Voluntary Benefits: The Smart Way to Enhance Employee Satisfaction Without Increasing Costs

Nowadays, good health insurance alone isn’t enough to attract and keep top employees. Many companies are now using voluntary benefits to offer better coverage without breaking their budget.

At Medcore Brokerage, Texas’s top employee benefits expert, we help you design flexible, affordable benefit plans that work for your team.

What Are the Advantages of  Voluntary Benefits?

Voluntary employee benefits are extra insurance options that employees can choose to buy through their job. The cost is taken straight from their paycheck, and because the company buys in bulk, it’s usually cheaper than buying the same individually.

Unlike regular benefits, the employee pays the full cost, company just helps set it up. It’s a win-win: workers get affordable coverage, and employers can offer more perks without spending extra money.

The most popular voluntary employee benefits include:

• Supplemental health insurance: Coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services
• Income security: Insurance for short-term and long-term disabilities
• Life insurance options: Term life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
• Specialized insurance: Coverage for critical illnesses, accidents, and hospital indemnity
• Lifestyle enhancements: Insurance for pets, legal support, and protection against identity theft
• Wellness initiatives: Memberships for gyms, resources for mental health, and programs for quitting smoking

The Importance of  Voluntary Employee Benefits in 2025

Workplaces have changed a lot, and now, offering employee-paid benefits is more important than ever for companies. Here’s why they should be part of your employee benefits plan:

1. A Money-Saver Option for Employers

Voluntary employee benefits are a budget-friendly option for companies to give employees more perks without extra spending. Since employees pay for these benefits directly from their salaries, companies can offer better benefits without hurting their profits.

2. Great for Hiring and Keeping Employees

A 2024 survey by SHRM (a big HR group) found that:

• 72% of employees say extra benefits (like health perks or discounts) matter when choosing a job.
• 68% are more likely to stay at a company if it offers good benefits.
• 83% appreciate companies that give them optional benefits.

Offering extra benefits to employees helps companies attract and keep happy workers.

3. Tax Benefits for Employees

Many employee benefits come with tax perks, making them even more attractive:

• Pre-tax payments: Money taken from your salary for benefits (like insurance) is often tax-free.
• HSAs & FSAs: Health and flexible spending accounts help you save on taxes when paying for medical expenses.
• Dependent care help: Some benefits (like childcare support) can directly lower your tax bill.

4. Customized Benefit Options

Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever, and employees have different needs based on their life stage.

Voluntary employee benefits let them pick what works best for them:

• Young & single? They might want help with student loans or pet insurance.
• New parents? Things like childcare help or college savings plans could be more useful.
• Older employees? They may focus on serious illness coverage or hospital cash benefits.

Medcore Brokerage’s Plan for Voluntary Benefits

At Medcore Brokerage, we don’t just give you a list of benefits to pick from; we make sure they work for your company and your employees.

Our step-by-step approach helps you get the best value, so everyone wins.

Step 1: Understand Your Employees

First, we look at who your employees are and what they need. We check things like:

• Age – How old are they? (Young, middle-aged, or older?)
• Family – Do they have children or dependents to take care of?
• Income – How much do they earn? (Low, middle, or high salary?)
• Location – Where do they live? (City, village, different states?)
• Job Risks – Does their work have any special dangers? (Like construction, healthcare, etc.)

Step 2: Pick Benefits That Fit Your Team

After looking at your needs, we’ll suggest extra benefits your employees will like.

We work with top companies like Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Principal to get you the best deals.

Step 3: Easy & Smooth Setup

Our team handles everything to make it simple for you, including:

• Setting up automatic salary deductions
• Designing easy-to-understand sign-up forms
• Building a simple online sign-up system
• Holding fun and helpful training sessions for employees

Step 4: We’re Always Here to Help

We don’t just help you when you sign up-we’re here for you all year long.

Here’s what we can do for you:

• Help with any questions or issues
• Keep you updated on how things are going
• Check your plan every year to make sure it still works for you
• Let you know if any rules or policies change

Top Extra Benefits Texas Employers Are Offering in 2025

Based on what’s popular right now and what we’ve seen with Texas businesses, these extra benefits are making a big difference in 2025:

Benefit	Why It’s Valuable	Participation Rate
Mental Health Support	Helps with stress and counseling	68%
Student Loan Assistance	Attracts young workers struggling with debt	42%
Identity Theft Protection	Protects against online crimes	57%
Flexible Work Stipends	Covers home office costs	63%
Fertility Benefits	Helps employees plan families	35%
Pet Insurance	Covers vet bills for pet owners	48%

Case Study: Success Story of  Voluntary Benefits

A tech startup in McKinney with 85 employees teamed up with Medcore Brokerage to create a strong voluntary employee benefits program. This program included:

• Online therapy sessions
• Student loan assistance
• Pet insurance
• Fertility treatment coverage
• ID theft protection

After a year, the results were amazing:

• Employee retention increased by 28%.
• 85% of employees signed up for at least one extra benefit.
• HR received 40% fewer questions about benefits.
• Job offer acceptance rates rose by 22%.

The HR director said Medcore Brokerage helped them create great benefits without extra costs, making their package as good as those at bigger companies.

Frequently Asked Questions About Voluntary Benefits

1. Do employers have to offer employee-paid benefits?

No, these benefits are optional. Employers choose which to offer, and employees decide if they want them. But offering them makes jobs more attractive.

2. What’s the difference between voluntary benefits and core benefits?

Core benefits (like health insurance) are paid by the employer.

Employee-paid benefits (like dental or life insurance) are paid by the employee (but are cheaper through the company).

3. Can small businesses offer voluntary benefits?

Yes! We help small Texas businesses set up affordable Voluntary employee benefits.

4. How does Medcore Brokerage help with rules and regulations?

We ensure compliance with:

• Affordable Care Act (ACA)
• ERISA (employee benefit laws)
• HIPAA (health privacy laws)
• Texas insurance laws

5. How many employees usually sign up for benefits?

It depends on the benefit:

• Dental & vision: 65-80%
• Disability insurance: 40-60%
• Life insurance: 50-70%
• Specialty benefits: 30-50%

Start Your Journey with Medcore Brokerage

Ready to improve your benefits package? We can help you add smart, optional benefits that fit your needs. Contact the best employee benefits team in Texas today!

• Address: 2035 Central Cir, Suite 210, McKinney, TX 75069
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Email: Info@medcorebrokerage.com
• Phone: +1 972-277-1049
• Website: Medcore Brokerage