Group benefits plans – fixed menu or cafeteria style?](https://blog.equitable.ca/group-benefits-plans-fixed-menu-or-cafeteria-style?hsLang=en-us) Nov 11, 2019 9:01:05 AM | 2 min read ### Subscribe by Email #### Equitable One Westmount Road North P.O. 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