--- title: Building Your Group Benefits Plan Part One - Health Coverage description: Health benefits are the largest cost and most used features of an employee group benefits plan. Here we've laid out the different components of this benefit. image: https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/GettyImages-529114228.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/what-do-group-benefit-plans-look-like-part-1) - [Français - Canada](https://blog.equitable.ca/fr-ca/what-do-group-benefit-plans-look-like-part-1) - [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/what-do-group-benefit-plans-look-like-part-1) - [Français - Canada](https://blog.equitable.ca/fr-ca/what-do-group-benefit-plans-look-like-part-1) [![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/GettyImages-529114228.jpg) [Understanding the Marketplace](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/understanding-the-marketplace) | 1 min read # Building Your Group Benefits Plan Part One - Health Coverage Written by [Equitable Life](https://blog.equitable.ca/author/equitable-life) Jan 29, 2018 3:45:00 PM  ![GettyImages-529114228.jpg](https://blog.equitable.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/GettyImages-529114228.jpg?width=640&name=GettyImages-529114228.jpg) When you think of group benefits plans, what most people think of first is health benefits. For most group benefits plans, health coverage is mandatory unless the plan member has coverage under another plan (i.e. through a spouse’s group benefits plan). As this is the component that will make up the most of the costs of your benefits plan, let’s take a look at what the some of the different options for health coverage. **Prescription drug coverage** is the most utilized benefit of any group benefits plan. Most plans will have an annual minimum that must be reached before offering 100% coverage for any drugs. Prior to reaching this minimum, the amount covered by the plan can vary from zero to 90%. To help manage costs more effectively, many plans will also have annual and/or lifetime maximums for this benefit. **Out of province/country coverage** offers coverage for your employees and their families when they are travelling and experience a medical emergency with per person/per trip maximums. **Hearing aids, vision and orthotics coverage** are also basic benefits included in most (but not all) group plans. These normally have coverage limits based on the benefit that will renew on a defined schedule. Typically, this is annually for orthotics, 24 months for vision and 60 months for hearing aids. **Hospital and private duty nursing** options include semi-private or private hospital rooms should a plan member be hospitalized and annual maximums for private duty nursing. The final component of the health coverage is **paramedical practitioners**. This is a popular aspect of many plans and could be a great option to make your plan more appealing to your employees. Types of services include massage therapy, naturopaths, nutritionists and physiotherapy. [![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) Previous Story [← Employee benefit plans – not just one-size-fits-all](https://blog.equitable.ca/employee-benefit-plans-not-just-one-size-fits-all?hsLang=en-us) Next Story [Building your Group Benefits Plan Part Two – Dental →](https://blog.equitable.ca/building-your-group-benefits-plan-part-two-dental?hsLang=en-us) ## You May Also Like These Stories on Understanding the Marketplace [![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/REVTWAPRIL18.png)](https://blog.equitable.ca/say-what-understanding-group-benefits?hsLang=en-us) [Employer challenges](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/employer-challenges) ### [Understanding the components of a group benefits plan](https://blog.equitable.ca/say-what-understanding-group-benefits?hsLang=en-us) Mar 26, 2018 1:34:00 PM | 1 min read [![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/dentist-pain-borowac-cure-52527.jpeg)](https://blog.equitable.ca/building-your-group-benefits-plan-part-two-dental?hsLang=en-us) [Employee needs](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/employee-needs) ### [Building your Group Benefits Plan Part Two – Dental](https://blog.equitable.ca/building-your-group-benefits-plan-part-two-dental?hsLang=en-us) Feb 12, 2018 4:34:00 PM | 1 min read [![](https://blog.equitable.ca/hubfs/Hand%20raised_question_2.jpg)](https://blog.equitable.ca/asking-the-right-questions-employee-benefits?hsLang=en-us) [Employee needs](https://blog.equitable.ca/topic/employee-needs) ### [Asking the right questions - employee benefits](https://blog.equitable.ca/asking-the-right-questions-employee-benefits?hsLang=en-us) Dec 18, 2017 2:34:00 PM | 1 min read ### Subscribe by Email #### Equitable One Westmount Road North P.O. 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