The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has introduced MRAA Health, an all-new benefits program that extends a nationwide medical insurance program and several ancillary benefits to MRAA Members, their employees and their families.
Facilitated by Bukaty Companies of Kansas City, Mo., the MRAA Health program delivers reduced-cost health insurance to MRAA Members across the United States. Bukaty is a preferred partner for several of the major insurance providers, and their relationships, passed through the MRAA Health program, makes this program available in all 50 States.
“In a survey of the marine dealer body, health care benefits costs were noted as having the most significant negative impact on dealers’ business goals,” explains Matt Gruhn, president of the MRAA. “After reviewing options for our members, we have responded to this impediment to our industry’s success with a program that is already making a major impact for our members.”
MRAA Members are realizing significant savings with this health care program, and Bukaty Companies has been delivering insurance rates that are 15-20 percent lower than what dealers are currently paying. In one case, for example, a dealer was faced with a 23-percent increase in its premiums, and this MRAA Health program flipped the scenario and saved them 18-percent less than what they had been paying.
“We are able to leverage our relationship with the insurance carriers to get special pricing for MRAA members. This allows us to customize the benefits to the need of the business and their employees while attaining pricing normally reserved for a much larger group,” says Cory Matt, Strategic Benefits Consultant, Bukaty Companies. “MRAA is an excellent partner and we look forward to a long-term relationship.”
In addition to medical insurance benefits, Bukaty Companies offers dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, life, critical illness, accident and identity theft insurance. This unified program, which offers large number discounts, also extends Cobra, FSA, HSA, FMLA opportunities, as well as wellness programs, HR and compliance support and training, in customized programs that best fit each individual dealer’s needs.
“One of the things that we like the best about this program is that it’s not a one-size fits all approach,” says Nikki Duffney, Member Development Manager. “Bukaty really takes the headaches out of finding the right insurance program and delivers our members the absolute best program for them, their business and their employees. And to date, we’re proud to report that our members are seeing some significant savings.”
MRAA’s 2016 Workforce Assessment determined that health care was the No. 1 rated impediment to dealers’ business goals, and was the only issue that rated more significant than the devastating workforce shortage the marine industry has faced. MRAA has developed MRAA Health as an option for any of its members to tap into, including dealers, suppliers, service providers and manufacturers. So long as the company has a current membership with MRAA these businesses are eligible to use the program, and Bukaty Companies can extend a quote and its services.
Interested businesses can contact the MRAA offices Nikki Duffney or Emma Penzenstadler for more information and to begin the process of getting a quotes. Please note: You do not have to be at a renewal point with your current health insurance program to make the switch to MRAA Health.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043. Neither MRAA nor MRAA Health are insurance companies; MRAA Health simply represents the association’s program branding under which Bukaty Companies provides medical, dental and vision insurance, in addition to several other ancillary products and services.
About Bukaty Companies
Bukaty Companies is one of the largest privately owned, full-service employee benefits companies in the Midwest. Bukaty Companies is licensed in all 50 states and offers a full array of employee benefits. Bukaty Companies provides all of its clients concierge level service. Bukaty Companies just celebrated its 25th year in business and has grown from three employees to over 220 full-time employees. For more information, visit www.bukaty.com or contact us at 913-258-2233.
