Health insurance helps pay for many medical bills, including general doctor visits, hospital stays, and surgeries. There are many ways you can get health insurance, but one of the most common is through your job. If you would like to know more, check out these three top questions about group health insurance.

1. How Can a Company Qualify for Group Health Insurance?

Group health insurance is purchased by the employer, and the premium is then split between the employer and employees. The biggest benefit is savings. When an employer buys group health insurance policies in bulk, the insurance carrier typically provides a discount, and that discount is passed on to the employees.

Therefore, group health insurance is so much cheaper than individual insurance. In order for the company to qualify for group health insurance, at least 70 percent of the employees must sign up for insurance.

2. What Are the Benefits of Group Health Insurance?

There are two main benefits of group health insurance. The first is low premiums. Your employer pays some of the premium, but they decide how much to pay. So, while one employer may only pay for half of the premium, another employer may pay 80 percent. Regardless, your premium will be significantly lower than with an individual policy.

The other benefit is that group health insurance doesn't require a health examination, and your premiums and coverage don't depend on your health. With individual coverage, if you have underlying health issues, you may be denied or have a high premium.

3. Are There Drawbacks to Group Health Insurance?

The only drawback to group health insurance is the lack of options. You must choose the insurance provider your employer picks to get the discount. In some cases, this could mean you have to stop seeing your current doctor because they don't accept your insurance.

However, more and more companies are offering multiple options. For example, some employers may offer a high-deductible health insurance policy along with a standard policy, so employees have more flexibility.

Group health insurance is much more affordable than individual health insurance. It is also easier to get if you are part of a group that offers it. While many people get group health insurance via their work, some other organizations may offer it to group members, such as AARP Health. If you would like to know more, talk to your HR department or organization leader today.